No housing market slowdown as real estate agents report a busy fall Homebuyers not following the school calendar this year in many markets

Didier Malagies • October 1, 2020

No housing market slowdown as real estate agents report a busy fall


  Realtors can usually count on their biggest season being spring, followed by summer. But nothing about 2020 has been normal, including home-buying patterns. With shut-down orders in the spring, summer became the new home-buying season, and homebuyers were still incredibly active in August.

Now, believe it or not, fall home-buying season is in full swing.


Traditionally, home-buying season slows down during the fall because families have settled in their new homes just in time for school to start. Now that school is mostly virtual, that calculation may be changing a bit.

“There’s a lot of homeschooling going on in this hybrid world, and it’s difficult,” Realtor Vesna Kanacki with Century 21 Full Service Realty in New City, New York, told HousingWire. Kanacki said that when it came to seasonal buying, “we’re still riding the wave with 2020.”


Kanacki’s market, like many others, remains competitive as buyers continue to experience bidding wars amid historically low housing inventory and an uptick in home prices.


“I think there is a lot of fear with the election coming up, that’s going to play a big factor of our spring market as well [and] depending on how everybody is comfortable with leadership going forward,” Kanacki said.


“But if the pandemic surges up again, I think we’re just going to get busier and busier here, because we are definitely located in the correct position, outside of New York City, where parents can still commute to work and children can have space needed for homeschooling and things like that,” Kanacki said.



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Interesting Stats on mortgages for 2025

By Didier Malagies • January 8, 2026
There are now more loans with interest rates over 6% than those with rates under 3%. 40% of the volume closed were refinances, and 30% of the loans done were NON-QM loans. There was a 10% drop in mortgage volume at the end of 2025, with a drop in interest rates. With 1.4 trillion in credit card debt, it seems that 1.4 trillion in credit card debt may be the reason for the refinancing. It is interesting that the NON QM loans captured so much of the closed business, and will only grow more in 2026 Popular program is the bank statement loan, which does not require tax returns, 1099's or W-2s If you are looking at doing a rate term refinance, remember to look for a 2% drop with no points tune in and learn https://www.ddamortgage.com/blog didier malagies nmls#212566 dda mortgage nmls#324329

Do you need cash out, consolidate or no mortgage payment

By Didier Malagies • January 5, 2026
💡 Option 1 — Cash-Out Refinance Meaning: Replace your current mortgage with a larger loan and take the difference in cash. Bankrate Often lower interest rate than a second mortgage because it replaces your first mortgage. Rocket Mortgage Can consolidate debt (e.g., high-interest credit cards) into one loan. Bankrate If you refinance to a lower rate, you can reduce monthly payments while getting cash. Sunflower Bank When it might make sense: ✔ You currently have a higher interest mortgage (e.g., 7%+) and could refinance into ~6% ✔ You want a single payment ✔ You’re using the cash for productive purposes (debt consolidation, home improvements) 🪪 Option 2 — Second Mortgage / Home Equity Loan (HELOC) Meaning: Take out a loan on top of your existing mortgage without replacing it. Better Mortgag Keeps your current mortgage rate and terms if they’re favorable. Better Mortgage You borrow only what you want — no resetting your main mortgage. Often easier/faster to access cash than a full refinance. 🔁 Option 3 — Reverse Mortgage Meaning: Available only if you are typically 62+ — you borrow against home equity and don’t make monthly principal/interest payments. Balance is due when you move or pass. FHA Can provide steady cash flow or a lump sum with no monthly mortgage payments. Useful in retirement when income is fixed. When it might make sense: ✔ You are retiree near retirement ✔ You want to boost retirement income without monthly payments ✔ You don’t plan to leave the home as a large inheritance 📊 Which Option Should You Consider (High-Level Guidance) ➡ If your goal is lower monthly payments + access to cash: → Cash-out refinance could be ideal if today’s rates are lower than your current mortgage. ➡ If you want cash but want to keep a great existing rate: → Second mortgage or HELOC may be better than resetting your core mortgage. ➡ If you are 62+ and need income without monthly payments: → Reverse mortgage might be worth exploring but only with deep planning (especially for heirs). 🧠 Bottom Line (2026 Real-World Thinking) ✔ Mortgage rates are lower than recent highs but not back to historic lows, meaning refinancing could still save money if your current rate is significantly higher than ~6%. Rocket Mortgage ✔ Cash-out refinance is often cheaper than a second mortgage because of lower interest, but you must be okay restarting your loan term. Rocket Mortgage ✔ Reverse mortgages are specialized tools — great for some retirees but not suited to everyone. FHA tune in and learn https://www.ddamortgage.com/blog didier malagies nmls#212566 dda mortgage nmls#324329 
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