Market Updates
What factors are affecting the market right now, published every week by licensed Texas Brokers.
Mortgage rates follow inflation, and track the 10-year Treasury yield closely, when Treasury yields rise, mortgage rates typically follow. When we track markets and advise clients, it matters that we’re analyzing the data that actually drives pricing rather than the headline everyone else is watching.
Rates shown are industry averages, not quotes from J. Charles Lending. Our rates tend to run slightly below average. This is not a commitment to lend.
Low Down Payment Options
How much am I going to need for a down payment? This is one of the first questions that comes to mind for almost…
PUBLISHED AUG 2026 ANALYSISHow We Got Here – Why Mortgage Rates Probably Aren’t Going Back to 3%
A lot of homebuyers are stuck in the same holding pattern: waiting for mortgage rates to drop back down to where they were in…
UPDATED OCT 2026 EXPLAINERTracking Mortgage Rates? Here’s What to Follow
Things to look for when following mortgage rates.
PUBLISHED AUG 2026 EXPLAINERWhy Mortgage Brokers Are Best
When it comes to getting a mortgage, the business model matters more than most people realize. You can work with a bank, a credit…
UPDATED OCT 2026 EXPLAINERThe 3 Types of Mortgage Lending Institutions
When you’re searching for a mortgage, you have three basic types of lending institutions to choose from. Each has its own business model, product…
PUBLISHED AUG 2026 EXPLAINERWhy a Fed rate cut doesn’t lower your mortgage rate.
The federal funds rate is an overnight rate. A mortgage is a 30-year loan. Here's the only real link between them, why the Fed follows the market rather than leading it, and what the record since 2020 actually shows.
UPDATED SEP 2026