Markets hate a vacuum, and that’s exactly where we’ve been living as a prolonged government shutdown starves investors of fresh data. We open with a candid read on equity whipsaws, then follow the thread to the 10-year Treasury slipping through 4% and the ripple effects of regional bank loan write-downs. From there, we zoom out to the CBO’s updated forecast, the broken four-decade downtrend in yields, and a trillion-dollar net interest bill that now shadows every policy debate. Deficits may be a “later” problem until a catalyst arrives, but they already shape the term premium that matters for mortgages.Enter our guest, Mike Iltis, who spent a decade brokering loans before pivoting to accounting. Mike explains what rising rates did to real pipelines: contracts canceled overnight, volume reset lower, and affordability became the ceiling. In Florida markets like Sarasota and Manatee, prices stayed sticky even as bidding wars faded, and we now see a standoff—buyers balk at payments, sellers with strong balance sheets delist rather than cut. We tackle the big question head-on: if short rates fall, will supply flood in? Maybe not. Mortgage rates ride the long end, and with inflation risk and heavy Treasury issuance, the 30-year could stay stubborn even if the Fed eases.If you’re house hunting, you’ll get a clear, practical playbook. We break down adjustable-rate mortgages—how 5-1 and 7-1 structures work, what 2-2-5 caps mean in dollars, and when an ARM creates real value compared with a fixed loan. Mike shares tactics for lender shopping, why product menus vary across banks and brokers, and how to set a hard payment ceiling that accounts for taxes, insurance, and maintenance. For sellers, we talk realistic pricing and patience in a range-bound market. Our sober takeaway: without a deep recession or a decisive drop in long-term yields, housing may stay stagnant for 12 to 36 months, with pockets of opportunity where stress creates motivated sellers.Stick around for a grounded, no-hype walkthrough of markets, mortgages, and the math behind your monthly payment. If this helped clarify your next move, follow the show, share it with a friend who’s shopping or selling, and leave a quick review to help others find us.

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