Short, sourced updates on rates, the Colorado and Utah housing markets, homebuyer programs, and what's happening around Smart Step Lending — pulled from places like Freddie Mac, NAR, and HUD, and kept short on purpose.
The 30-year fixed averaged 6.43% this week, down slightly from 6.49%, with 15-year rates near 5.79%. Rates move week to week — the number that matters is the one quoted for your actual scenario.
Source: Freddie Mac PMMS, July 2, 2026
Existing-home sales rose 3.2% in May to an annualized 4.17 million, alongside a record median price of $434,300. Buyers seem to be treating today's rates as the new normal instead of waiting them out.
Source: National Association of REALTORS®, May 2026 report
View NAR's research →Pending home sales — a leading indicator based on signed contracts — rose 3.8% in May, suggesting more closings are likely in the months ahead even with rates holding above 6%.
Source: National Association of REALTORS®, Pending Home Sales report
View NAR's research →First-time buyers made up 35% of home purchases in NAR's latest survey — the highest share since June 2020 — as more inventory and less competitive bidding open the door for new buyers.
Source: National Association of REALTORS®, REALTORS® Confidence Index
View NAR's research →Statewide median home price hit $563,000, up 0.9% year-over-year, with homes typically taking 49 days to sell. A market that's leveled off from the frenzy of a few years ago, with more room to negotiate.
Source: Redfin, Colorado housing data
Median home price reached $528,124, up 1.6% year-over-year, while homes for sale climbed nearly 4% from last year. More inventory usually means more negotiating room for buyers.
Source: Redfin, Utah housing data
Market data changes frequently and is shared for general information only — it isn't a quote, rate lock, or guarantee. Talk to Adam for numbers specific to your situation.
Small-world moment: CHFA runs a loan program actually called "Smart Step," plus down payment assistance up to $25,000 as a grant that's never repaid, or a deferred second mortgage. A required homebuyer education course comes with it.
Source: Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA)
See if you qualify →Utah Housing Corporation's FirstHome program pairs a below-market rate with down payment assistance up to 6% of the loan amount, structured as either a monthly second payment or a deferred, no-payment option.
Source: Utah Housing Corporation
See if you qualify →[Two or three sentences on what it is, where, and why it matters to someone reading this.]
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HUD raised the FHA floor limit to $541,287 for most of the country, and the standard conforming loan limit rose to $832,750 — both up about 3.26% to keep pace with home prices. More buying power without stepping into jumbo territory.
Source: HUD/FHA and FHFA, 2026 loan limits
See loan options →HUD raised the maximum HECM claim amount to $1,249,125 for 2026, up from $1,209,750 — meaning eligible homeowners 62+ may be able to access more equity through an FHA-insured reverse mortgage this year.
Source: HUD/FHA, 2026 HECM limits
How HECM reverse mortgages work →USDA announced upgrades to its guaranteed and direct rural housing loan programs, including delegated underwriting for approved lenders and a new online portal for direct-loan borrowers — aimed at faster closings under the same eligibility rules.
Source: USDA Rural Development, March 2026
Debt service coverage ratio. Instead of qualifying on your personal income, the property's rental income does the talking — which is why DSCR loans have become a go-to for investors who don't want their tax returns to be the bottleneck.
See DSCR / Investor loans →Once the channel is live, videos will show up here automatically — no manual updates needed.
Rates and programs change constantly — the fastest way to know what actually applies to your situation is a quick conversation.
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