MORTGAGE BLOG

Market Update: Fed Cuts Rates Again as Policymakers Split on 2026

Blog posted On December 10, 2025

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) wrapped up its last meeting of the year today, and the big headline is straightforward: the Fed cut its benchmark interest rate by 0.25%. That moves the federal funds rate to roughly 3.50%–3.75%, marking the third cut of 2025. The cut itself was widely expected. What matters more is why they did it, how divided they were, and what that signals for mortgage rates and housing going into next year.

CMG Home Loans Announces New Hire of Matt Schoolfield, Divisional Sales Manager

News posted On October 30, 2025

Cornelius, NC – CMG Home Loans, the retail division of well-capitalized privately held mortgage lender, CMG Financial, is pleased to announce the appointment of Matt Schoolfield. With more than 25 years of mortgage industry experience, Schoolfield will lead sales growth and team development across the Southeast region.

CMG Home Loans Welcomes Goran Marich, Area Sales Manager

News posted On October 28, 2025

Akron, OH – CMG Home Loans, the retail division of well-capitalized privately held mortgage lender, CMG Financial, is pleased to announce the appointment of Goran Marich. With nearly 30 years of mortgage industry experience, Marich will play an instrumental role in driving growth and expanding CMG’s presence across Northeast Ohio.

CMG Home Loans Welcomes Chris Shields, Regional Sales Manager

News posted On October 23, 2025

Staten Island, NY – CMG Home Loans, the retail division of well-capitalized privately held mortgage lender, CMG Financial, is pleased to announce the appointment of Christopher “Chris” Shields. With over two decades of lending expertise and proven leadership, Shields will play a key role in expanding CMG’s presence across New York State.

CMG Home Loans Announces the Opening of New Vancouver Central Branch

News posted On October 09, 2025

Vancouver, WA – CMG Home Loans, the retail arm of the well-capitalized and privately held mortgage lender, CMG Financial, announced today the opening of a new branch in Vancouver, WA. Leading the Vancouver Central location is Branch Manager, Edward “Ed” Barbier (NMLS ID# 674096), an industry veteran with nearly three decades of leadership in Washington’s mortgage market.

CMG Home Loans Announces the Opening of New Tacoma Central Branch

News posted On September 30, 2025

Tacoma, WA - CMG Home Loans, the retail arm of the well-capitalized and privately held mortgage lender, CMG Financial, announced today the opening of a new branch in Tacoma, WA. Leading the Tacoma Central location is Area Sales Manager, Per Moerkeseth (NMLS ID# 518869), a veteran mortgage professional with nearly three decades of experience serving home buyers in the Puget Sound region.

CMG Home Loans Announces New Hire of Scott Cummins, Sales Manager

News posted On September 18, 2025

SAN ANTONIO, TX – CMG Home Loans, the retail division of well-capitalized privately held mortgage lender, CMG Financial, is pleased to announce the appointment of Sales Manager, Scott Cummins (NMLS# 208602). With over two decades of mortgage industry experience and a proven track record of leadership and client service, Cummins will play a key role in expanding CMG’s presence across Texas.

Summer Snapshot: The Latest on Housing Trends & Rates in 2025

Blog posted On July 17, 2025

Now that the summer is in full swing and we’ve hit our mid-year stride, why don’t we check in with the latest housing trends and see what’s sizzling on the market. With stubborn, unbudging rates and fickle home buyers, the year thus far has been a tumultuous one for the housing and real estate industry. Can we glean any useful insights from the first six months to predict any changes for the second half of 2025? Let’s get into it.

CMG Welcomes David Schwartz, Area Sales Manager

News posted On July 08, 2025

New York, NY – CMG Home Loans, the retail division of well-capitalized privately held mortgage lender, CMG Financial, is pleased to announce the appointment of Area Sales Manager, David Schwartz (NMLS# 66288). With a distinguished mortgage career spanning nearly two decades, Schwartz is guaranteed to bring his years of lending experience to the homeowners of the New York City Metropolitan Area.

Tides Are Turning in Favor of Buyers. Here’s How to Prepare

Blog posted On June 12, 2025

For the first time in years, the U.S. housing market may be giving buyers the upper hand. According to a recent Redfin report, there are now 500,000 more homes for sale than there are buyers actively shopping—marking a significant shift from the red-hot, seller-dominated days of 2021–2022.

CMG Welcomes Christie Schalock, Regional Sales Manager

News posted On April 08, 2025

Boise, ID – CMG Home Loans, the retail division of well-capitalized privately held mortgage lender, CMG Financial, is pleased to announce the appointment of Regional Sales Manager, Christie Schalock (NMLS# 18193). With a distinguished career spanning two decades in the mortgage industry, Schalock will oversee sales operations across Idaho, Utah, and Alaska, bringing her unwavering commitment to excellence and personalized support to homeowners in these regions.

CMG Home Loans Announces New Hire of Gus Floropoulos, Regional Vice President

News posted On April 02, 2025

New York, NY – CMG Home Loans, the retail division of well-capitalized privately held mortgage lender, CMG Financial, is proud to announce the hire of Regional Vice President, Gus Floropoulos (NMLS# 784266). With over 20 years of experience spanning Wall Street strategy and Main Street lending, Floropoulos is set to drive production, build strong teams, and expand CMG’s presence across Long Island and New York.

CMG Welcomes Jason Everette, Area Sales Manager

News posted On March 25, 2025

Lafayette, IN – CMG Home Loans, the retail division of well-capitalized privately held mortgage lender, CMG Financial, announced today the hire of Area Sales Manager, Jason Everette (NMLS# 1208653). With a robust background in the financial sector, Everette brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to personalized home loan solutions to the Midwest.

CMG Home Loans Announces the Opening of New Las Vegas Branch

News posted On March 18, 2025

Las Vegas, NV – CMG Home Loans, the retail arm of the well-capitalized and privately held mortgage lender, CMG Financial, announced today the opening of a new branch in Nevada. Leading the Vegas location is Branch Manager J. Cole Boren (NMLS ID# 384591), a seasoned mortgage professional with nearly 30 years of experience, assisting homeowners in and around the Silver State as well as the majority of the states in the west.

CMG Home Loans Announces the Opening of New Denver West Branch

News posted On March 10, 2025

Denver, CO – CMG Home Loans, the retail arm of the well-capitalized and privately held mortgage lender, CMG Financial, announced today the opening of a new branch in Denver, CO. Leading the Denver West location is Regional Sales Manager Ashley Pratt (NMLS ID# 257354), a seasoned mortgage professional with nearly 30 years of industry experience.

CMG Home Loans Announces the Addition of LaSalle Mortgage, Bolstering Its Northern California Presence

News posted On March 04, 2025

Oakland, CA – CMG Home Loans, the retail arm of the well-capitalized and privately held mortgage lender, CMG Financial, announced today the opening of a new branch, LaSalle Mortgage. The branch will be led by Area Sales Manager, Phil Aguillon (NMLS# 1818749). A dynamic leader with over two decades of experience in the mortgage industry, Aguillon has built a reputation for driving market share growth, fostering high-performing teams, and delivering innovative lending strategies across the Bay Area.

January 2025 Month In Review

Blog posted On February 12, 2025

This Month’s Key Takeaways

• Buyers are payment-focused, not price-focused. According to a recent report from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), mortgage affordability remains the top concern for buyers, with 78% citing monthly payments as their primary hesitation.
• Financing incentives must align with buyer needs. A National Association of Realtors (NAR) survey found that 62% of first-time buyers used some form of financial assistance to make homeownership viable in Q4 2024.
• Sales teams need better conversations about affordability. Data from Fannie Mae’s latest housing sentiment survey indicates that 81% of buyers believe it's a bad time to buy due to high costs, meaning the ability to communicate affordability solutions effectively is more critical than ever.

CMG Home Loans Welcomes Shawn Williams, Area Sales Manager

News posted On February 04, 2025

Annapolis, MD – CMG Home Loans, the retail division of well-capitalized privately held mortgage lender, CMG Financial, announced today the hire of Area Sales Manager, Shawn Williams (NMLS# 216745). A skilled mortgage professional with 20 years of experience, Williams will be bringing his commitment to excellence and personalized client solutions to the Maryland area.

CMG Home Loans Announces New Hire of Brady Thomas, Area Sales Manager

News posted On January 30, 2025

Oakland, CA – CMG Home Loans, the retail division of well-capitalized privately held mortgage lender, CMG Financial, announced today the hire of Area Sales Manager, Brady Thomas (NMLS# 396946). With nearly two decades of experience leading high-performing teams, Thomas has earned a reputation for significantly growing purchase market share in the Oakland, California region.

What the Election Means for the Housing Market and Mortgage Rates

Blog posted On November 14, 2024

The upcoming administration turnover is raising a lot of questions and concerns about the future of the economy, housing industry, and mortgage rates. Though nothing is set in stone, there are some predictions about what could happen in coming years. Here are some of the major concerns and potential outcomes.

Are Sellers Pulling Back? Examining Recent Inventory Challenges

Blog posted On October 31, 2024

Is it true that some sellers are throwing in the towel? Due to the rising mortgage rates of last year and this year, the percentage of price cuts for homes have risen. Along with the price-cut increase, listings are also receding, which has led to this surge of sellers calling it quits. Thankfully, there are loan programs out there that can benefit sellers and buyers alike.

A Bountiful Autumn: What to Expect with Seasonal Mortgage Trends

Blog posted On October 04, 2024

The end of summer heralded a shift in the real estate market. The recent Fed rate cut announcement caused ripples throughout the industry, cutting the benchmark interest rate by 0.5%. Home buyers and real estate professionals alike have been celebrating as this announcement marked the first rate reduction in four years. After a languid summer and a dragging housing market, this economic shift has aligned perfectly with the changing season. Autumn has now been injected with buying energy, and potential home buyers may finally feel ready to leap off the sidelines into the golden leaves of homeowning.

CMG Home Loans Welcomes Josh Allyn, Area Sales Manager

News posted On October 01, 2024

The Woodlands, TX – CMG Home Loans, the retail division of well-capitalized privately held mortgage lender, CMG Financial, announced today the hire of Area Sales Manager, Josh Allyn (NMLS# 213245). Allyn, a passionate mortgage expert with nearly 20 years of experience in the industry, will be bringing his commitment to excellence and personalized client solutions to the Houston area.

CMG Financial Raises Conforming Loan Limits to $802,650 ahead of FHFA’s Increase

Blog posted On September 27, 2024

CMG Financial has increased its agency conforming loan limits to $802,640, a 4.71% increase from this past year’s limits. Though the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has not officially announced the new conforming loan limits, CMG wanted to give home buyers early access in an effort to ease some of their affordability challenges.

How Falling Interest Rates Could Reignite the Housing Market

Blog posted On September 20, 2024

With mortgage rates tumbling to their lowest levels in recent times, priced-out potential home buyers may start to hope again. Due to the recent lower-trending rates, refinance applications jumped starting in August. Now, with the Fed beginning its long-awaited rate cuts, home buyers could be in luck in the coming months.