Newsletter
The Forward Mortgage newsletter
Monthly insights from Brian Mutter (NMLS #1109257) on mortgage rates, the housing market, and how they connect to your financial life.
-
What will you actually pay at closing? Here's how I explain it: three buckets.
The cash you bring to the closing table, explained in three simple buckets — down payment, closing costs, and prepaids — in plain English and real dollars.
Read more → -
100 Days of Conflict: Where Mortgage Rates Stand
About 100 days into the Middle East conflict, mortgage rates have climbed from below 6% to 6.78%. Here's the oil-to-rates chain reaction, two scenarios for what's next, and what it means if you're buying or refinancing.
Read more → -
What is an escrow account — and why did my “fixed” payment go up?
If part of your mortgage payment goes into escrow, here's what that account actually is — and why a "fixed" payment can still change when your taxes or insurance rise.
Read more → -
3.8% Inflation? Yikes! Here's What It Actually Means
The April inflation report dropped this morning. The headline: 3.8% — the highest reading in about three years. Here's what it actually means for your mortgage rate.
Read more → -
Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, and Your Mortgage Rate
A few months ago, mortgage rates quietly dipped below 6% for the first time since 2022.
Read more → -
The Latest on Rates — and Why the Middle East Matters
Mortgage rates have already done a lot of zigging and zagging in 2026.
Read more → -
2026: What’s in store for mortgage interest rates?
As we wrapped up 2025, housing affordability was clearly on the White House’s radar. One idea that grabbed headlines was the idea of a 50-year mortgage. While it was widely criticized — mostly because the long-term in…
Read more → -
What’s Been Going On With Mortgage Rates, And What Comes Next?
A look back at mortgage interest rates over 2025, with an eye toward what we can expect in 2026 As the year winds down, I wanted to quickly revisit a frequent topic: Mortgage rates! They’ve been a bit frustrating late…
Read more → -
Is a 50-Year Mortgage Really the Fix?
Affordability has been the big headline for years now – and honestly, for good reason. Between fast home-price growth, tight inventory, and mortgage rates that aren’t exactly doing us favors, it’s become harder for ev…
Read more → -
The FED finally cut rates – now what?
The Federal Reserve finally cut the Fed Funds Rate by 0.25% on September 17, 2025 – the first cut in more than four years. While that rate affects how banks lend to each other, it doesn’t directly control mortgage rat…
Read more →