If you're a first-time home buyer, you've probably spent months saving for your down payment... only to find out there's a whole second pile of money you didn't plan for. They're called closing costs, and most buyers have no idea what they're actually paying for, who's responsible for them, or that some of them can be negotiated. In this episode, Jeb Smith and mortgage expert Josh Lewis break down everything first-time buyers need to know about closing costs and, more importantly, how to keep yo...

A new Fed Chair and fewer expected Federal Reserve rate cuts could have a huge impact on mortgage rates, first-time home buyers, and housing affordability in 2026. If you're wondering whether you should buy a house now or wait for lower mortgage rates, this video breaks down what actually drives mortgage interest rates and why the Fed doesn't directly control them. Learn how inflation, the bond market, and investor expectations affect home loan rates and what it means for first-time home buyers ...

10 Insider Rules for a Smooth, Stress-Free Home Closing Most first-time home buyer closing problems do not happen at the closing table. They usually start weeks earlier because buyers were not prepared for what happens after their offer is accepted. In this episode of The Educated Homebuyer , Jeb Smith and Josh Lewis break down the 10 insider rules that help first-time home buyers avoid closing delays, financing surprises, homeowners insurance issues, appraisal problems, and last-minute stress. ...

Why First-Time Home Buyers Shouldn’t Wait for a 2008 Housing Market Crash If you’re a first-time home buyer waiting for the housing market to crash before you buy a home, this video is for you. A lot of buyers are comparing today’s market to 2008, but the data tells a very different story. In 2008, loose lending standards, zero-down loans, risky adjustable-rate mortgages, and a flood of foreclosures pushed home prices down. Today, most homeowners have significant equity, stronger credit profiles...

Is the housing market finally shifting away from sellers? In this episode of The Educated Homebuyer, Jeb Smith and Josh break down why sellers are pulling homes off the market at the fastest pace since 2020, what that means for inventory levels, and how it could impact first-time home buyers heading into the second half of the year.You'll learn why many homeowners are choosing not to sell, how low mortgage rates from previous years continue to limit housing supply, and why inventory remains one ...

Consumer debt is becoming one of the biggest obstacles for first-time homebuyers in 2026. In this episode of The Educated Homebuyer , Jeb Smith and Josh Lewis break down how credit cards, student loans, car payments, personal loans, and high debt-to-income ratios are impacting mortgage approvals in today’s housing market. With first-time homebuyers making up just 21% of the market, many buyers are being held back not only by home prices or mortgage rates, but by monthly debt payments that reduce...

Is the spring housing market still strong even with higher mortgage rates? In this episode of The Educated Homebuyer , Jeb Smith and Josh Lewis break down what first-time home buyers need to know about today’s real estate market, including inventory trends, buyer demand, mortgage rate movement, price reductions, and what it all means if you’re trying to buy a home. If you’re a first-time home buyer wondering whether to buy now or wait, this episode will help you understand the data behind the he...

First-time home buyers: mortgage rates just moved fast, and understanding what’s driving them could help you make a smarter home buying decision. In this episode, Jeb Smith and Josh Lewis break down what happened to mortgage rates, why inflation, Treasury yields, and global events are impacting affordability, and what first-time buyers should watch before buying a home in today’s housing market. You’ll learn what higher mortgage rates mean for your monthly payment, how to think about timing the ...

If you’re a first-time homebuyer in 2026, chances are you’ve been told now is the worst possible time to buy a home. Between headlines about high interest rates, affordability challenges, and a “frozen” housing market, many buyers feel overwhelmed, discouraged, and unsure where to start. But the truth is far more nuanced — and far more hopeful — than what the media wants you to believe. In this episode of The Educated Homebuyer , mortgage expert Josh Lewis and real estate agent Jeb Smith break d...

Why Shopping for a Mortgage Lender Can Backfire Shopping for a mortgage lender sounds like the smart move—but if you’re only chasing the lowest interest rate, it could cost you more money, more stress, and even your dream home. In this episode of The Educated Homebuyer , Josh Lewis and Jeb Smith break down the top 5 reasons you should not shop for a lender the wrong way . They explain why rate shopping without a full pre-approval, loan program clarity, and accurate cost comparisons often leads h...

War Headlines Just Shifted Mortgage Rates: What Homebuyers Need to Know Mortgage rates are moving again, and this time the driver is not just inflation or jobs data — it is global uncertainty. In this episode of The Educated HomeBuyer Podcast , Jeb Smith and Josh Lewis break down how war headlines, oil prices, inflation expectations, employment data, housing inventory, and mortgage spreads are all impacting today’s housing market. If you are trying to decide whether to buy a home, wait for lower...

Can you really afford the home you want? In this episode, we break down debt-to-income ratio (DTI) and explain how lenders use your income, monthly debts, loan program, down payment, and mortgage payment to determine how much house you can qualify for. We also walk through the income needed to qualify for homes at different price points, including $300K, $500K, $750K, and $1M, so you can better understand what lenders are actually looking for before you start shopping. If you are a first-time ho...

First-Time Home Buyer Guide: Everything You Need to Know to Buy Smart Buying your first home is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make. If you’re a first-time home buyer , understanding the mortgage process, down payment options, closing costs, credit score requirements, and today’s housing market can feel overwhelming. The good news? With the right strategy, becoming a homeowner is achievable. More importantly, homeownership can be one of the most powerful ways to b...

Housing supply could be the biggest factor shaping the 2026 peak buying season. In this episode, we break down why inventory matters so much, how it impacts buyer competition, seller leverage, home prices, and what today’s market signals could mean for anyone planning to buy or sell a home. The spring housing market is usually the busiest time of year, but when housing supply does not show up the way buyers expect, everything changes. Fewer listings can keep competition elevated, limit buyer cho...

Zillow just downgraded its housing market forecast —so what does that really mean for home prices, mortgage rates, inventory, and buyers in today’s market? In this episode of The Educated Home Buyer , Jeb Smith and Josh Lewis break down Zillow’s latest housing market forecast and explain why the headline matters, what “flat” home price growth could mean nationwide, and why local real estate markets may behave very differently from national averages. If you’ve been wondering whether the housing m...

Everyone thought the housing market was about to take off this spring… but the exact opposite is happening. Sales are down, inventory growth is slowing, and first-time home buyers just hit the lowest level ever recorded. So what’s really going on? Is the housing market actually stalled, or are people just misunderstanding what the data is telling us? In this episode of The Educated Homebuyer , Jeb and Josh break down what’s happening in today’s housing market, why this spring hasn’t looked the w...

Is the 2026 Housing Market Slowing Down? Here’s What You Need to Know The 2026 housing market is showing signs of slowing, and if you're thinking about buying or selling, this is information you need to understand. In this episode of The Educated Homebuyer , we break down the latest trends shaping today’s real estate market, including inventory levels, rising interest rates, inflation concerns, and shifting buyer demand. You’ll learn why inventory is unexpectedly moving sideways during what shou...

What if one financial mistake could shape the way you approach homeownership forever? In this powerful episode, Juan opens up about how his family’s foreclosure during the 2008 financial crisis became the foundation for smarter, more intentional decisions years later. Instead of chasing the market or overextending, he and his wife focused on financial stability, disciplined savings, and buying within their means—ultimately allowing them to purchase their first condo in 2021 and successfully move...

Mortgage rates just dropped following news of a ceasefire—but will it actually last? In this episode of The Educated Homebuyer , we break down what’s really happening in the market right now and what it means for you if you’re thinking about buying a home in 2026. From bond market volatility to inflation trends and oil price impacts, we connect the dots so you can understand why mortgage rates move—and what could happen next. We also dive into: Why today’s rate drop didn’t stick (and what caused...

Most buyers think the highest offer always wins—but in today’s real estate and housing market, that is not how sellers actually decide. Whether you are a first-time home buyer or already navigating the process of buying a home, understanding what sellers look for can make or break your offer. In this episode, Jeb Smith and Josh Lewis break down what really matters when buying a house, including price, net proceeds, financing strength, contingency timelines, escrow length, and overall certainty o...

Have mortgage interest rates already bottomed for 2026? In this episode of The Educated Homebuyer , we break down the recent jump in mortgage rates, why global conflict, oil prices, inflation, and Treasury yields are all putting upward pressure on the market, and what that means for buyers planning to purchase a home this year. We also explain whether waiting for lower rates is a smart strategy, what would need to change for rates to fall again, and how homebuyers should think about timing the m...

Waiting to buy a home could be costing you more than you think. While most buyers focus on mortgage rates, home prices, and monthly payments, very few stop to consider the true financial cost of waiting—and in many cases, it’s significant. In this episode of The Educated Homebuyer , we break down the real math behind the “buy now vs wait” decision. From steady home price appreciation to competitive market dynamics, even modest increases in value can add up to thousands of dollars over time. And ...

The FED just sent a warning that most people are completely missing and it could have a direct impact on the housing market. With inflation not cooling as fast as expected, rates staying higher for longer, and uncertainty rising from global events, the path forward just got a lot more complicated for homebuyers. In this video, we break down exactly what the FED said, what it really means for mortgage rates, and whether you should be buying now or waiting as the housing market shifts. Start your ...

If you're thinking about buying a home and want to learn the smartest way to get started, visit https://www.theeducatedhomebuyer.com/start. Mortgage rates might not fall anytime soon — and oil prices could be the reason why. In this episode of The Educated Homebuyer , Jeb Smith and Josh Lewis break down the surprising connection between oil prices, inflation, and mortgage rates. While many buyers focus on the Federal Reserve, global energy markets may actually play a bigger role in where interes...