In this episode of the *South Florida Mortgage Report*, Billy Mei and Craig A. Garcia break down what actually happened with rates last year, what the big forecasters are projecting for the end of 2026 (Fannie Mae, MBA, NAR, NAHB, Wells Fargo), and why “predictions” should always be treated as directionally useful—not exact.They also dig into two major headlines that could influence the mortgage market:* The push to limit institutional investors buying homes* The announcement around Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac potentially purchasing up to $200B in mortgage-backed securities—and what that could mean for mortgage spreads, volatility, and the refinance outlookYou’ll also hear why mortgage rates don’t simply follow the Fed, what a Fed Chair transition could mean (and what it *won’t* mean), and practical takeaways for buyers, sellers, and agents navigating a more stable—but still headline-driven—rate environment.And yes… we close out with the full “Calculation Man” track. 🎶**Chapters (suggested)**0:00 Intro + New Year kickoff2:30 2025 rate recap (6.91% → 6.15%)5:10 2026 predictions: who’s forecasting what9:30 Why forecasts are usually off12:30 New Fed Chair talk + why aggressive cuts could backfire18:10 Negotiation market: “make the market before it makes you”22:30 Institutional investor homebuying headlines27:00 $200B MBS purchase talk: spreads, impact, volatility33:00 Jobs report and rate reaction38:00 Wrap-up + “Calculation Man”**Subscribe for weekly market updates** on rates, inflation, jobs reports, and what actually moves mortgage pricing.📍South Florida focus — national relevance.#MortgageRates #HousingMarket #RealEstate #Fed #FannieMae #FreddieMac #MBS #Refinance #HomeBuying #SouthFloridaRealEstate🎧 LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE TO THE SOUTH FLORIDA MORTGAGE REPORT 🔁 YouTube playlist (all episodes): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCOa_zSrotiecbiomGKhTzASCBToYQUea 📱 Subscribe & follow on your favorite platform: • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/south-florida-mortgage-report/id1834181574 • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5QxG2PzPd3W9pJFqQnLAPS?si=5a667fbd60a44ce9 📌 HELPFUL LINKS📩 Housing Newsletter: Stay informed with curated mortgage and housing insights delivered straight to your inbox: https://housingnewsletters.com/craiggarcia ✅ Pre-Approvals 24/7: Get started anytime: ⁠Option 1⁠ https://loancenter.cp-mtg.com/dr/c/rhx8h ⁠Option 2⁠ https://loancenter.cp-mtg.com/dr/c/w2o7v