The mortgage market got a jolt this week as President Trump announced plans to direct Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities. Brian and David discuss what this means for borrowers and why the impact might play out differently across various real estate markets—potentially sparking bidding wars in competitive areas like Milwaukee while improving affordability in softer markets.

The team reveals Milwaukee’s 2025 housing numbers: sales up 1.7%, median prices climbing 6.1% to $355,000, and realtor.com projecting another 7% increase in 2026. Despite slightly more inventory, southeastern Wisconsin remains a hot seller’s market with strong buyer competition expected to continue.

David shares two compelling stories from the lending trenches: rescuing a client from a nosy credit union underwriter who questioned a legitimate price reduction, and coaching a million-dollar homebuyer on what really matters beyond just mortgage approval. His insight? For qualified buyers in competitive markets, the artistry of winning the house often matters more than simply getting the loan.

Plus, why that weak pre-approval letter might cost you the house, the importance of teamwork between lender and buyer’s agent, and how rising home values are creating refinance opportunities to eliminate PMI.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​