🚀 In this episode of Mortgage On My Mind, host Natalie Salins welcomes nationally recognized mortgage expert Lindsay Barron LaBonte for a timely and practical conversation about interest rates. Together, they break down one of the most misunderstood topics in real estate: the difference between Federal Reserve rate cuts and actual mortgage rates.
Lindsay explains how mortgage-backed securities work, why rate drops are often “priced in” before Fed announcements, and why chasing a quarter-point rate change may not be worth the stress. They also discuss refinancing timing, market volatility, affordability, perspective on payments vs. rates, and how homeowners can stay informed without getting overwhelmed.
🎧 Hosted by: Natalie Salins
👤 Guest: 🏡 Lindsay Barron LaBonte – Branch Manager, Applied Mortgage Team | Nationally Recognized Mortgage Professional
Lindsay Barron LaBonte is a nationally recognized mortgage professional and community leader based in Northampton, Massachusetts, with more than 19 years of experience in the lending industry. As Branch Manager of the Applied Mortgage Team, the Northampton branch of HMA Mortgage, she has helped thousands of individuals and families achieve homeownership while emphasizing financial education and long-term planning. Consistently ranked among the top loan originators in Western Massachusetts, Lindsay has been a Banker & Tradesman Top Loan Originator across Hampshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Berkshire Counties for eight consecutive years, and is a Scotsman Guide Top 1% Woman Originator nationally. She was also featured in Mortgage Banking Magazine’s 2022 Powerful Women in Mortgage Banking and hosts the podcast Real People, Real Estate, showcasing real estate stories rooted in the Western Mass community. Alongside her professional success, Lindsay is deeply committed to local service, supporting more than 30 nonprofit organizations and serving on the board of the United Way of Franklin and Hampshire County as well as several community committees.
💡 What You’ll Learn:
✔️ Why Fed rate cuts don’t instantly change mortgage rates
✔️ How mortgage-backed securities influence daily rate movement
✔️ Why rates are often “baked in” before big Fed announcements
✔️ The real impact of a 0.25% rate change on monthly payments
✔️ When refinancing makes sense — and when it doesn’t
🎵 Whether you're a first-time buyer, homeowner, or investor, this episode offers clarity in a confusing rate environment.
💼 Connect with Lindsay Barron LaBonte:
🌐 Website → https://appliedmortgageteam.com/
📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lindsaybarronlabonte381413/
📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/LoanswithLindsay
🎙 Follow Natalie Salins – Mortgage On My Mind:
🌎 Website → https://movement.com/lo/natalie-salins
📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/natalie.salins/
📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/natalie_salins/?hl=en
🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-salins-1029583b
💎 Produced by Icons of Real Estate – https://iconsofrealestate.com/