In this episode of On the Highway, Bridgette Hardonk talks with top-producing loan officer Brandon Poulos about what it really takes to build a lasting mortgage career. Drawing from more than 20 years in the industry, Brandon shares lessons on adapting through market shifts, building strong referral relationships, creating structure through themed workdays, and why proactive communication remains one of the most overlooked keys to success. He also offers a practical look at how he uses AI as a thought partner while emphasizing that mortgage lending will always be a people-first business.

Markets received encouraging news as the United States and Iran agreed to extend their ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, reducing concerns about global energy supplies. At the same time, the Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged in Kevin Warsh's first meeting as Chair. Housing data painted a mixed picture, with homebuilders pulling back on new construction while pending home sales continued to increase. Other economic reports showed updates on consumer spending and weekly jobless claims, offering a broader look at the health of the economy.

When it comes to home prices, one of the most important forces is simple: supply and demand.

Elevated energy and gasoline costs pushed inflation higher in May, while existing home sales reached their fastest pace of the year. Three themes stand out from the latest data: rising energy costs driving broader inflation, home sales posting their strongest showing of 2026, and jobless claims drawing renewed attention.

The MBS Highway National Housing Index fell 9 points in June 2026, dropping from 47 in May to 38. Buyer activity declined sharply from the previous month, while price direction reversed its slow but steady climb.

Labor market data paints a resilient picture, while home price forecasts highlight the long-term opportunity in homeownership. May's jobs report surprised to the upside, ADP figures signaled broader hiring gains, and additional labor data supported that outlook. On the housing side, long-term home price forecasts put the value of homeownership on full display, giving buyers and clients a compelling reason to act despite affordability headwinds.

April brought a mixed economic picture: inflation ticked higher and remained above the Fed's target, new home sales came in below expectations, and GDP and unemployment data added further texture to an uncertain macro backdrop. Against that softness, long-term home price appreciation forecasts continue to reinforce the wealth-building potential of homeownership.

In this session, we break down how the Loan Comparison tool turns complicated loan scenarios into clear, side by side conversations your borrowers actually understand. You'll see how to explain options with confidence, build trust from the first meeting, and close more deals as a result.

In this episode of On the Highway, Scott Brixen breaks down the latest Case-Shiller National Home Price Index data for March 2026. Listen as he walks through which cities are feeling the most pressure, where prices are still holding up, and why the Case-Shiller methodology makes this data worth paying attention to in the first place.

April saw a slowdown in single-family housing construction even as signed contracts for existing homes rose for a third straight month and beat expectations, while the Federal Reserve's April meeting minutes highlighted disagreement among policymakers over the path forward, with key takeaways including cooling single-family construction, a slight uptick in builder sentiment, continued climbing in pending home sales, a policy divide revealed in the Fed minutes, and a pulse check on unemployment claims.