Good morning, friend!

This is the time of year when you can almost feel the energy shifting. Holiday events ramp up, inboxes slow down, and a lot of people mentally start wrapping up the year. And to be fair, we’ve all earned a breather after this year.

At the same time, this is the window that separates “I hope Q1 goes well” from “I’m already set up for a strong Q1.” The more intentional we are right now—touching our sphere, checking in on pre-approved buyers, staying present for our clients, and expressing our gratitude to our people—the easier 2026 will feel out of the gate.

On the market side, this week has the potential to be pretty impactful. The Fed meets to decide on the Fed funds rate, and as of today there’s about an 85% chance of another 25 bps cut . A few weeks back, another cut for December wasn’t anticipated, so there has been a big shift in sentiment.

But just like in our businesses, it’s not only about the one decision—it’s about the message behind it. Markets will be listening closely to the meeting notes and press conference. If they sound cautious about more cuts next year, or if they skip the December cut altogether, rates could move higher, just as they have after the last few Fed cuts.

Mortgage Rates ↗️

We are starting the week with pricing a bit higher than we saw at this time last week, with all attention on Wednesday’s Fed announcement.

The national average for a 30-year fixed conventional mortgage is sitting at 6.36% according to Mortgage News Daily . (Keep in mind, this assumes 25% down, perfect credit, a single-family home, and on average about a one-point buydown.)

Other Helpful Articles

• No Budget? No Problem. Here’s How to Earn Free Leads
• The Best and Worst Times to Buy a House Going into 2026
• December Housing Demand Near 3-Year High as Spreads Improve

Two Ways I Can Help

• Let’s collaborate — Schedule a Zoom meeting with me here and let’s talk shop. I’m always down to mastermind and ideate.
• Tough deal? My team and I routinely save deals for our agent partners, so let me know if you have a deal going sideways before throwing in the towel.

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.”
— Robert Collier