Kisha Hayes

The headlines keep talking about mortgage rates. This week, let's look at another number shaping today's housing market—and why understanding both can help you make better real estate decisions. 🏡What's Happening in Real Estate Everyone seems to be watching mortgage rates. I’m watching inventory. Mortgage rates affect how much you can comfortably borrow, but inventory often determines how many homes you have to choose from. When more homes are available, buyers typically have more negotiating...

Hey Reader —grab your coffee (or tea). I have a few real estate things worth knowing this week. 🍵 🏡What's Happening in Real Estate Here's something that may sound backwards: mortgage rates are still high, but home prices rose in 80% of U.S. metro areas last quarter. That is up from 71% earlier this year. So if you have been waiting for higher rates to automatically push home prices down, the market is giving us another reminder—real estate does not work from one number alone. People are still...

Hey Reader —grab your coffee (or tea). I have a few real estate things worth knowing this week. 🍵 🏡What's Happening in Real Estate The Fed left interest rates alone this week—and Wall Street still got nervous. Why? Because “no change” did not sound like “relief.” Inflation is still hanging around, some Fed officials wanted rates higher, and investors heard one message loud and clear: borrowing costs may stay higher for longer. For homebuyers, here’s the part you should understand: the Fed...

Tomorrow marks 250 years of this country, and homeownership has been part of the promise since the beginning. Whether that promise has kept pace with the people it was made to - is a question worth sitting with. What I know for sure: if you told yourself 2026 would be different for your housing situation, there's still time. But "later" just got a lot shorter. One thing before we dive in: there's a file with your name on it that isn't your credit report, and it might be costing you money...

🏡What's Happening in Real Estate The largest housing bill in nearly 20 years just passed Congress this week. It's called the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, and it combines close to 50 separate proposals aimed at one core problem: there aren't enough homes, and the ones that exist are getting harder to afford. A few things in this bill that directly affect buyers and homeowners: a new pilot program for FHA mortgages under $100,000 (aimed at making smaller, more affordable homes easier to...

🏡What's Happening in Real Estate This is the 100th edition of this newsletter, and after writing every week for nearly three years, I've noticed something: The biggest real estate mistakes aren't usually caused by the market. They're caused by assumptions. "I can't qualify.""I need 20% down.""Rates are too high." Meanwhile, recent housing reports show affordability has improved from a year ago and buyers have more options than they've had in several years. Yet many people are still making...

🏡What's Happening in Real Estate For the past two years, much of the housing conversation centered around one question: "When will rates come down?" Now the conversation is shifting. Markets are paying close attention to new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh and what direction he takes monetary policy. The growing discussion is whether interest rates could remain elevated longer if inflation continues to linger. What's interesting is that many buyers have already adjusted to today's rates. The bigger...

🏡What's Happening in Real Estate The market felt wide awake this week — and honestly, a little bipolar. Inflation moved higher again in April, mainly from rising fuel and food costs, while wholesale prices came in much hotter than expected. Normally, that kind of inflation data creates concern around borrowing costs and affordability. At the same time, existing home sales still managed to edge higher and inventory continued improving. That is what makes this market so interesting right now....

🏡What's Happening in Real Estate Today's headlines will likely center around Kevin Warsh officially stepping into the Federal Reserve Chair position. While the Fed Chair does not personally control mortgage rates, the position absolutely influences inflation policy, market confidence, and the overall direction of interest rate conversations. Warsh has publicly emphasized concerns around inflation and price stability. One thing that keeps standing out to me is the United States now carrying...

🏡What's Happening in Real Estate This week I spent time reviewing Louisiana economic projections, housing trends, and development activity across our region. One thing became very clear: large amounts of money are continuing to move into Louisiana through industrial expansion, manufacturing, AI infrastructure, and energy-related projects. Why does that matter to regular people? Because jobs create housing demand. Housing demand eventually affects rent prices, home values, traffic,...