Over the last 20 years, 30 year mortgage rates have been on a roller coaster. They dropped to record lows in the early 2010s after the financial crisis and again during COVID, then shot up quickly in the early 2020s. As we head into 2026, rates have come down slightly but remain much higher than the record lows of the …
As many are aware, in 2025, Orange County implemented one of the most significant changes to our real estate tax assessment system in decades. The shift affected how our properties are valued, how often assessments occur, and how, as homeowners, those values can be challenged if we believe they are inaccurate. Since at least 1996, Orange County relied on a …
Here in Orange County, we’ve already felt those first freezing temperatures, and winter has officially settled in. As we head into early 2026, a little preparation now can save a lot of stress later. Think of this as a seasonal reset for your home—practical, preventative, and well worth the effort. Keep the Heat Working for You: With colder weather, your …
When you hear that the Federal Reserve is cutting interest rates, it’s easy to assume that mortgage rates will drop too. After all, if borrowing money becomes cheaper, home loans should follow suit — right? Not quite. The connection between Fed rate cuts and mortgage rates is indirect and often misunderstood. To understand why mortgage rates don’t always move in …
Not all heroes wear capes — some wear headsets and take off from small local runways. Kley Parkhurst, a Lake of the Woods resident, uses his passion for flight to lift others — transporting patients to care and animals to safety, changing lives one mission at a time. Parkhurst began community benefit flying in 2021 and has been unstoppable ever …
As someone who closely tracks the local housing market each month, it’s clear that August brought a mix of momentum and caution for Orange County real estate. Bright Multiple Listing Service (MLS) data, published on or about the 10th of each month, reveals how the market stacked up against July as well as the same period in 2024. The COVID …