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Mortgage Rate Headlines vs. Your Actual Loan Options

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A mortgage-rate headline can be useful, but it is easy to give it more meaning than it deserves. Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey is a widely followed national benchmark. It helps consumers and housing professionals see broad market direction. It does not quote a rate to a specific borrower. What the survey tells you Freddie Mac releases the PMMS on Thursdays. The published averages reflect survey methodology and assumptions described by Freddie Mac. They are useful for comparing broad changes over time and understanding the general rate environment. What it does not tell you A national average does not account for every detail of an individual transaction. Available rates and terms may vary based on the loan program, credit profile, down payment or equity, occupancy, property type, loan purpose, points or lender credits, lock period and market conditions when the rate is locked. Not every borrower or property fits the same scenario. Why the full loan estimate matters When ...
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Appraisal Reports Are Changing: What Oklahoma Realtors Should Know About UAD 3.6

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  Beginning November 2, 2026, new appraisal reports submitted to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac through the Uniform Collateral Data Portal must use UAD 3.6. New reports using the older UAD 2.6 format will receive an unsuccessful submission status. For Realtors, this is not simply an appraisal-industry technology update. It is a reminder that accurate, organized property information can materially affect the efficiency of a mortgage transaction. UAD 3.6 introduces a more structured and detailed approach to describing residential property characteristics. Realtors are not responsible for determining appraisal condition ratings, quality ratings, or market value. However, listing and transaction teams can help ensure that the underlying facts are readily available. A useful property-information packet might include: A complete list of renovations and approximate completion dates Permits or contractor documentation when available Accurate concessions and seller-paid expenses HOA dues and pr...
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Location: Tulsa, OK, USA
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A New Financing Path for Some Previously Moved Manufactured Homes

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  Manufactured housing plays an important role in Oklahoma, particularly for buyers seeking affordability or purchasing in rural communities. One long-standing obstacle has been financing a manufactured home that was moved after its original installation. Beginning September 9, updated Freddie Mac guidance may create a financing path for some of these properties. Under the updated requirements, an eligible manufactured home moved from another site must be inspected by a licensed professional engineer or another appropriate authority to verify its structural integrity. The home also cannot be placed in an area with more restrictive wind, roof-load, or thermal-zone requirements than the zone for which it was constructed. That is a meaningful change—but it is not blanket approval for every relocated home. Buyers and Realtors must still consider: HUD certification labels and construction records The home’s movement and installation history Foundation requirements Real-property classifi...
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Location: Tulsa, OK, USA
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Mortgage Rates Today: Oil, Inflation and What Tulsa Buyers Should Know This Week

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Mortgage Monday is arriving on a Tuesday this week—and this time, waiting for the financial markets to reopen gave us a much clearer picture of what is actually happening with mortgage rates. The early read is mixed. Mortgage bonds have recovered from some premarket weakness, and the 10-year Treasury yield was close to 4.78% during Tuesday morning trading. That is better than the early premarket level of approximately 4.80%, but it is not enough to call this a meaningful mortgage-rate rally. The more accurate description is: Mortgage pricing opened roughly unchanged to slightly better, but inflation and oil prices are keeping the market on edge. What Happened When the Market Opened? Before the regular market session, the 10-year Treasury yield was approximately 4.803%, nearly two basis points higher than Friday’s close. Later in the morning, the yield moved back toward 4.78%, while mortgage-backed securities were essentially unchanged to slightly stronger. That recovery is mildly encou...
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Location: Tulsa, OK, USA
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Only $630,000 Remains in Tulsa County Homebuyer Assistance Funds

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  Only $630,000 remains available through the Tulsa County Home Finance Authority program, creating a limited opportunity for qualified first-time homebuyers who need help with the upfront cost of purchasing a home. The remaining funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the money has been reserved, this opportunity will close. What the program currently offers Qualified borrowers may receive a 6.35% fixed interest rate on a 30-year FHA, VA or USDA first mortgage, along with down payment assistance equal to 3.5% of the total first-mortgage note amount. The assistance is structured as a five-year forgivable second mortgage. If the program’s requirements are met throughout the five-year period, the assistance may be forgiven. Current program highlights include: • 6.35% fixed interest rate • 3.5% down payment assistance • Five-year forgivable second mortgage • FHA, VA and USDA financing options • Minimum 620 FICO score • Household income limits and other program re...
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Location: Tulsa, OK, USA
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Tulsa Financial Readiness: How Free Local Counseling Can Support a Homebuying Plan

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Buying a home is not only a mortgage decision. It is also a household-budget decision, a cash-flow decision and a timing decision. A local Tulsa resource is helping residents work on those fundamentals before they reach a major financial milestone. The City of Tulsa announced on August 5 that its Financial Empowerment Center had helped clients collectively increase savings by $2,001,268 and reduce $5,360,860 in non-mortgage debt as of July 14, 2026. Since launching in 2020, the Center has served more than 9,000 clients. What the Tulsa Financial Empowerment Center offers The Center provides free, one-on-one financial counseling. According to the City, topics include budgeting, credit building, debt management and long-term financial planning. Services are available through community partners and are intended to give residents a structured place to ask questions and build a workable plan. This is not the same as mortgage underwriting, credit repair or a promise that someone will qualify ...
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Location: Tulsa, OK, USA
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Mortgage Closing Wire Fraud: A Stop, Call and Verify Checklist for Homebuyers

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Closing week is busy. Buyers are reviewing documents, coordinating movers and preparing to transfer funds. That sense of urgency is exactly what a scammer may try to exploit. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau warns that criminals target homebuyers near closing by sending false wiring instructions. A scammer may pose as a real estate agent, lender, settlement agent, attorney or another trusted person in the transaction. How the scam can look real A fraudulent message may use familiar names, logos, email formatting and transaction details. It may say that wiring instructions changed or that funds must be sent quickly to avoid delaying closing. The message can look polished. That is why visual appearance is not enough to establish that it is legitimate. Set up verification before closing week The CFPB recommends identifying trusted people involved in the closing and recording their contact information in advance. Buyers can ask the title or settlement professional how wiring instru...
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Location: Tulsa, OK, USA
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