patty m s

brenda e. d

gary g

joycelyn faye m

rodney w m

mauro c

nebyou a

susan b

robert e. p

Charming, Updated, and Move-In Ready — Just Minutes from TCU and Downtown Fort Worth! Prepare to fall in love with this absolutely adorable 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom gem, perfectly located near TCU, vibrant downtown Fort Worth, and beautiful local parks! Offering the ideal blend of historic charm and stylish modern updates, this home is designed to impress. Step inside to a bright, open-concept floor plan featuring rich hardwood and elegant tile flooring, all flooded with natural light from brand-new energy-efficient windows. The beautifully updated kitchen is a true centerpiece, complete with crisp white cabinetry, stunning granite countertops, and stainless-steel appliances — perfect for everyday living and entertaining alike.The spacious primary suite serves as your private retreat, boasting a luxurious en-suite bathroom and a large walk-in closet. Major upgrades include fresh interior and exterior paint, newly stained hardwood floors, new windows, a brand-new plumbing line to the street, and an extended backyard fence with a new gate for easy access — ideal for hosting weekend BBQs, outdoor gatherings, or relaxing evenings under the stars. Bonus: the roof is only 4 years old, and the refrigerator conveys with the home! Overflowing with character, style, and updates, this home is truly move-in ready. Don’t miss your chance — schedule your showing today before it's gone!
Explore this beautiful, modern home in Spicewood, TX! With bright, open spaces and lots of windows, this house feels sunny and welcoming. The floors are shiny and made of wood, making it both cozy and stylish. The kitchen is perfect for cooking and hanging out, with shiny stainless-steel appliances, smooth countertops, and lots of cabinets for storage. The main bedroom is like your own private getaway, with a big bathtub, a walk-in shower, and double sinks. There’s plenty of space in the other bedrooms for family or friends to stay. This home is in a quiet neighborhood close to Lake Travis and other fun places to visit.
Step into your dream home in Spicewood, TX! This bright and beautiful house has everything you need to feel comfortable and happy. The open floor plan makes it easy to move around and spend time with family and friends. Big windows let in lots of sunlight, making every room feel warm and inviting. The kitchen is perfect for cooking, with shiny new appliances, lots of counter space, and modern cabinets. The main bedroom is your own private space, complete with a big bathtub to relax in, a walk-in shower, and plenty of storage for your things. There are other spacious bedrooms for your kids, guests, or even a home office. This home is in a quiet, friendly neighborhood, close to Lake Travis and fun outdoor spots.
Welcome to this beautiful and modern home in Spicewood, TX! It has bright, open spaces with big windows that let in lots of sunshine. The floors are shiny and warm, making the house feel cozy yet stylish. The kitchen is a chef’s dream with sleek cabinets, shiny countertops, and top-notch appliances, perfect for cooking and spending time with family. The main bedroom is like a private retreat, with a big bathtub, a walk-in shower, and lots of space to relax. The other bedrooms are spacious and great for family, friends, or even a home office. Outside, you’ll find a peaceful yard with plenty of room to enjoy the fresh air. This home is in a quiet, family-friendly neighborhood, close to Lake Travis and all the fun activities Spicewood has to offer.
Whether you call it “strong” or just “better than expected,” this week’s economic data outperformed market expectations—and as a result, interest rates edged higher.Interest rates are closely tied to bond market behavior, which is heavily influenced by economic data. That said, the market doesn’t always stay focused on data releases. In early April, for instance, attention shifted to tariff-related developments, pushing economic reports to the back burner.But as we mentioned two weeks ago, it seemed like economic fundamentals were regaining influence over rate movements. That was confirmed this week when the ISM Manufacturing PMI report had a noticeable impact. While the data wasn’t necessarily impressive, several components were stronger than anticipated. At the same time, inflationary pressures—reflected in elevated input prices—remained persistent, which is generally negative for interest rates.In short, investors were looking for signs that trade uncertainty was starting to weaken the real economy, which could have justified lower rates. But when the data didn’t support that concern, markets adjusted upward.Thursday saw only modest market movement, but things picked up on Friday after the release of the Employment Situation Report. Despite some downward revisions to previous months, job creation still beat expectations, and the unemployment rate held steady—even with more people entering the labor force. That’s generally a sign of labor market strength.Together, the data from Thursday and Friday reversed the drop in expectations for a Fed rate cut that had built up over the past six trading days. The good news? This shift didn’t do much damage to the broader interest rate landscape. Ten-year Treasury yields—a key benchmark for longer-term rates like mortgages—are still in the lower half of their recent range. Mortgage rates are close to where they were last Thursday, although slightly higher compared to last Friday.Some headlines may claim mortgage rates fell this week, but those are likely based on survey data from Freddie Mac or the MBA that doesn’t reflect the rate increases seen at the end of the week.
Please note that this newsletter is fiercely apolitical. There is no judgment on whether any given political development is good or bad. We are only interested in how financial and housing markets are reacting. Significant market volatility has been all over the news since the April 2nd tariff announcement, but this week went a long way toward restoring a sense of calm. In addition to tariff-related impacts, last week's volatility was also exacerbated by Trump's comments on Fed Chair Powell. Up until that point, bonds (and thus, interest rates) were having a solid week.Trump initially doubled down on his criticism of Powell as the new week began. Markets weren't happy about it with stocks and bonds both losing ground sharply on Monday morning.Less than a day later, Trump reversed his stance on Powell, saying he was never thinking about firing the Fed Chair. Markets loved it. They also loved a big apparent shift in the tone on trade negotiations with China. Throughout the week, traders were left with the sense that the application of tariffs and trade policy would be much more thoughtful than initially feared. This was a win for both stocks and bonds. The reaction to the clarification/retraction of Trump's Powell comments was the biggest to-do of the week. After that, an absence of new tariff drama (as well as a few more indications of less onerous tariff policies) helped markets calmly extend their gains. As a reminder, bonds are gaining when yields (the blue line) are moving lower.By Friday, one could argue that the bond market has made a bit of a round trip back to the levels that prevailed in an uneventful, sideways fashion for more than a month ahead of the tariff announcement. Are we "back?" Yes, technically, but there are caveats. First up: mortgage rates are not as "back" as Treasury yields. This is especially true if you're looking at weekly survey levels, but just barely true based on more timely daily averages from MND.The other caveat is the eternal truth of following markets and rates: we only ever know where we are today. The future is uncertain, even if it seems like we breathe a little easier regarding tariff announcements causing volatility. In general, and although tariff policy will still matter greatly, it will be the impact on the economy that does more to guide the market reaction. To that end, we already got a glimpse of tariffs spilling over to economic data in one of this week's reports (S&P Global's PMI reports showed sharply higher price pressures due to tariffs). The coming week brings a significantly more active and consequential economic calendar. Every day holds at least one event with the power to cause some market movement depending on the results. Of particular note are the final three days of the week culminating in Friday's jobs report--generally considered to be the most important data on any given month as far as interest rates are concerned.
Managing your money like a pro is the key to owning your future. Mess it up, and things can get stressful real fast. But get it right, and you’ll have way more freedom and control over your life.At the end of the day, it’s all about the choices you make. And guess what? We’re here to help. We’ll break things down in a way that actually makes sense, give you fresh ways to think about your finances, and hook you up with fun, interactive tools to help you hit your goals.Your future is yours to design—so let’s make it happen!Money = Freedom: Here’s How to Take ControlLet’s be real—understanding money is the key to real stability and freedom. But the way our parents or teachers handled their finances might not work for us. Luckily, we have the internet and social media at our fingertips, giving us access to all the info we need. The catch? There’s also a ton of misinformation and unrealistic expectations floating around. So, let’s cut through the noise and focus on the basics:1. Save & Budget Like a Boss – Spend less than you make. That’s the golden rule. Once you’ve got your budget locked in, you can start putting money toward bigger things—investments, travel, or whatever matters most to you.2. Build That Emergency Fund – Life happens. Make sure you have 3–6 months’ worth of expenses saved up. And don’t just let it sit—put it in a High-Yield Savings Account so it grows while staying safe.3. Credit = Adulting Power – A solid credit score can make or break your ability to rent an apartment or buy a home. Pay your bills on time, don’t max out your credit cards, and use credit wisely.4. Invest, Invest, Invest – Your money should be working for you. Stocks, bonds, real estate—whatever fits your style. The earlier you start, the better your returns.5. Retirement Isn’t Just for Boomers – The sooner you start saving for retirement, the more your money grows (thank you, compound interest!). Look into a 401(k) or IRA and let time do the heavy lifting.Bottom line: Money doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Get these basics down, and you’ll be setting yourself up for the financial freedom you deserve.
patty m s
brenda e. d
gary g
joycelyn faye m
rodney w m
mauro c
nebyou a
susan b
robert e. p