06.05.25

Written by Chase Majerus

This Might Be the Most Important Month for Homebuyers

June is National Homeownership Month so naturally, we’re kicking things off by asking the big question: What’s actually standing between you and owning a home?

This week, we’re digging into the forces shaping the housing market… rising tariffs, rising debt, and rising pressure on the real estate industry. Plus a little Disney magic tucked away in the Utah mountains.

Whether you’re planning to buy soon or just trying to make sense of it all, we’ve got you covered with stories that make you smarter and tools that help you move forward.

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Today's Agenda:

S1L Home Equity Loan

Use Your Home For The Best Future Gains

A home equity line of credit, or HELOC, lets you borrow against your home’s available equity. Applying for a HELOC with Synergy One Lending is fast and easy. Our application is fast, easy, and all online. If pre-approved, you’ll be instantly presented with your offer options.

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The Lumber Blame Game: What's Really Driving Home Prices Up?

(from FoxBusiness.com)

Lumber prices and tariffs are heating up again, and it’s sparking a debate. The National Association of Home Builders says high lumber costs and trade uncertainty are hurting the housing market.

But the U.S. Lumber Coalition says that’s not the full story, lumber prices have actually dropped 67% since 2021. Meanwhile, home prices have jumped 21%. So what’s causing affordability issues? Experts say it’s a mix of expensive land, regulations, and builder profit margins. And now, U.S. tariffs on Canadian lumber (which makes up nearly a quarter of our supply) could more than double by the end of the year.

Why it matters: If lumber tariffs rise, building homes gets more expensive.

That cost eventually trickles down to buyers, especially first-timers, making it harder to find affordable housing. And when new homes get pricier, even existing home prices can go up too. Fewer people build, fewer people buy, and more people get priced out.

Read more here

Major Manor

Disney Magic Meets Mountain Luxury

In Utah’s largest single-family home. Set on 154 acres in Hyrum, this over-the-top estate has theme park vibes, massive living space, and is heading to auction with bids starting around $8 million.

Let’s check it out:

  • Located in Hyrum, Utah, about 80 miles north of Salt Lake City
  • Main home is a five-level Western Ranch-style mansion built in 2019
  • Features 10 bedrooms, a 42-person dining room table, and a 62-seat theater
  • Includes Disney-themed rooms: Enchanted Tiki Hut replica, “Swiss Family Robinson” bunk room with boat bed and hanging moss, “Cars” inspired racetrack around the house, Frontierland-style shooting range
  • A Star Wars-style tunnel leads to an unfinished 30,000 sq ft pool barn
  • Barn will include a gym, pool, and event space once completed
  • Grounds include a five-bay workshop, guest house, pond, and more
  • Surrounded by Cache Valley nature, near Blacksmith Fork Canyon and Hyrum Reservoir

Originally listed at $35M, it’s now going to auction with bidding from June 5–18. If your dream home includes Disneyland vibes and enough space to host an army—this might be your castle

See listing here

Social Space

Our Top Social Links of the week

Read:
112 real estate hashtags and the best ways to use them – Read here!

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The Pre-Approval Checklist! – Watch here!

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How to buy a home in 2025 – Watch here!

Financial Fitness

June Is National Homeownership Month!

You’re lying in bed at 1am, scrolling through Zillow, imagining what it’d be like to live in that house. The one with the huge windows, the dream kitchen, the backyard where your future dog will definitely learn to catch frisbees.

But here’s the thing: dreaming about buying a home and actually being ready to buy a home are two different things.

June is National Homeownership Month, which makes it the perfect time to stop just dreaming and start doing. Whether you’re thinking about buying in six months or six years, the smartest thing you can do today is get your finances organized.

Enter: S1 FinFit.

This is not your dad’s dusty spreadsheet. S1 FinFit is a completely free app that puts your entire financial picture in one clean, easy-to-use dashboard. Budget? Check. Credit score? Right there. Savings goals? Set ’em and track ’em. It even tells you how “mortgage-ready” you are based on real-world lender criteria.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to figure out how close (or far) you are from buying a home, this app breaks it down step-by-step. No fluff. No jargon. Just real data and real progress.

What makes it different?

S1 FinFit isn’t just another budgeting tool — it’s built with homeownership in mind. That means everything inside the app is designed to help you move toward owning a home, faster. Here’s what you get:

  • A full snapshot of your financial health
  • Personalized credit tips to help boost your score
  • Spending insights that make budgeting feel human
  • A mortgage-readiness score (yes, really)
  • Action steps to improve your odds of qualifying for a home loan

It’s everything you should have learned in school about money, in your pocket, and made for real life.

Why now?

Because the longer you wait, the longer homeownership stays a dream instead of a goal. June is National Homeownership Month for a reason, it’s a time to focus on what it takes to get into your first place. And no matter where you’re starting, S1 FinFit gives you the roadmap.

You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to start.

So if you’ve been thinking about buying a home someday… make someday start today.

Download S1 FinFit. Make your finances match your goals.

S1 FinFit App

Digital financial assistant at your fingertips

S1 FinFit is a FREE app that provides a roadmap to help you reach your financial and lifestyle goals, no matter how big or small! Free credit monitoring with alerts, set financial goals, create budgets, and keep track of your spending to see where your money is going.

Download the app on the appropriate app store with the links below!

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Trillions in Tax Cuts = Higher Debt = Higher Rates for You

(from CNBC.com)

A new House GOP tax bill could add over $3 trillion to the national debt, according to multiple budget watchdogs. That’s raising red flags in the Senate, especially since the U.S. is already spending more on debt interest than it does on national defense.

Even if the bill cuts taxes for households, the ripple effect of rising debt could mean higher borrowing costs for everyone. Economists say if debt-to-GDP keeps climbing, Treasury yields (which influence mortgage and car loan rates) will too. That could push 30-year mortgage rates from nearly 7% to over 7.6% , making homeownership even tougher, especially for first-time buyers.

Bigger government debt = bigger consumer headaches.

Higher debt leads to higher interest rates, and that means more expensive mortgages, car loans, and credit cards for regular Americans. Even your investment portfolio could take a hit if bond values drop.

Read more here

DOJ vs. NAR: Why the Government Is Watching Realtors Closely

(from Housingwire.com)

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is trying to smooth things over with the Department of Justice after years of legal tension. At NAR’s recent midyear conference, leaders admitted their relationship with the DOJ was “rocky” in 2024 and included multiple investigations and denied appeals.

The DOJ has investigated NAR 35 times over the past 70 years and still believes some real estate practices may harm consumers. NAR leaders pushed back, saying agents work hard to protect buyers, not take advantage of them. Now, with a new head of the DOJ’s antitrust division under the Trump administration, things may be thawing. The DOJ appears to be shifting focus from agent commissions to state regulations and the cost of housing overall.

If the DOJ keeps digging, it could change how homes are bought and sold. Commission structures, agent practices, and even what’s posted on real estate social media are all under the microscope. That could lead to more rules—or fewer agents in the process altogether.

Read more here

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