This Week Today Logo
01.27.26

Written by Chase Majerus

Buyers Are Walking Away and Prices Aren’t Budging

The housing market keeps sending mixed signals, and this week is a perfect example of why it feels so confusing. Policies meant to make homes more affordable are quietly raising prices, buyers are walking away from signed deals at record rates, and at the very top of the market, $32 million mansions are still flexing like nothing’s wrong. Meanwhile, credit cards, debt, and financial confidence are becoming just as important to homeownership as mortgage rates themselves. Let’s break down what’s actually happening, why it matters, and what it means for real people trying to make smart financial moves right now.

Check out all our past Newsletters Here

Chase Majerus White background
Checkout Our
Video Page
Sign up to receive our "This Week Today" newsletter.
Subscribe Here

Today's Agenda:

A quick link to the article of your choice

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.

Learn More

Keychain

How Two "Helpful" Housing Policies Ended Up Pricing People Out

(from HousingWire)

Here’s the quiet math problem inside the housing crisis. Federal rules meant to lower long-term housing costs are now adding nearly 25 percent to the upfront price of a home, according to builders. That’s a big deal when about 70 percent of U.S. households can’t afford a $400,000 home, and more than 50 million households are limited to homes under $200,000.

Manufactured housing matters here because it’s one of the only paths to unsubsidized affordable homeownership left. These homes cost far less to build and operate, and they serve buyers earning roughly half the income of site-built homeowners. But things broke when two federal agencies were put in charge of regulating the same product. HUD already oversees manufactured housing under a single national code. Then the Department of Energy layered site-built energy rules on top of it, creating conflicting standards that would have raised prices and reduced supply.

Congress just moved to fix that overlap, not by weakening energy efficiency, but by restoring one clear rulebook. The bigger takeaway is simple. Policies that raise the price of a home at purchase don’t just hurt affordability. They quietly lock millions of buyers out before they ever get a chance to own. – READ MORE HERE!

Major Manor

$32M Pacific Heights Palace Comes With Its Own Basketball Court

San Francisco just said “hold my wine cellar.” A 1905 Pacific Heights compound with a full-size indoor basketball court has hit the market for $32 million, blending old-world architecture with Silicon Valley–level excess.

Inside the home: 26,000 square feet across a multi-unit compound9 bedrooms and 16 bathroomsFull-size indoor basketball court with viewing loungeGlass-walled gym, yoga and dance studio, spa bath, and massage roomGolf simulator, billiards lounge, media room, and wine cellarChef’s kitchen plus separate catering kitchenRooftop deck with Golden Gate Bridge and skyline viewsParking for up to 20 cars, including a six-car garage with EV charging If you’ve ever wondered what $32 million buys in one of the tightest housing markets in the country, the answer is apparently a private wellness resort, sports complex, and family compound… disguised as a single house. – SEE THE HOME HERE!

Social Space

Our Top Social Links of the week

SOCIAL SPACE – Inside the most magical Brownstone in New York City

Inside the most magical Brownstone in New York City – WATCH ME

There’s never enough blue tape – WATCH ME

3D printed homes are officially on sale – WATCH ME

Craziest longest pool transformation that’s SO worth it – WATCH ME

Financial Fitness

Financial Fitness Starts With Visibility

Achieving financial freedom can feel overwhelming when debt, surprise expenses, or overspending start to pile up. The good news is that clarity changes everything. With the right tools and a simple plan, progress becomes possible. That’s where S1 FinFit comes in.

S1 FinFit is a free personal financial app built to help you understand where your money stands today and where it can take you next. Whether your goal is paying down debt, improving your credit, or preparing for homeownership, the app provides a clear roadmap and the confidence to make smarter financial decisions over time.

What You Can Do With S1 FinFit: S1 FinFit brings your full financial picture into one place so you can stop guessing and start planning.Free credit monitoring and alerts to help you stay on top of changes that matterSet financial goals, create budgets, and track progress toward what you’re working forView all your accounts in one dashboard, including bank accounts, credit cards, auto loans, student loans, retirement, and investment accountsTrack spending habits to see exactly where your money is going each monthCheck your mortgage readiness and understand what steps could move you closer to homeownershipMonitor your home value and equity if you already ownAccess financial tips and best practices designed to improve long-term financial health Financial fitness isn’t about perfection. It’s about awareness, consistency, and making better decisions over time. S1 FinFit gives you the tools to build those habits, one step at a time. – CHECK OUT S1 FINFIT HERE!

Shadow or No Shadow—Run the Numbers

Keychain

Why Homebuyers Are Walking Away After Saying Yes

(from CNBC)

Homebuyers are backing out of signed deals at the fastest pace in nearly a decade. More than 40,000 home purchase contracts were canceled in December, or about 16 percent of all homes that went under contract. That is the highest rate since Redfin began tracking the data in 2017. At the same time, there are roughly 47 percent more sellers than buyers on the market, giving buyers more leverage and more reasons to walk if the numbers stop making sense.

This matters because contract cancellations usually happen late in the process. Buyers have already agreed on a price, then reality hits. Inspections uncover issues. Insurance quotes come in higher than expected. Mortgage payments feel heavier once rates, taxes, and repairs are all real instead of theoretical. When affordability is already stretched, even small surprises can kill a deal.

High cancellation rates also signal what is coming next. Closed sales in the following months tend to weaken, sellers are forced to offer price cuts or concessions, and listings sit longer. The market shifts from urgency to hesitation. For buyers, that can mean more negotiating power. For sellers, it means pricing realistically matters more than ever. And for everyone watching housing, it is another reminder that confidence, not just rates, is now driving the market. – READ MORE HERE!

Vlog

Trump Pushes for 10% Credit Card Rate Cap. Here's What It Could Mean

Mobile Phone Frame Vector
Click to watch video

President Trump has proposed a one year cap on credit card interest rates at 10 percent and plans to ask Congress to approve it. BEFORE YOU KEEP READING… Tony Andrews, one of Synergy One Lending’s awesome Branch Managers, made a great video walking through the upside, the risks, and what to watch for. If you want more detail, keep reading below.

That would be a major shift from today’s average credit card APR, which sits closer to the mid 20 percent range. Support is coming from both sides of the aisle, making this one of the rare moments of political agreement around consumer debt.

On paper, a cap like this could save Americans billions in interest and ease pressure on households carrying high balances. Credit card companies are extremely profitable, and analysts argue there is room for lower rates without threatening the system. Some large banks, including Bank of America and Citigroup, are reportedly exploring new credit cards that would cap rates near 10 percent if the proposal moves forward.

That said, banks rarely absorb changes like this without adjusting elsewhere. Executives warn that a hard cap could lead to tighter credit approvals, lower limits, fewer rewards, or added fees, especially for borrowers with average or lower credit scores. In other words, cheaper interest could come with less access to credit for the people who rely on it most. – WATCH THE VIDEO HERE!

Sign up to receive the “This Week Today” newsletter every week.

Subscribe Here
Follow us on social for more quick tips & videos
Instagram Facebook-f Linkedin Youtube Tiktok

Video of
the Week

 Learn more here

Recap: BEGIN 1ST PARAGRAPH HERE LINK HERE ENDING 1ST PARAGRAPH HERE

Recap: BEGIN 2ND PARAGRAPH HERE LINK HERE ENDING 2ND PARAGRAPH HERE

Video Image

35 Characters Maximum Here

35 Characters Maximum Here

Lorem ipsum

Lorem ipsum 1

Lorem ipsum

  • Lorem ipsum 2
  • Lorem ipsum

Lorem ipsum

Lorem ipsum 3

Lorem ipsum

Fixed-Rate
Second Mortgage