Steve Quaife,

Glenda Beam,

Amy Hoyer,

Jason Hanson,

Darren Plank,

Leah Stanley,

Breshae Brunette,

Pam McCormick,

To view the most recent Mortgage Barometer report, click here.

1/2 cup butter

1.5 cups sugar

7.5 oz. pumpkin puree

2 eggs

1/2 cup water

1.75 cups flour

1 tsp soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup nuts chopped

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp cloves

1/8 tsp ginger

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, water and pumpkin puree. Sift dry ingredients, then add all together and mix. Bake in a well-greased and floured loaf pan at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until done. Enjoy.

There's no denying that the current housing market is stressed and poses challenges for all home buyers. But for first-time homebuyers, the news is especially grim. Affordable starter homes are quickly vanishing all across the U.S., and those that do hit the market are priced out of reach for most first-time buyers. Combine that with surging interest rates, and first time home-buyers are finding themselves in an unfortunate league of their own. Click here to learn how much people need to earn in order to afford to buy a starter home in today's market.

Hispanic homeownership has been growing rapidly in recent years and is predicted to account for 70% of homeownership growth over the next 20 years. Yet, despite some encouraging news, Hispanics, as with other minority groups, face a tight housing market with a historically low level of supply for affordable homes and record high home price appreciation (HPA), as well as systemic barriers such as large income gaps and lack of intergenerational wealth.To read more about these trends, click here.

As mortgage rates continue to rise, many homebuyers are seeking smaller mortgages and engaging in "house-hacking", which means finding ways to generate income off your house to offset your housing costs. Most often, this means renting part or all of a residence out to others. Millenials, in particular, are hit hard by the home buying outlook and are seeking smart solutions to achieve their home ownership dreams. As such, co-buying is on the rise. To read more about this trend and to learn some of the ins and outs of co-buying, click here.

When you occupy a space for long enough, sometimes you don't really see the things that are becoming outdated or worn out. Take a close look now. When you step into your bathroom, is it like stepping back in time? If so, now is an opportunity to hit fast-forward, and it's probably easier and less expensive than you think. Whether you're fixing your home up in preparation to sell or just trying to bring your powder room into the current century, click here for some tips on how to fix an outdated bathroom without breaking the bank.

When economic times are tough, smart business people and companies step back and take stock of what is working for them and what needs to improve. As competition rises, strategies to connect with new customers become more creative. Regardless of what is going on with mortgage rates or customer interest, it's important to remember the strategies that work, and over and over again the data shows that staying connected with past clients is critical. Keeping in touch with clients can help you to not only survive challenges but to grow your business, even during lean times. Click here to learn more.