RealTea with Jim Ross

Serving the intersection of investors & agents with a weekly no-fluff, data-packed playbook for smarter real estate moves both nationally and in Central Ohio.

Each week’s report below is colored in Green or Red, depending on if the overall news was optimistic or pessimistic. Dive in!

Latest

Feb 16, 2026

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8 min read

🍵 Market Update 02/16 │ CPI Cools, Rates Fall, Local Inventory Tightens

Last week, inflation cooled to 2.4%, mortgage rates fell to 6.04%, and Central Ohio inventory has now declined six straight weeks, tightening local supply heading into spring.

Jim Ross

Feb 9, 2026

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8 min read

🍵 Market Update 02/09 │ Jobs Growth Slows, Purchase Apps Drop 14%

Softer labor data and storm-related disruptions pushed mortgage purchase applications ⬇️ 14.4% WoW, even as rates edged lower.

Jim Ross

Feb 2, 2026

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7 min read

🍵 Market Update 02/02 │ Fed Holds Rates as Warsh Nomination Shifts Outlook

The Fed held rates steady, markets pushed near-term cuts further out, and Trump’s nomination of Kevin Warsh added a new variable to the long-term rate outlook.

Jim Ross

Articles

Feb 16, 2026

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8 min read

🍵 Market Update 02/16 │ CPI Cools, Rates Fall, Local Inventory Tightens

Last week, inflation cooled to 2.4%, mortgage rates fell to 6.04%, and Central Ohio inventory has now declined six straight weeks, tightening local supply heading into spring.

Jim Ross

Feb 9, 2026

•

8 min read

🍵 Market Update 02/09 │ Jobs Growth Slows, Purchase Apps Drop 14%

Softer labor data and storm-related disruptions pushed mortgage purchase applications ⬇️ 14.4% WoW, even as rates edged lower.

Jim Ross

Feb 2, 2026

•

7 min read

🍵 Market Update 02/02 │ Fed Holds Rates as Warsh Nomination Shifts Outlook

The Fed held rates steady, markets pushed near-term cuts further out, and Trump’s nomination of Kevin Warsh added a new variable to the long-term rate outlook.

Jim Ross

Jan 26, 2026

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6 min read

🍵 Market Update 01/26 │ Mortgage Volatility Returns, Trump/Davos Recap

Mortgage rates jumped after the holiday and then stalled, while new policy signals from Trump’s Davos speech added volatility without resolving the underlying supply and affordability pressures.

Jim Ross

Jan 20, 2026

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8 min read

🍵 Market Update 01/20 │ Inflation Update, Fed 'Beige Book' Released

December CPI capped rate relief, the Beige Book pointed to modest growth, and Fed speakers signaled patience as housing demand responded quickly to lower rates.

Jim Ross

Jan 12, 2026

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11 min read

🍵 Market Update 01/12 │ Rates hit lowest level in 3yrs; Trump Tweet Recap

Mortgage rates briefly hit 5.99%, the lowest level in about three years, as markets reacted to Trump’s affordability tweets and policy expectations.

Jim Ross

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