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 Market Update below is colored either Green or Red, depending on if the overall news was optimistic or pessimistic.

Questions? Our Resources section contains you to definitions and links to take a deeper dive into the topics discussed. Dive on in!

Latest

RealTea 08.24 | Treasury Buyback Rally Fizzles, Rates Hold at 6.65%, Pendings Dropped 10.7%

Aug 24, 2026

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6 min read

RealTea 08.24 | Treasury Buyback Rally Fizzles, Rates Hold at 6.65%, Pendings Dropped 10.7%

Prices are still climbing but buyer activity is cracking.

Jim Ross

Aug 17, 2026

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6 min read

RealTea 08.17 | CPI Holds at 2.9%, Rates Dip to 6.67%, Plus a Fresh Look!

The 30-year rate ticked down to 6.67% after a tame CPI print, but a stagflationary undercurrent from crashing retail sales and weak sentiment means meaningful rate relief isn't coming soon.

Jim Ross

🍵 Market Update 08/10 │ Jobs Report Goes Negative, Rates Hit 3-Week Lows, Hike Odds Drop

Aug 10, 2026

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4 min read

🍵 Market Update 08/10 │ Jobs Report Goes Negative, Rates Hit 3-Week Lows, Hike Odds Drop

The economy lost jobs in July, and that one number pulled mortgage rates to 3-week lows and cut the odds of a September Fed hike nearly in half.

Jim Ross

Articles

Aug 24, 2026

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6 min read

RealTea 08.24 | Treasury Buyback Rally Fizzles, Rates Hold at 6.65%, Pendings Dropped 10.7%

Prices are still climbing but buyer activity is cracking.

Jim Ross

Aug 17, 2026

•

6 min read

RealTea 08.17 | CPI Holds at 2.9%, Rates Dip to 6.67%, Plus a Fresh Look!

The 30-year rate ticked down to 6.67% after a tame CPI print, but a stagflationary undercurrent from crashing retail sales and weak sentiment means meaningful rate relief isn't coming soon.

Jim Ross

Aug 10, 2026

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4 min read

🍵 Market Update 08/10 │ Jobs Report Goes Negative, Rates Hit 3-Week Lows, Hike Odds Drop

The economy lost jobs in July, and that one number pulled mortgage rates to 3-week lows and cut the odds of a September Fed hike nearly in half.

Jim Ross

🍵 Market Update 08/03 │ Fed Splits 9-3, Sep Hike Odds Hit 62.5%, Rates Top Last Year

Aug 3, 2026

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5 min read

🍵 Market Update 08/03 │ Fed Splits 9-3, Sep Hike Odds Hit 62.5%, Rates Top Last Year

The Fed held rates steady, but three members voted to hike, the bond market pushed long yields to 2007 highs, and mortgage rates ended the week above where they sat a year ago.

Jim Ross

🍵 Market Update 07/27 │ Oil Shock Pushes Rates to 6.85%, Fed Decision Wednesday

Jul 27, 2026

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5 min read

🍵 Market Update 07/27 │ Oil Shock Pushes Rates to 6.85%, Fed Decision Wednesday

Six weeks ago markets were debating cuts. Last week they priced a 1 in 3 chance of a hike, and mortgage rates followed oil straight up.

Jim Ross

🍵 Market Update 07/20 │ Inflation Cools, Hike Odds Collapse, Rates Fall From 1-Year Highs

Jul 20, 2026

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5 min read

🍵 Market Update 07/20 │ Inflation Cools, Hike Odds Collapse, Rates Fall From 1-Year Highs

Two cooler-than-expected inflation reports erased rate hike odds and pulled mortgage rates off 12-month highs, while builders cut prices at a record pace.

Jim Ross