Gang, it's been another great week here at Method Mortgage full of celebrations and new beginnings! CONGRATS to one of our editors for her new job in Raleigh, NC starting today — we are so proud of her and can't wait to see what she does next. She will continue writing, just from a little further up the road! To everyone else NOT starting new jobs this week… thanks for reading this email, thanks for your business, and thanks for your referrals. This month each of those go to help support the amazing folks at the Children's Aid Society of Alabama through our quarterly Community Referral Program through the end of this month!

Before we get to the update, we have a GREAT network of trusted, locally owned, and operated resources to connect you to. Whether it’s for some tree service with the summer storms we’ve had or inside work like plumbing, electrical, home security, roofs, renovations and MORE! You can try to find some good ones on your own but if you go it on your own, and it goes awry you may have déjà vu all over again! Now, back to the update. This week, rates bounced around and improved slightly and we’re hoping for continued improvement in the coming weeks. The rates are shown just above the trivia question. If you have questions about how these rates apply to your situation, let's talk. But as usual, there is LOTS GOING ON, SO LET’S GET STARTED!

BACK TO SCHOOL

It feels like Summer just started, but we’ll blink, and it will be time to start back to school. We wanted to help that with our Back-to-School Supply Drive! Our friends at Grace Klein brought a donation barrel this week so we can collect school supplies here at our office! Check out the flyer below for all the details on needed items if you choose to participate. Every backpack, notebook, and box of crayons helps a child start the school year with confidence. It's an easy way to make a difference in a kid's life this summer, and it all starts because of YOUR support. Thank you for being part of something bigger than a mortgage!

Drop off

donations by July 25 and help us spread the word! Learn more by clicking below:

CRAZY STORY

“SHHHHH!!” is what some of you (and our staff) heard when we were kids and talking too loudly in the library. Imagine what the librarian would've said to Hulk Hogan and The Macho Man if they showed up to review the selections from either the social sciences, science, or technology sections from the local Dewey Decimal system! Well, that's what we have here. Almost.

Meet "Lucha Libro," which is EVIDENTLY a real, live professional wrestling event held inside public libraries across the country. Founded in 2024, the program brings masked wrestlers, booming entrance music, body slams, and aerial kicks into the reading room, all to promote literacy and our editors are here to say… it is exactly as amazing as it sounds. The name is a play on Lucha Libre, the Mexican-inspired wrestling style, and "libro," which means BOOK in Spanish.

One crowd favorite, "Llama Jack," actually read "Llama Llama Time to Share" in the ring before rivals interrupted him. He took them down in minutes and THEN finished the story. There's also a fan favorite called "Richard Shhnary," also known as the fighting librarian. With over 40 events planned this year from California to New Jersey, this might be the wildest llama reference in our weekly updates, since we highlighted that time Ludacris read/rapped, “Llama, Llama, Red Pajama,” during the pandemic.

BUT gang, time will tell if wrestling in the library has a chance to be an even MORE FUN event in the library than the ICONIC Scholastic Book Fair of the 1980s and 90s! Click below to read more! 

Hungry but watching your wallet? Alabama's got some GEMS. In Birmingham, Miracle Pizza on 41st Street South runs a Tuesday special where cheese slices AND draft beer are just $2 each, which is CLOSE to being cheaper than eating at home! Taj India on Clairmont offers a daily lunch buffet for under $14. Down in Mobile, the legendary Dew Drop Inn serves their famous chili dog for $4.60. And over in Northport, City Cafe serves a full meat-and-three for under $12. Fun Fact for our Crimson Tide fans reading along that this restaurant is one of the spots where Bear Bryant himself used to eat. Lots of great low-cost spots across the great state of Alabama this summer and you can check out all 12 on the list by clicking below! 

REAL ESTATE TO BEHOLD



When you think about libraries and low-cost restaurant options, what do you think of and how could we POSSIBLY tie that in with our Real Estate to Behold listings??? Gang, we got you and have a FREE COLLEGE that hit the multiple listing service this week.



One of the most unusual real estate listings we've seen recently isn't a mansion or a private island- it's an entire 115-acre college campus in Vermont. The former Green Mountain College property includes 16 buildings, dorms, classrooms, athletic facilities, and plenty of land. The catch? The owner is trying to give it away to the right organization rather than sell it.

The campus was purchased a few years ago with plans to transform it into a resort, hotel, distillery, and community destination, but regulatory hurdles and redevelopment challenges kept those plans from moving forward. Now the owner is searching for someone with a vision to bring the property back to life. Could that be you? GO GMC EAGLES!! Click below for more info!

Another one of the more unique homes to hit the market recently is a custom-built estate in California inspired by none other than George Washington's famous Mount Vernon home, which keeps with our 250^th Birthday theme we kicked off last week. These owners spent years creating their own version of the historic property, incorporating architectural details from the original estate, and filling the home with tributes to America's Founding Fathers. Beyond the impressive craftsmanship, the property became a gathering place for themed events and celebrations that reflected the owners' passion for history.



Now listed for sale as the owners prepare for a move to Tennessee, the estate offers a rare blend of luxury living and historical inspiration. It's a reminder that some homes tell a story far beyond their square footage. Click below to see more. 

Finally, if you take 144 years to renovate your property, we’ll have some SERIOUS extension fees to contend with. Well, after 144 years, the Basilica of Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain is complete!

Barcelona's iconic Sagrada Familia has officially reached a major milestone after more than a century of construction. The basilica, originally designed by Antoni Gaudi in 1883, has completed the Tower of Jesus Christ, making it the tallest structure in the church, and bringing the project to completion. The stunning landmark has endured wars, funding shortages, and TWO global pandemics during its construction. To help finish the work, builders relied on modern technology, including detailed models and digital replicas of Gaudi’s original vision. There is currently no word yet if THESE were Gaudi’s models or not. Regardless, you can click below to read more.

THE ECONOMY AND REAL ESTATE

We got the most recent inflation reading this week and the results weren't exactly music to our ears. Headline inflation came in at 4.2% year-over-year, which was the hottest reading for inflation in over two years since April 2023. The main culprit was gas and energy prices, which jumped nearly 4% in May alone and are up more than 23% over the past year, largely driven by the conflict in Iran. The silver lining: core inflation (which strips out the more volatile prices from food and energy) came in at just 2.9% annually and actually came in BELOW expectations for the month. That tells us the broader economy isn't overheating from inflation, it is primarily an energy story right now. Read more by clicking below. 

Despite the inflation headwinds from March thru today, Existing Home Sales hit their best level this year, rising 3.2% both month-over-month AND year-over-year, hitting their highest level since the end of last year in December. NAR Chief Economist Dr. Lawrence Yun noted that improving affordability is helping drive momentum, with income gains outpacing home price growth in most parts of the country. First-time buyers are also showing up in bigger numbers than we've seen since 2020. Thankfully, despite some of the other headlines out there, this shows that the housing market continues to move. Click below to read more. 

Llamas and Eagles and Ludacris – OH MY! If you’re looking to move out of the hustle and bustle of the city, or wonder if rural living may be more affordable, keep reading the summary of KCM’s recent blog, titled, “Could Moving a Bit Further Out Change Everything About Your Budget?”

Whether you're dreaming about buying your first home or wondering if it’s time to move on from the one you're in, affordability is on your mind. Home prices are still high in many markets, and even though things have improved, making the numbers work can still feel like a stretch.

But the people finding ways to move right now usually have one thing in common. They didn't wait for affordability to come to them. They went looking for it.

According to PODS, 61% of people across all generations say affordability is the biggest factor when deciding where to move. And it's led a growing number of people to do one thing – broaden their search to include more affordable areas they hadn't seriously considered before. As PODS, put it:

". . . moving is increasingly driven by affordability, connection, and quality of life. As economic pressures persist, Americans are taking a more intentional, values-driven approach to where they choose to live.”

It’s Not Just the Home Price – It’s the Whole Cost of Living

When people talk about moving for affordability, they're not just talking about finding a cheaper house. They're thinking about the full picture. What does it actually cost to live somewhere?

WalletHub looked at exactly this, measuring housing costs as a share of median monthly household income across every state. The lighter the blue, the more affordable it generally is to live there. The darker the blue? Just the opposite.

If your state is showing up on the darker blue end of the scale, the cost of living may be putting a real pinch on your wallet, and it may be worth exploring what a lighter-blue area could mean for your finances.


Because if you're less financially stretched, imagine how that could change things. Less stress. Less worry. More freedom and peace of mind.


You Don't Have To Move to Another State To Find a Better Deal
But finding more affordable homeownership doesn't have to mean a cross-country move. It doesn't even have to mean leaving your state, your family, or your favorite coffee shop behind.


Every market has more affordable pockets that most buyers never think to explore – neighborhoods, towns, and communities where home prices are lower, property taxes are more manageable, and the overall cost of living just works better.


A great local real estate agent knows exactly where those places are.

And if you work remotely, or have any flexibility in where you're based, your options open up even further. Remote work has already changed the way millions of people think about where to live, and that trend isn't going away. When location stops being tied to a daily commute, a more affordable area that's a bit farther out suddenly becomes a very real option.

Bottom Line

Affordability is a real challenge, but it's not an unsolvable one. The key is being open to places you might not have considered before. A local real estate agent can help you find them. Reach out today!

RATES:

Pricing and rates remain erratic and volatile. Confirm rates & pricing directly with your loan officer.

Check out the trivia below and remember, there is a drawing to enter to win a gift card. This is your chance to enter for a chance to win the gift card awarded every other month. This trivia question is for the May & June drawing/card.

TRIVIA QUESTION

LAST week contained the day that Ferris Bueller took off, which was June 5th, 1985 – 41 years ago, BUT the movie was released June 11^th, 1986, which was 40 years ago yesterday, so our editors voted and decided to include a trivia question about the iconic movie to honor it's release date. In the movie, the car that Ferris drives belongs to his friend Cameron’s dad and is red 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California. Part of the reason this car is “so choice” is that there were only 56 ever made, selling at auction today for WELL OVER $20 million dollars! When John Hughes originally wrote the screen play, the car was to be a black sportscar from what car maker?

a.     Ferrari

b.     Porsche

c.      Alfa Romeo

d.     Jaguar

e.     Ford

Click here to EMAIL ME YOUR ANSWER.

**Email your answer to me to have your name entered in a drawing for a gift card at the beginning of even months and YES you can go back and answer previous weeks’ questions if you have not answered them already AND if we have not unveiled the answer yet***