If flying electric taxis feel like a stretch, or batteries and flying make your stomach a little flip floppy (like our head editor) maybe good ol’ fashioned walking is more your speed. A recent viral clip shows just how much ground people COULD cover on foot using the Xiaomi Robotic Shoes to get down from the 10-15^th floor VERY quickly and HOPEFULLY safely. Not sure the business application for these or if they have any use outside of helping Captain America and Iron Man in future films (or rather their stunt doubles). Last week, we illustrated some challenges with technology and specifically Waymos (self-driving taxis). If there are problems with a Waymo, you pull over. If you have problems with Xiaomi Robotic Shoes… that could be very bad. Might as well stay on foot and take the stairs. 

REPLACE YOUR DIVOT

Speaking of staying on foot, Mark Twain is often quoted has having said, “Golf is a good walk spoiled.” If you agree… keep reading, because this next story VERY MUCH could have spoiled a walk and your golf round, PERMANENTLY. Imagine strolling 18 holes on one of the most famous golf courses in the world, only to have your round interrupted by history literally exploding out of the ground. That’s ALMOST what happened at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in England. During routine work near the course, crews uncovered an unexploded bomb left over from World War II. Yes… a real bomb.

Play stopped, experts were called in, and the area was safely cleared before the shell was detonated in a controlled blast. The result? A massive crater right where golfers usually worry about bunkers and rough.

While it sounds scary, thankfully, everything went exactly as planned, and no one was hurt. It’s also a reminder that some of the world’s most peaceful places carry layers of history beneath the grass. One day you’re lining up a putt; the next day you’re watching a chapter of the 1940s resurface.

Golfers are back, and Royal Liverpool has one more unbelievable story to add to its legendary course history. … talk about playing to avoid the hazards and stay out of the rough. Click below to read more.

REAL ESTATE TO BEHOLD



Speaking of being in the woods and in the rough, a striking nature-inspired mega-mansion in Bel-Air just took a more than $40 million haircut off its original asking price, now listed at $135 million after debuting at $177 million earlier this year. Designed and built by Los Angeles developer Ardie Tavangarian’s ARYA Group, the 35,000-square-foot estate emphasizes indoor-outdoor living with 30-foot glass walls, natural materials like teak and stone, and dramatic water and fire features, including a rainforest-like spa meant to evoke a full sensory experience. The four-story home has eight bedrooms, a main bedroom with a retractable roof for stargazing, a 22-seat theater, a car gallery with bar, a two-story office/library with tearoom, and a rooftop terrace with pool overlooking the Bel-Air Country Club—combining luxury design with resort-style features in one of L.A.'s most expensive and exclusive enclaves. Click on the photo below to read more.

A step even further back in time, this 1,000-year-old French fortress-turned-grand château has returned to the market with an asking price of about $15 million. Originally built as a defensive stronghold, the historic estate has been thoughtfully restored over the centuries into a luxurious residence while preserving its medieval character—think stone towers, fortified walls, arched doorways, and sweeping countryside views. The property now blends old-world grandeur with modern comforts, offering expansive living spaces, guest accommodations, landscaped grounds, and a setting that feels straight out of a history book. It's a rare chance to own not just a home, but a piece of European history updated for modern living. Click below to see more.

Straight out of a storybook, this private island off the coast of France is crowned by a dramatic pink-granite castle, now ready for its next fairytale chapter. Accessible by boat, the island estate features a striking historic château with turrets, sweeping sea views, and multiple outbuildings that have been adapted for modern living while retaining their romantic charm. Surrounded by rugged coastline and the Atlantic’s ever-changing backdrop, the property offers total privacy, natural beauty, and a rare blend of heritage and escapism, making it a once-in-a-lifetime legacy property. Click below to see more.

Finally, after years of standing as one of Lake Tahoe’s most talked-about luxury listings, one of the region’s most unusual mega-mansions has finally found a buyer. The custom Crystal Pointe estate, a dramatic, cliff-perched property in Crystal Bay, Nevada, sold for $42 million after eight years on the market and multiple price reductions from its original $75 million ask. Built on about five acres, the property has two homes connected by glass-walled rail cars that travel between the cliff-top main house and a 3,600-square-foot beach house with private beach access. The estate offers sweeping lake views and luxury features like a wraparound deck with hot tub, a wine cellar that holds 1,200 bottles, and a custom dining table decorated with semi-precious stones. Click below to see more of this property.

THE ECONOMY AND REAL ESTATE

If you have been following inflation like your editor friends here at the weekly update, then you saw some good news this past week! The Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for November came in WAY better than expected, showing inflation at just 2.7% for the year, which was well below the 3.1% that economists were predicting. Even better, "core inflation" (which excludes the more volatile food and energy prices that bounce around a lot) came in at 2.6%, ALSO lower than the expected 3%. Monthly increases were also gentler than expected at 0.2% for both regular and core CPI, compared to the 0.3% economists thought we'd see.

So, what does this mean for your wallet? Food prices rose 2.6% year over year and energy was up 4.2%. The really encouraging part for our editors and all of you readers was that housing costs, which make up about one-third of the inflation calculation, rose just 3%; this shows some real progress toward the Federal Reserve's 2% inflation goal. Housing had been one of the biggest drivers of high inflation, so seeing it cool down is huge! The stock market loved the news too, with S&P 500 futures jumping about 0.5% after the report came out, and Treasury yields dropping as investors got more optimistic about the economy.

But see, here’s the thing… this report came out after the government shutdown ended, and because they couldn't collect October's data, the Bureau of Labor Statistics couldn't make all their usual comparisons. Some economists are being cautious about reading too much into one report. But even with those concerns, many experts see this as genuine progress on the inflation front. The Federal Reserve has already cut interest rates three times in a row since earlier this year, and lower inflation could mean more rate cuts ahead. In fact, the odds of a March rate cut now stand around 50% according to PolyMarket. So as Lloyd Christmas said, “so you’re telling me there’s a chance!” Well Lloyd, we'll want to see more data to confirm the trend, this report gives us real hope that everyday costs may finally be stabilizing. Click below to see more. 

That’s good on inflation! What about housing prices? The good news if you own a house is that they're still climbing in most places, with about 77% of metro areas across the country seeing price increases in the third quarter of 2025; That's 176 out of 230 markets! The national median home price hit $426,800, up 1.7% from last year. The Northeast led the pack with a 6% increase (median price: $540,100), while the Midwest saw a solid 4.2% rise (median price: $331,100). The South posted a modest 0.5% gain to $372,800, and the West stayed essentially flat at $633,900. California continues to dominate the most expensive markets, with San Jose topping the charts at $1.9 million!



Those increase make affordability tough. The typical monthly mortgage payment is $2,187 (with a 20% down payment), and families are spending about 24.8% of their income on housing. First-time buyers have it even harder—they're spending 37.4% of their income on mortgage payments, and the median age of first-time buyers has jumped to 40 years old. But here's some good news on the horizon! The IRS just announced tax changes for 2026 that could help. (Before you keep reading, please know that no one here at the Weekly Mortgage update are accountants, and this ain’t tax advice gang… keep reading at your own risk) The standard deduction is jumping to $32,200 for married couples and $16,100 for single filers. The mortgage interest deduction (on loans up to $750,000) is now permanent, and starting in 2026, Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) will be deductible as mortgage interest for the first time since 2021. These changes could save homeowners money when they file their taxes and help future buyers save up faster for that down payment. HOPEFULLY, these tax benefits are giving homebuyers and homeowners some continued relief heading into 2026!

Sounds like rates we have today and shown below, could be about what we get for the foreseeable future. And for you folks that own a house one of the best things you’ve got is the accumulated equity form when you purchased it 3-5 years ago, or longer. If you’d ever like to know more about what your house could be worth, we can pull a FREE automated valuation so you can know more about that piece of the puzzle. With that in mind, we wanted to close out the update this week with a section inspired by an article from the folks at Keeping Current Matters titled, 

There are over a million homes for sale right now – and at least one of them is calling your name. Thanks to how much inventory has grown this year, you have more room to search, compare, and actually find the right fit for you. Want help spotting the best options in our local market? Let’s talk.

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 November and December drawing/card.

TRIVIA QUESTION

We are LESS than a week away from Christmas next week and there are TONS of Christmas lights along our editors' drives home at night and that inspired this trivia question. The first Christmas lights were strung up by none other than Thomas Edison in 1880 and put on a tree by his partner, Edward H. Johnson in 1882. It took a few years for the White House to incorporate Christmas lights in their tree. It wasn't until 1895 that the first electrically lit Christmas Tree was put up in the White House featuring over 100 lights. (I bet some of you have THOUSANDS on your tree!) Who was President when those lights were strung up at the White House?

A. Chester A. Arthur

B. James Garfield

C. Grover Cleveland

D. William McKinley

E. Rutherford B. Hayes

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***