Making Sense of Market Chaos - 4/8/25
Hey Realtors,
If you’ve been paying any attention to the markets this week, you’ve probably felt like things are a bit chaotic. Stocks are up, then down. Interest rates are bouncing. Headlines are flying. And if you're trying to make any kind of financial decision—whether it's buying a home, refinancing, or just planning your next move—it can feel hard to know what to trust.
So let me break it down for you, the way I would if we were sitting across the table with a cup of coffee in hand.
The stock market opened strong this morning after President Trump shared that South Korea and China are open to trade deals. But yesterday was a different story. A rumor spread on X (formerly Twitter) that the White House was going to suspend tariffs on all countries except China for 90 days. CNBC ran with it—yes, they labeled it a rumor, but the market reacted anyway. Stocks soared. Then the White House denied the rumor, and all those gains vanished.
That kind of whiplash causes real ripple effects. Investors faced margin calls, which meant they had to come up with cash fast. And when that happens, people don’t sell what they want—they sell what they can. In this case, they dumped highly liquid assets like Treasuries, which caused bond prices to drop and interest rates to rise. And that’s where the mortgage world starts to feel the impact.
Right now, the 10-year Treasury yield is sitting at 4.25%, bumping up against some important technical resistance levels. Mortgage Bonds also broke through their 200-day moving average and are now sitting right on top of the 50-day. If that level doesn’t hold, we may see another increase in rates.
But here's where it gets interesting: even with all of this market drama, home prices are still moving up. CoreLogic reported a 0.3% increase in February and now expects prices to rise 4.2% over the next 12 months. If you were to purchase a $500,000 home today and that forecast holds true, you'd gain $20,000 in appreciation over the next year. That kind of equity growth is real—and it’s easy to overlook when all the focus is on short-term rate swings.
This is why I always say: the goal isn’t to time the market. The goal is to understand it. There’s so much power in knowing what’s driving these movements and how to position yourself accordingly. I help clients find that clarity every day—because when you can cut through the noise, you make better decisions.
So, if you’re wondering whether now is the right time to make a move, let’s talk. I’ll run the numbers, explain what matters, and help you find the strategy that makes the most sense for your goals—no panic, no pressure, just perspective.
With you in every market,
Lara Locke
Founder, Locke Your Loan | The Locke Advantage
P.S. The headlines won’t slow down anytime soon. But you don’t have to navigate them alone. Reach out—I’m here to help.