The Fed has signaled something significant for mortgage rates. With inflation still rearing its head and the job market hot as ever, the Fed already has enough evidence to hold back on lowering the federal funds rate, which influences the mortgage rate you get on a home. So when will the Fed finally lower rates so we can escape this highly unaffordable mortgage market? Or, can the Fed pause for the foreseeable future as we enter a new era of high interest rates? Caeli Ridge, President of Ridge Lending Group, is here to help us answer these questions. Caeli works on getting investors mortgages every single day, so she has a solid pulse on the mortgage market. She gives us a mortgage rate update, explaining what today’s rates look like, when the first Fed rate cuts could come (sooner than you think!), and how a mortgage lender calculates your specific rate. She also gives some tips on navigating this high-rate environment and why merely looking at your mortgage rate as a deciding factor could cost you big time. As we wrap up, Dave will give his perspective on what the Fed is waiting for and the factors that MUST change before the Fed decides to proceed with a rate cut. He’ll also share a few tips on how to get ahead of the competition with today’s high rates and why these unique advantages won’t last long. In This Episode We Cover: How long we’ll have to wait for the Fed to finally cut rates  March 2024 rate update and the rate you can expect on your next mortgage What matters MUCH more than your mortgage rate when closing on a property LLPAs (loan-level price adjustments) and how to score a lower interest rate from your mortgage lender The crucial economic factors the Fed is watching to decide when to lower mortgage rates How to get ahead of the competition during a high-rate environment and buy when the masses are distracted And So Much More! Links from the Show Find an Agent Find a Lender BiggerPockets Youtube Channel BiggerPockets Forums BiggerPockets Pro Membership BiggerPockets Bookstore BiggerPockets Bootcamps BiggerPockets Podcast BiggerPockets Merch Join BiggerPockets for FREE Learn About Real Estate, The Housing Market, and Money Management with The BiggerPockets Podcasts Get More Deals Done with The BiggerPockets Investing Tools Find a BiggerPockets Real Estate Meetup in Your Area Expand Your Investing Knowledge With the BiggerPockets Books Be a Guest on the BiggerPockets Podcast Dave's BiggerPockets Profile Dave's Instagram Hear Dave on The “On the Market” Podcast Watch Dave on the “On The Market” YouTube Channel Sign Up for BiggerPockets Pro to Attend the Market Intelligence Workshop Grab The Personalized Guide to Picking a Mortgage The BiggerPockets Mortgage & Home Loan Calculator Should You Buy Mortgage Points? Fed Meetings Calendar Connect with Caeli: Caeli's BiggerPockets Profile Caeli's Instagram Caeli's LinkedIn Caeli's Website Check out more resources from this show on https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-915 Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices