Episode 104: What’s Actually Happening in 2026 – The Fed, Rates, and When Buyers Come Back – Part 2

Send us Fan MailPart one laid the groundwork. Part two is where everything gets real.In this episode, Josh and Tiffany High continue the conversation with Jim Ross on what matters heading into 2026: inflation, unemployment, bond yields, mortgage rates, and buyer affordability.Listen as they break down how markets move, why rates don’t behave the way most people think they do, and what signals investors should be watching.If you’re trying to decide whether to buy now or wait, this conversation provides the context that most investors are missing.You’ll Learn How To:Understand why rate cuts don’t mean lower mortgage ratesSee how bond yields drive mortgage pricingAvoid getting misled by headlines predicting housing crashesEvaluate buyer affordability instead of just focusing on ratesWhat You’ll Learn in This Episode:(02:48) Inflation forecast for 2026: 2.5% to 3%(03:18) Things that will impact inflation this year(04:14) Why the Fed is now prioritizing unemployment over inflation(05:25) What strong GDP growth actually signals for 2026(06:22) How the next Fed chair impacts markets before policy ever changes(07:10) "Buy the rumor, well the news" and why rates behave backwards(08:12) Why mortgage rates can rise after a Fed rate cut(10:07) How liquidity, bond demand, and yields connect(13:07) Why a 1% rate drop doesn’t equal millions of buyers rushing in(14:07) Massive price crashes make headlines but don't make sense(15:35) Building your authority score(16:54) Headlines are meant to drive clicks(17:35) Why affordability matters more than rates alone(21:41) The 2026 housing forecast(23:45) 2026 isn’t a boom, but it is meaningfully better than recent years(26:32) The biggest real risks to the housing market going forward(29:04) How investors should adjust buying criteria heading into 2026Who This Episode is For:Real estate investors who are trying to time the market intelligentlyBuyers or sellers who are overwhelmed by conflicting headlinesOperators who want data-driven confidenceAnyone who is planning to buy, sell, or scale in 2026Why You Should Listen:This episode helps you cut through the headlines and understand what is really driving buyer behavior, mortgage rates, and demand as we enter 2026. Connect with Jim Ross:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jimrossrealtor/ Follow Tiffany and Josh here:Tiffany Instagram: @tiffanyhighofficialJosh Instagram: @joshhighofficialWebsite: https://resultsdrivenrei.com/home/Get Tiffany’s free resource: www.rdebook.com “26 Costly Mistakes I Made While Building My Seven-Figure Real Estate Business”