Mortgages don’t have to be confusing. This week on Real Estate Today, we break down what buyers need to know about mortgage rates, bridge loans and finding the right lender. We’ll discuss how rates are really impacting today’s housing market and why buyers shouldn’t wait to act. You’ll also learn when to bring a lender into your home search, how to shop for the best mortgage and how rising rates and prices are affecting affordability and down payments. And in our Hot or Not spotlight, we take on two home design trends: floating stairs and slow decorating.

Guests include Dr. Jessica Lautz, deputy chief economist and vice president of research at the National Association of REALTORS®; Heather Haase, a REALTOR® from Ohio; Austin Niemiec, chief revenue officer at Rocket Mortgage; and Todd Carson, mortgage expert at Planet Home Lending.

Thinking about remodeling your home? Before you grab a hammer, find out which projects actually boost your home’s value and which ones could drain your budget. In this week’s episode, we explore where to splurge, where to save, and how to plan a remodel that works for your lifestyle and your bottom line. You’ll also hear how to preserve historic character while adding modern updates, tips for finding a reliable contractor, and whether two-toned kitchen cabinets are in or out.

Guests include Joshua McGrath, broker-owner of Better Homes and Garden Real Estate; Adam Pretorius, luxury real estate agent; Stacie Staub, co-founder and CEO at West + Main; and Justin Johnson, owner of The House Master.

With the price of newly built homes being close to the price of buying an existing home, we tackle the question of whether now is a good time to buy a new construction home. What does it take to build a house from scratch? How do you budget? How do you get homebuilder incentives? How long will it take? What is the difference between a production builder and a custom builder?

We discuss with REALTOR® Jacob Smith from Burlington, Vermont, Joel Berner from realtor.com and Danushka Nanayakkara from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

We also find out if mirrored cabinets and dressers are hot or not.