What’s Happening with Mortgage Rates in 2026? Q&A with Lending Expert Caeli Ridge

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What’s Happening with Mortgage Rates in 2026? A Live Q&A with Lending Expert Caeli Ridge

In this live session, lending expert Caeli Ridge of Ridge Lending Group joined Grant Anderson to cover what the 2026 lending environment actually means for real estate investors.

What Caeli Covered:

New Fed Chair Kevin Warsh
Sworn in May 22, 2026, Warsh held his first press conference the day before this webinar. Key takeaways: the Fed fund rate stays unchanged at 3.5-3.75%, the 2% inflation mandate holds, and Warsh is refusing to offer forward guidance, a meaningful departure from his predecessors.

The Rate Outlook
Don’t wait. Inflation is at 4.2%, a three-year high, and meaningful rate cuts are unlikely for the rest of 2026. Caeli also made the case that rate obsession can lead investors astray: on a $200,000 mortgage, the difference between 6.5% and 7% is just $67 a month. If a half-point swing makes or breaks a deal, the problem is the property, not the rate.

Conventional vs. DSCR Loans
Use conventional first. Fannie/Freddie loans offer the highest leverage and lowest rates, with up to 10 financed properties per qualified individual (20 for a married couple qualifying separately). DSCR loans, which qualify based on property cash flow rather than personal income, are the right tool when conventional slots are used up or when your tax returns work against you.