My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece. – Claude Monet
Spring is the perfect time to dig in and start your own garden! There’s something deeply satisfying about planting tiny seeds and watching them grow into beautiful flowers or food you can actually eat. Whether you’re working with a backyard plot or just a few containers on the porch, fresh spring soil and longer days create ideal growing conditions. Start with easy flowers and veggies like lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, or peppers. Gardening not only saves money-it boosts your mood, gets you outside, and brings fresh flavor to your plate. So grab your gloves, soak up some sun, and let your garden (and joy) grow! 🌱
Mortgage Market
While average 30-year mortgage rates have retreated somewhat from nearly 7.10%, they remain in the (very) high 6s, which certainly doesn’t help with affordability. Unless something changes soon, it’s looking like this will be the third disappointing ‘high season’ in a row.
Here’s what the Fed Funds Rate futures market is currently pricing in for rate cuts. Note that the current Fed Funds Rate policy range is 4.25-4.50%.
June 18 FOMC Meeting: 98% probability that the policy rate will remain at 4.25-4.50% (no rate cut). This was 95% last week. So basically, no one expects a rate cut in June.
July 30 FOMC Meeting: 78% probability that the policy rate will remain at 4.25-4.50% (up from 73% last week). 22% probability that rates will be 25 bps below current (implying one 25 bps rate cut at this meeting).
September 17 FOMC Meeting: 48% probability that rates will be 25 bps below current (implying one 25 bps rate cut on either July 30 or Sept 17, but not both). 11% probability that rates will be 50 bps below current (implying a 25 bps rate cut at both the July 30 and Sept 17 meetings).