Is the market finally calming down?

The short answer is this: the mortgage market is stabilizing. And that matters more than dramatic headlines.

Mortgage rates are hovering near three-year lows. Volatility has cooled. Treasury spreads are tightening. What that means in real life is simple: lenders can price loans more predictably, and buyers can make decisions without feeling like the ground is shifting under them every week.

We are not in a frenzy.
We are not in a crash.
We are in a smarter market.

And that’s a very different animal.

Mortgage Rate Stability Is Bringing Buyers Back

With rates settling near multi-year lows, we’re already seeing movement. Purchase applications are up approximately 4 percent.

That is not hype. That is behavior.

When volatility drops, confidence rises. Buyers who were sitting on the sidelines are quietly re-engaging. And in Los Angeles, when confidence ticks up, inventory tightens fast.

If you’re waiting for chaos or a crash to make a move, you may miss the window where leverage actually exists.

Measure ULA and the Future of Los Angeles Luxury Real Estate

There is ongoing legal and political pressure to overturn Measure ULA, often referred to as the “Mansion Tax,” which applies to properties over $5 million.

Whether you support it or not, it impacts strategy.

If overturned, funding structures for low-income housing could shift significantly. For luxury sellers and buyers in Los Angeles, that uncertainty influences timing, pricing, and negotiation leverage.

High-end real estate is always about timing. Policy shifts can move millions of dollars in either direction.

If you’re operating above $5M, you should not be guessing.

New Loan Programs Expanding Buying Power in 2026

One of the biggest misconceptions right now is that lending is tight.

It’s not tight. It’s strategic.

Here are programs currently available that are expanding opportunity:

Doctor Loans

Up to $2M with 100 percent financing and no mortgage insurance. For physicians who prefer to keep liquidity rather than tie up cash in a down payment, this is significant.

Bank Statement and Asset-Based Loans

Perfect for self-employed buyers, business owners, or asset-heavy clients. Options include:

• Bank Statement Loans
• DSCR Loans for investors
• Asset Qualifier programs
• Asset Depletion loans

These allow income to be calculated differently from traditional W2 underwriting.

Jumbo Loan Flexibility

Some jumbo products now offer:

• Up to 40-year fixed terms
• Higher debt-to-income allowances
• 90 percent loan-to-value up to $2M
• Rate buydown options

In Los Angeles, price ranges that flexibility changes dramatically affect affordability.

Specialty Financing Tools

Fix-and-flip loans, bridge loans, reverse mortgages, and non-warrantable condo financing are becoming powerful tools for complex scenarios.

Real estate rarely fits in a neat box. Smart financing solves problems.

The 2026 Los Angeles Real Estate Outlook: Strategy Over Emotion

This is not a market driven by panic.

It’s not driven by euphoria either.

It’s driven by strategy.

Rates are stabilizing. Lending options are expanding. Policy is evolving. Buyers are re-engaging.

If you are buying, selling, or investing in Los Angeles real estate, the move right now is clarity, not emotion.

Understand your financing options.
Understand your timing.
Understand your leverage.

If you want to talk through how this applies to your specific situation in Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Encino, or anywhere in the San Fernando Valley, that’s where real advantage gets built.

Results that ROCK.