Podcast
Beyond The Rate
Beyond The Rate is a real-world look at what’s actually moving the mortgage, housing, and broader economy.
Hosted by Texas mortgage brokers Charlie Braden and Will Braden of J. Charles Lending, the show goes past the daily rate headlines to break down the market forces behind them, what’s changing, why it matters, and how those shifts affect buyers, homeowners, real estate professionals, and the housing market as a whole.
No hype. No recycled headlines. Just practical perspective, market context, and two brothers looking at the numbers from every angle.
- Episodes
- 15
- Releases
- Twice a week
- Typical length
- 17 min
- On air since
- 2026
- Latest episode
- 4 days ago
Episodes
15 episodes, newest first
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22 min
Who Should Be Buying a Home in Texas Right Now?
Show notes
Texas is still a buyer’s market, and weekly mortgage applications are sitting under 190,000. In this episode of Beyond the Rate, Charlie and Will break down which buyers can take the most advantage of the opportunity right now.
We cover:
• First-time buyers and why you should focus on the house, not the rate
• Move-up buyers, including how renting out your current home can help
• Market-savvy buyers who negotiate 5% to 10% off and plan a refinance
• Second-home and vacation-home buyers on the Texas coast and in the Hill Country
• What to do if you have to sell your home before you buy
• Why waiting for rates to hit 6% could mean double the competition and fewer seller concessionsWhether you’re ready to buy or just exploring your options, this conversation will help you look at the market through a smarter lens.
Read the full breakdown on our Resource Center: [add link]
Beyond the Rate, a Shop That Rate podcast, is hosted by the team at J. Charles Lending. www.jcharleslending.com
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24 min
Open Real Estate formed by 4 Real Estate Giants
Show notes
Four of the largest real estate companies in the country announced Open Real Estate, a shared listing platform that any brokerage can join for free.
We discuss some potential benefits and some fallout that could have massive affects for the real estate industry moving forward.
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17 min
How Rates Get Down to 5%
Show notes
Most people are waiting for rates to come down, and we feel that expectations for how low rates will get are unrealistic. We dissect what it will take for conventional rates to get down to 5%.
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16 min
Factors that could lead to lower rates
Show notes
Last week we discussed our Pre-Election Game plan and a Housingwire article last weekend made the same argument. We discuss the four factors that could lead to lower rates.
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25 min
Pre Election Game Plan
Show notes
Inflation came in higher than expected, but the reaction was the exact opposite with rates finishing this week a quarter point lower than last week. We also talk about a home buying game plan as the mid term elections near.
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12 min
Bonus Episode: 3 Recent Buyer Scenarios
Show notes
The market is favoring buyers but not every deal is the same. Buyers can find value in many different ways and we get into a few of those here.
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15 min
Current Market, Buyers vs Sellers
Show notes
Buyers are able to get aggressive right now and sellers understand the current state of the market. We go Beyond the Rate to talk strategy going into an offer.
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22 min
It's Not the 2021 Market
Show notes
Everyone wants the 2021 rate but they don't remember what the 2021 market was actually like. The value back then was low rate but massive competition among home buyers. Today it's flipped, the value is a discount on the price and seller paid closing costs.
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31 min
Post Fed Meeting Discussion
Show notes
The federal reserve raised the funds rate. Despite all data actually being better than previous meetings we discuss what the mentality or reasoning behind it. But contrary to thought, it actually is good for mortgage rates.
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25 min
Pre Fed Meeting Discussion
Episode 6
Show notes
The markets are putting money on a Fed Rate Hike. There are still some who don't think it'll happen, and also those who don't think it's needed, even though it'll happen. We give our take on what will happen to mortgage rates if there's a hike or a hold.
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21 min
Is the Economy Strong or Weak Right Now?
Episode 5
Show notes
One of the concerns we hear right now is the economy. Just in general. There are aspects to be concerned with so we break down different areas to dive into the actual numbers.
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15 min
Why It's a Great Time to Buy a Home
Episode 4
Show notes
Home buyers are hesitant right now, with not a single issue being the main hurdle. We break down a few of those concerns and lay out some benefits to purchasing right now.
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12 min
Why Mortgage Brokers Are Best
Episode 3
Show notes
We lay out the benefits of working with a mortgage broker and debunk three of the criticisms of brokers that we hear most frequently.
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12 min
First Half 2026 Analysis
Episode 2
Show notes
Getting caught up on the first half of 2026 market action. Inflation was trending downward and positive conditions were showing until the Iran conflict started. We explain how that affected mortgage rates.
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13 min
How We Got Here, a brief history of mortgage rates.
Episode 1
Show notes
Rates have been elevated for several years now but most don't understand the fundamentals. We just take a look at the history of rates and inflation to put into perspective how we got where we are.
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