The House Einstein Podcast is available wherever you podcast. Hosted by Osman Parvez and Hamish Crabb.

In this episode we discuss the recent rise in mortgage rates, how rate-sensitive buyers are reacting, and why higher borrowing costs may create opportunities for cash buyers and stronger negotiating positions in certain parts of the market.

In Tales from the Trenches, we talk about the idea of the “perfectly imperfect” home and why buyers sometimes overlook strong opportunities while waiting for a property that checks every possible box.

We also review high-end market activity, walk through several recent sales, and discuss local issues including Boulder’s growing fiscal problems, proposed tax increases, infrastructure concerns, water use, and broader development decisions shaping the city’s future.

Show Notes: 

• Recorded Date: 5/20/26
  Published Date: 5/22/26

  Topics:

• THE CLOSING TABLE | 
  • Mortgage rates reach 2 month high - LINK 
    • US mortgage rates increased last week to an almost two-month high, weighing on home purchase activity.
    • The contract rate on a 30-year mortgage rose 10 basis points to 6.56% in the week ended May 15, according to Mortgage Bankers Association data released Wednesday, just shy of the 6.57% reading at the end of March. Since the start of the Iran war at the end of February, the rate was up nearly a half percentage point through the latest week
  • An index of home-purchase applications fell 4.1%, the most since the week ended March 20. MBA’s refinancing index eased slightly.
  • Osman's video on rates

• TALES FROM THE TRENCHES | Perfectly Imperfect
  • Hamish’s Coverage Story
    • When the home fits the bill, maybe even more space than they need, within budget, and the updates could happen over time, as in, not crucial. Why not?

• MARKET UPDATE
  • % under Contract HIGH END (Has it changed?)
    • Link

• (LESSONS FROM) SALES OF THE WEEK
  • 1021 9th St
  • 944 Arapahoe Ave A
  • 3360 Eldorado Springs Dr
  • 6036 Saint Vrain Rd
  • 1305 Oak Ct
  • 253 Alpine Dr
  • 770 36th St

• •  
• SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION
  • 927 Hover Ridge Cir
    • Hover Ridge Association Breakdown

• IN THE NEWS
  • Cemex Plant Granted Nonconforming Use Permit
  • More Quantum Computing for Boulder
  • City of Boulder Water Use
  • COB Fiscal Death Spiral: Raise $200M by increasing taxes on residents ($X00 per resident and $X000 on commercial property), still leaves $200MM in unfunded liabilities.  Meanwhile, no accountability for Alpine Balsam project. Nuria promises service level cuts in the future - less pool hours? 1:58:57
  • AVIS Speed Corridors

• •  
• CARVE OUTS
  • Osman: MRI
  • Hamish: Brakes