Government shutdown risking home closings (October 2025 - Newsletter)
“Know what you own, and know why you own it." — Peter Lynch
Halloween’s sneaking up, but there’s nothing spooky about staying informed: we’ll cut through the cobwebs with fast, credible updates on housing, the economy, and markets.
TODAY'S TOPICS
Mortgage rate drops, helping refinances.
Government shut down is putting closings at risk.
Robinhood bounces back.
China's economy slows down.
QUIZ
1. Which U.S. city is nicknamed “The Big Apple”?
Boston
New York City
Miani
2. Which animal is on California’s state flag?
Fish
Cat
Bear
REAL ESTATE
Current mortgage rates
30-year – 6.17%
15-year – 5.75%
Real estate news
Mortgage rates tick down to 6.27%. Freddie Mac’s survey shows the average 30-year fixed slipped to 6.27% as of Oct 16, helping refinances inch up as inventory improves and price growth cools. It’s still a mid-6s world, but the direction eased a bit this month. Learn more
Shutdown stalls flood insurance, risking closings. With the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) expired on Sept 30 amid the federal shutdown, new and renewal policies are paused—jeopardizing transactions in flood-zone areas that require coverage for many mortgages. Realtors warn the lapse could delay or derail thousands of sales until NFIP is reauthorized. Learn more
U.S. ECONOMY
Inflation
Current US inflation rate: 2.9%
Unemployment
Current US unemployment rate: 4.3%
FED rate
Fed funds interest rate: 4.11%
U.S. economy news
Data blackout clouds the outlook. The federal government shutdown has choked off key releases (jobs, inflation, spending), leaving policymakers and markets “flying blind.” Analysts are leaning on alternative data until official stats resume. Learn more
U.S. services sector stalls at breakeven as new orders cool. The ISM Services PMI slipped to 50.0 in September from 52.0, signaling the vast services economy is barely expanding as new orders and employment lose steam. The softer print reinforces the view that overall growth is moderating into fall. Learn more
GLOBAL OUTLOOK
IMF trims the sails on global growth. The IMF’s October World Economic Outlook nudges projections lower: global GDP at 3.2% in 2025, with risks tilted to the downside amid trade frictions and weak productivity. Inflation is easing unevenly, keeping policy tricky. Learn more
China’s Q3 growth slows to 4.8%. China’s economy cooled to its slowest pace in a year as property woes and trade tensions bite; quarter-on-quarter growth surprised slightly to the upside. The data keep pressure on Beijing for more support. Learn more
STOCK EXCHANGE
Stocks recommended by experts
Top 5 best-performing S&P 500 stocks of 2025 (year-to-date gains):
Robinhood Markets Inc. (HOOD) – 318.20%
Applovin Corp. (APP) – 318.20%
Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) – 318.20%
Tapestry Inc. (TPR) – 157.76%
Western Digital Corp. (WDC) – 148.14%
Stock market news
Dow hits fresh record as earnings power industrials; tech lags. The Dow climbed to a new all-time high on Tuesday, lifted by upbeat results from names like 3M and Coca-Cola, while the S&P 500 finished flat and the Nasdaq slipped. Investors rotated toward cyclical winners on earnings strength even as several mega-cap tech stocks eased ahead of more reports this week. Learn more
COFFEE BREAK
Fun news
Why We Carve Glowing Pumpkins. The jack-o’-lantern traces to an Irish folktale about “Stingy Jack”; immigrants brought the tradition to America and switched from turnips to easier-to-carve pumpkins. That orange-and-black vibe? A 19th-century mashup of harvest colors and spooky contrast. Learn more
Investor of the month
Peter Lynch
Lynch managed the Magellan Fund (1977–1990), averaging ~29% annually and popularizing “buy what you know.” His philosophy focuses on understanding a company’s story, growth drivers, and valuation (PEG), empowering individual investors to beat the pros. Learn more
QUIZ ANSWERS
New York City
Bear
CONTENT YOU CAN’T MISS
This month’s recommended book
One Up On Wall Street: How To Use What You Already Know To Make Money In The Market
by Peter Lynch and John Rothchild
According to Lynch, investment opportunities are everywhere. From the supermarket to the workplace, we encounter products and services all day long. By paying attention to the best ones, we can find companies in which to invest before the professional analysts discover them.
Secrets to build and manage 9000+ properties
Invest in newly build properties. It will save you a lot of headaches and insurance cost. position yourself with this video.
Business credit: the best and easiest way to get it
Don't wait for the government to reopen. Get the funding for your business now before the end of the year.
