I still remember the first time I realized real estate wasn’t built for people like me.
I was sitting in a mortgage broker’s office, watching him explain loan options while barely making eye contact. The terms were confusing. The process felt designed to exclude. And the implicit message was clear: You probably can’t afford this, and even if you can, you don’t really belong here.
I bought the house anyway. And then another. And another.
Not because I had some secret knowledge or special advantages. But because I refused to let an industry’s gatekeeping determine my financial future.
That experience—of navigating a system that wasn’t designed with women, people of color, or first-generation wealth builders in mind—is why this newsletter exists.
Why Now Matters
We’re in an interesting moment in real estate.
Mortgage rates are hovering around 6.18% for a 30-year fixed and 5.5% for a 15-year fixed (as of December 2025)—down from close to 7%+ highs of late 2024, but still well above the 3% rates of 2020-2021.
This means:
Many potential buyers are waiting for “better rates”
Sellers are holding properties, creating inventory shortages
Renters are paying more while waiting to buy
Investors are finding opportunities others are missing
The reality? Waiting for perfect conditions means missing opportunities.
The 3% rates aren’t coming back anytime soon. Home prices aren’t going to crash. And every month you wait is another month of rent that doesn’t build equity, another month of potential appreciation you’re missing, another month someone else is building wealth while you’re preparing to start.
What you need isn’t perfect market conditions. What you need is information to make smart decisions in today’s market, whatever that market looks like.
That’s what this newsletter is for.
What This Newsletter Is About
Real estate is one of the most powerful wealth-building tools available, yet it can feel overwhelming and exclusionary. The industry wasn’t built with women in mind. The terminology is confusing. The stakes feel impossibly high. And let’s be honest—the traditional real estate world hasn’t always made space for diverse voices and perspectives.
That changes here.
Women + Real Estate exists to demystify property ownership, investment, and advocacy. We believe everyone deserves access to clear, actionable information about building wealth through real estate—whether that means:
Understanding your rights as a renter
Navigating your first home purchase
Building a rental property portfolio
Investing in community development
Advocating for equitable housing policy
This isn’t just about buying and selling houses. It’s about understanding how real estate shapes wealth, opportunity, and community. It’s about claiming your place in an industry that has historically excluded women and marginalized communities. It’s about building generational wealth while building more equitable housing systems.
What You’ll Get
I’ll send regular emails with:
Practical Guides — Step-by-step walkthroughs for renters, buyers, sellers, landlords, and investors. No jargon, no gatekeeping, just clear guidance.
Market Intelligence — What’s happening in real estate markets across the country, with a focus on emerging opportunities and underserved communities. Plus mortgage rate updates with context on what they mean for your decisions.
Policy & Perspective — How housing policy shapes wealth, opportunity, and community. Why it matters for your personal wealth-building journey and for the communities you care about.
Real Stories — Development updates, market analysis, and real-world examples of women building wealth through property.
Current Rates & Trends — Weekly mortgage rate updates (so you don’t have to hunt for them), plus what’s driving market movement and what to expect in the weeks ahead.
A Note About Our Approach
You’ll notice we discuss how housing policy shapes wealth, opportunity, and community alongside mortgage rates and investment strategies. That’s intentional.
Real estate isn’t just about individual transactions—it’s about how we build communities, create generational wealth, and either perpetuate or dismantle inequality. We can’t ignore that context while helping you navigate this space.
American housing patterns didn’t happen by accident. From redlining to highway placement to exclusionary zoning, government policies actively shaped which communities could build wealth through homeownership and which couldn’t. Understanding this history helps us make better choices today—both for our own wealth building and for the communities we invest in.
This newsletter is for women who want to build wealth AND understand the bigger picture. You can be both self-interested and community-minded.
Current Market Context
Here’s what you need to know about the market right now:
Mortgage Rates
30-year fixed: 6.18% (↓ from 6.85% in December 2024)
15-year fixed: 5.50% (↓ from 6.00% in December 2024)
Direction: Gradually declining from December 2024 highs
Outlook: Expected to stabilize between 6.5-7% through Q1 2026
What This Means for Your Decisions
If you’re waiting to buy:
Waiting for 3% rates means waiting indefinitely. The math usually favors buying now at 6.18% over waiting 2-3 years for rates that might drop to 5%. Home appreciation and rent savings typically outweigh the difference in rate.If you’re considering selling:
You’re probably locked into a 3-4% mortgage from 2020-2021. Many sellers are staying put because they can’t stomach “buying up” at over 6%. This is creating inventory shortages and keeping prices elevated. If you need to move, you need to move—but expect to compete for your next purchase.If you’re a renter:
Rents have risen 30%+ in many markets since 2020, while homeownership costs (for those who bought in 2020-2021) have remained relatively flat. The “rent vs buy” equation has shifted dramatically. Even at 6.18%, buying often makes financial sense if you’re staying put for 5+ years.If you’re an investor:
Higher rates mean fewer competitors in the buying pool and motivated sellers. Cash flow is tighter, but appreciation potential remains strong in undervalued markets. The investors who build wealth are the ones who buy when others are scared.
Market Conditions
Inventory: Tight in most markets, slowly improving
Home prices: Stabilizing but not dropping significantly (down ~3-5% from 2022 peaks in some markets)
Affordability: Major challenge, especially for first-time buyers
Emerging opportunities: Secondary cities, historically undervalued neighborhoods
2026 outlook: Expect continued rate stability with increased activity as buyers who’ve been waiting enter market
I’ll be tracking these trends regularly and helping you navigate them.
Coming Up: Meet the Women of The Offer
Over the next weeks, I’m sharing the stories of five women who negotiated real estate deals that everyone said were impossible.
“Section 8 landlords don’t negotiate.”
“You can’t win a bidding war with a lower offer.”
“Agent commissions aren’t negotiable.”
“Sellers won’t give repair credits.”
“Commercial leases are non-negotiable.”
They heard all of this. They negotiated anyway. And together, they created life-changing value—from thousands saved to six figures gained.
Meet the 5 Women
Maya, Sarah, Rebecca, Aisha, and Maria—five different stories, one framework, life-changing results
Maya’s Story – How a single mother negotiated with a landlord “who doesn’t negotiate” and stayed in her home
Sarah’s Story - How a first-time buyer won a bidding war with a LOWER offer
Rebecca’s Story – How a divorced mom negotiated her agent’s commission when every dollar mattered
THE OFFER: Everything’s Negotiable™ Coming Soon!
Complete book with all 5 stories + PREP Framework™ + word-for-word scripts + negotiation templates
These aren’t hypothetical examples. These are real women who used the same framework to create real value. Their stories will show you exactly how to do it too.
Prefer to listen? This story is featured on the Women + Real EstatePodcast and everywhere you get your podcasts: Spotify | Apple | YouTube
Let’s Get Started
Eve Moss
Founder, Women + Real Estate™
womenplusrealestate.com
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Thank you for being here. Everything’s negotiable.
P.S. These stories aren’t just inspiring—they’re instructional.
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