With the 30-year average at 7.24% and the Fed not done with inflation, the founder of the 2008-born broker says this market rewards buyers who are ready to move.
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Nov. 5, 2026 – Mortgage rates eased for the second week in a row, and Alex Shekhtman, founder and CEO of LBC Mortgage, wants Los Angeles buyers to see the dip for what it is: an opening, not a turning point.
Freddie Mac’s weekly survey put the average 30-year fixed rate at 7.24% for the week ending Oct. 29, down from 7.32% a week earlier and 7.40% in mid-October. That is still more than a full point above a year ago, when the average was 6.17%.
“Two good weeks don’t make a trend,” said Shekhtman, who founded LBC Mortgage in 2008 and has spent more than 20 years in California real estate finance. “I’ve seen enough rate cycles to know that waiting for the perfect number is how people miss the right house. The buyers who win in a market like this are the ones who are ready on the day the numbers work.”
The Federal Reserve held its benchmark rate at 3.75% to 4.00% on Oct. 28, but two policymakers voted for an increase, and the Fed’s statement said inflation remains elevated. Markets widely expect another hike at the Fed’s Dec. 9 meeting.
In Los Angeles, the slowdown is giving buyers something they haven’t had in years: room to negotiate. The median price of an existing single-family home in Los Angeles County was $994,670 in September, up 1.2% from a year earlier, while sales fell 10.9%, according to the California Association of REALTORS®. Statewide, active listings rose year over year for the first time in eight months.
“Fewer buyers, a few more listings, and sellers who are finally willing to talk,” Shekhtman said. “For a prepared buyer, that’s worth more than an eighth of a point.”
His advice for buyers this winter:
- Get fully pre-approved now, not just pre-qualified, so you can lock quickly when rates dip again.
- Negotiate the payment, not just the price. In a slower market, ask the seller for credits toward closing costs or a rate buydown.
- Don’t assume a W-2 is the only way in. Self-employed borrowers, real estate investors and ITIN holders can often qualify through bank statement, DSCR or ITIN loans.
“Everybody pays a mortgage,” Shekhtman said. “It’s either yours or your landlord’s. Our job is to show people which one makes more sense for them, with real numbers instead of headlines.”
Honoring the partners who kept deals moving. This fall, LBC Mortgage recognized 16 of its real estate partners with individual “Star Title” awards, each tied to the deals the agent funded with LBC.
“Our realtor partners did the hard part this year. They kept clients calm and deals together in a tough market,” Shekhtman said. “They deserved more than a thank-you email.”
About LBC Mortgage
Founded in 2008 by Alex Shekhtman, LBC Mortgage is a mortgage company based in North Hollywood, California, serving homebuyers, homeowners, real estate investors and real estate professionals. It offers conventional loans alongside alternative financing, including bank statement, DSCR, ITIN and no-doc programs. LBC Mortgage is a 2026 Inc. 5000 honoree and is licensed in 11 states. LBC Solutions, Inc. DBA LBC Mortgage, NMLS #275599. lbcmortgage.com
Media contact: Sofiia Kovalchuk, Head of Public Relations, sofiia@lbcmortgage.com