Thursday's numbers will tell us if your next 30 days are busy or slow.

Retail sales come out Thursday. Economists expect a 0.2% climb.

Here's why I'm paying attention: if people are buying, they usually have steady jobs and paychecks. That means your buyers can qualify and your sellers see offers. It's a real-time snapshot of whether the economy is working for the people you're helping.

Pending home sales drop the same day. That's the cleanest read on whether contracts are actually getting signed right now. (Not what Zillow thinks, not what the Fed says, just signed purchase agreements.)

Jobless claims also come out Thursday. Claims have been low, which keeps buyer confidence high and your pipeline moving.

All three together tell you if the next 30 days will be busier or quieter than the last 30. I know you're juggling a lot. I track this stuff so you don't have to, and I'm around if you want to talk through what any of this means for a specific client.

Rates shown are today's average California rates as of 7/14/2026, for general information only and not an offer or commitment to lend. Your actual rate and APR depend on your credit, loan amount, down payment, and property, and rates and terms can change at any time. Brett Hickman, NMLS #2010859. Home First Financial, NMLS #2465048. Equal Housing Lender.