Treasury yields stayed in a fairly tight range, and volatility continued to calm down.

We’ve been stuck in 250–300 bps territory, which meant borrowers were paying a straight-up volatility tax.Here’s the good news: the spread has finally normalized.The Numbers: A Strange (but Welcome) ParadoxIf you’ve been watching the 10-year Treasury, the largest bond by volume and an easy way to loosely track mortgage rates, you’ve seen it move higher.

Treasury yields were volatile early but finished little changed, with the 10‑year ending near the mid‑4.20% range after briefly pushing to recent highs.

In Columbus, long-term rentals tend to be the better fit for most investors, especially if your goal is steady cash flow with less volatility.

Looking ahead, investors are focused on this week’s key data—Annualized GDP, Core PCE, Personal Income, and Real Personal Spending—which will offer a clearer picture of growth, inflation, and consumer strength and could meaningfully influence rate volatility and shape expectations for the Fed’s path into February.Week Ahead: Key Economic Releases to WatchThe coming week features several high‑impact data releases that could meaningfully influence rate volatility and reset market expectations for growth and monetary policy, beginning with the Annualized GDP report, which will offer a crucial read on overall economic momentum and determine whether recent strength is sustainable in the face of tightening financial conditions.

The shift is intentional as I’m prioritizing capital preservation, lower downside risk, markets with less regulatory volatility and lower disaster risk, and long-term holds rather than rapid scalingWhat I’m struggling with is that from all of the research I’ve done, this return seems too low for all-cash.

I would caution against valuing the property based solely on short-term rental revenue, as the STR market can be highly volatile.

Risk sentiment remained cautious, and rate volatility stayed contained, reinforcing the sense that markets are trading momentum and credibility rather than reacting to any single data point — a dynamic echoed across global bond markets in recent sessions.

That kind of competition usually pairs with job volatility, slower hiring decisions, and people being more cautious about big financial moves.Now layer in housing.Mortgages with rates above 6% now make up 21.2% of all loans, the highest share since 2015.

With a Self-Directed IRA, you can become a private lender and fund real estate deals while your profits grow tax-deferred or tax-free.How it works:• Your self-directed IRA lends money to a real estate fund or investor• The loan is security by real property• You earn interest which is paid back directly to your IRA• No stock market volatility and no landlord headachesWhy investors love it:• Predictable returns• Asset-backed security• Control over where your retirement money goes• Passive income inside your IRANOTE: You can’t lend to yourself or certain family members; but when done correctly, this strategy can be powerful.Curious if this fits your retirement strategy?