Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: A Flat Tire Lesson and a Market Watching Inflation

April 6, 2026
Greetings from Casa de Cowen. I have known this for some time, but it became official last Friday. In many ways, I have failed as a parent. Not sure how it happened, but it is true. I got up last Friday and had a great walk with the dogs in the woods. Saw a bald eagle, and the woods are turning green quickly. Then came the dreaded 8:00 a.m. text from the boy, a picture of a flat tire on his car.
Cowens-Corner_small-banner_950x200

The issue? He did not really know what to do. He cannot drive the car. Florida State is in town, which is a big matchup. He has to go to class, they monitor attendance and if you miss, the team runs, and then be at the field.

So, I stop what I am doing, head to Charlottesville, and take care of it. Took about 10 minutes to get the tire off, dropped it at a shop, picked it back up, and had it back on in another 5 minutes.

Going to need to be a little better teacher on some things.

At least it was a beautiful day to catch a few innings of baseball. Certainly better than the 36 degrees last Saturday.

Market Notes

The market stabilized last week, although there is still some day-to-day volatility.

War-related headlines continue to drive the market. Mortgage pricing is being influenced heavily by inflation expectations. Higher inflation typically leads to higher rates.

That said, mortgage pricing can improve when the economy shows signs of weakness. Concerns around rising oil prices and their impact on the broader economy are creating some offset to inflation expectations.

We will see how that plays out, but what is certain is that the market will be watching upcoming inflation data very closely.

The core Consumer Price Index, which measures what consumers pay for goods and services, will be released Friday, April 10. The forecast is for a slightly higher reading than last month. Let’s hope it is not too high.

Looking Ahead*

Hope you had a wonderful Easter. Please feel free to reach out if you need a quick preapproval or have any mortgage related needs.

-Steve-

*All loans are subject to credit approval and program guidelines.

Back to blogs

About the Company

Potomac Bank, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Potomac Bancshares, Inc., was founded in 1871 as Bank of Charles Town and renamed Potomac Bank on November 3, 2025. The Company’s total assets were $976 million as of March 31, 2026. The Bank conducts operations through its nine-branch network and one loan production office serving the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, Washington County, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. The Bank offers comprehensive financial solutions through its consumer and commercial banking divisions, Trust, Wealth, and BCT Investments divisions, and its Residential Lending mortgage division. The Bank is also proud to serve its communities as a Small Business Administration (SBA) Preferred Lender. Over the past several years, the Bank has received numerous awards and recognitions, including American Banker’s “Top 200 Community Banks” and “Best Banks to Work For”, the Journal-News “Best of the Best” award, and the LoudounNow “Loudoun’s Favorite” award. 

The Company's shares are quoted on the OTCID marketplace under the symbol "PTBS." For more information about the Bank, please visit our website at www.potomac.bank.

Media Contact
Bryan Decker
SVP, Director of Marketing and Communications
[email protected]