In today's 7% rate market, Kevin O'Laughlin's message to homebuyers is simple: the real risk isn't high interest - it's waiting too long
With mortgage rates hovering around 7%, many homebuyers are hitting pause - hoping a better deal will come later. But Kevin O’Laughlin (pictured) argues that waiting could end up costing more, especially if falling rates reignite bidding wars and drive prices higher.
O’Laughlin, a senior loan originator at Movement Mortgage, built his mortgage business from scratch, rooted in personal connections and local trust. Today, his segmented team model is built to help clients move quickly, make data-informed decisions, and reconsider what affordability looks like in an unpredictable market.
From auto finance to mortgages
O’Laughlin’s career started in auto finance, not real estate. After graduating from college, he secured an internship at a local bank through a family connection. That led to a full-time role analyzing credit reports and loan-to-value ratios. Eventually, the bank tasked him with expanding its auto loan network into Pittsburgh, about three hours from his upstate New York hometown.
The work - cold-pitching dealerships to send business his way - taught him persistence, but he knew it wasn’t a long-term fit. “I did that for a year and learned that it wasn't something I wanted to do forever,” O’Laughlin said.
After job hunting on LinkedIn, he found mortgage lending. In 2016, he launched the Pittsburgh branch of Movement Mortgage and began building a client base from the ground up.
A team-based approach
Rather than follow the industry norm of working solo, O’Laughlin built his business around a collaborative model. “The standard mortgage loan officer is a one-man show,” he said. “Our greatest strength, and also our greatest weakness, is the team in general.” His team divides responsibilities across roles, allowing for faster responses and more accurate pre-approvals.
Recruitment, especially in the early days, was casual. “I would just hire [an] old buddy,” he said. That approach led to low turnover and a tight-knit team. “There’s only been one person we had to put a job ad out for.”
Rates, timing, and market realities
With the market shifting, O’Laughlin has pivoted to address growing concerns around affordability. His argument is simple: buying at today’s prices - even with higher rates - could be less costly than waiting for lower rates and higher competition.
“You’re probably going to pay $50,000 more for that same home when rates drop and demand goes up,” he said. “So why not buy now and refinance later?”
He’s also critical of professionals who echo buyer pessimism without offering solutions. “A lot of agents and lenders just say, yeah, it’s terrible right now,” he said. “Let’s talk about why it could still be a good time to buy.”
Refinancing conversations, he added, should be based on math - not market speculation. “If it makes sense now and puts you in a better position, let’s do it,” he said. “No one can predict the market.”
After nearly a decade in Pittsburgh, O’Laughlin says the city is no longer just a market - it’s home.
“We’ve laid roots at this point,” he said. Seeing clients at restaurants, grocery stores, and around the neighborhood is a regular occurrence. “Every time I'm out, I feel like I run into one of my customers.”
