08/18/2026
The housing market isn’t frozen. Buyers are adapting.
This is an interesting perspective from Lawrence Yun and the latest existing-home sales data.
Despite elevated mortgage rates, buyers are beginning to recognize that waiting indefinitely for rates to fall may come with its own risk, particularly if lower rates eventually bring more buyers back into the market and competition increases.
At the same time, sellers are having to adjust to a very different environment than we saw a few years ago.
The “lock-in effect” is real, but it doesn’t mean homeowners will stay put forever. Life changes. People move for jobs, downsizing, upsizing, divorce, retirement, family, and eventually, many homeowners will have to make a move regardless of the rate on their current mortgage.
What we’re seeing is a market that is recalibrating rather than collapsing.
For buyers, there are opportunities today that may not exist if competition increases.
For sellers, pricing and strategy matter more than ever.
And for both, the question may be less about “When will rates come down?” and more about “What makes sense for me in today’s market?”
After nearly 16 years in real estate, one thing I’ve learned is that markets rarely wait for everyone to feel comfortable before they move.
The market is moving. It just looks different than it used to. Contact me 303.241.3000
Why eager buyers are no longer waiting on lower mortgage rates — and where the market goes from here.
