01/23/2026
If you’ve been waiting for rates to fall in Mid-Mo, rates just hit a three year low.
Mortgage rates dipped into the 5s and are now sitting in the low 6s. That’s the lowest range we’ve seen in nearly three years, and most forecasts expect them to stay right here for a while.
That matters a lot in our market.
When rates were pushing 7 percent, many Mid-Missouri buyers were stuck.
Payments were higher.
Budgets felt squeezed.
First-time buyers and VA buyers felt it the most.
At 6 percent or below, the math shifts.
Lower rates mean lower monthly payments.
On a 400k loan, that’s over 300 dollars less per month compared to last year.
That extra breathing room can mean a better neighborhood, a stronger offer, or a home that doesn’t need as many compromises.
And this isn’t just anecdotal.
Research from the National Association of Realtors shows that when rates sit around this level, about 5.5 million more households nationwide can afford the median-priced home.
Roughly 550,000 of those buyers are expected to enter the market within the next 12 to 18 months.
That wave hasn’t fully hit Mid-Missouri yet, but it’s coming.
The difference between a high 5 and a low 6 isn’t dramatic.
The difference between 7 and 6 absolutely is.
And that change is already working in your favor.
One important callout.
Rates don’t exist in a vacuum.
Local inventory, home prices, taxes, insurance, and your personal finances still matter.
That’s why getting pre-approved and running real numbers with a trusted local lender is key.
Still, this is the most buyer-friendly rate environment we’ve seen here in years. If buying didn’t pencil before, it’s worth running the numbers again.
If you want to see what today’s rates actually mean for your budget and our Mid-Missouri market, let’s take a lookt
