09/28/2026
Stop waiting for the “perfect” mortgage rate.
I hear it all the time:
“I’m going to wait until interest rates come back down.”
I understand why. A higher interest rate means a higher payment, and that affects how much home you can comfortably afford.
But there’s another side of the equation that often gets overlooked: waiting has a cost, too.
Look at the mortgage rates in this graphic. Rates have moved up and down dramatically over the years. Then 2020 happened, and buyers saw mortgage rates around 3%.
That was extraordinary. It was not normal.
For some buyers, those ultra-low rates became the number they now use to decide whether today’s rates are “good” or “bad.” The problem is that while you’re waiting for a particular rate, life—and the housing market—keeps moving.
Here’s the simple way I explain it:
When you rent, you make a housing payment.
When you own, you make a housing payment AND gradually pay down something you own.
Every mortgage payment can reduce some of the principal you owe. Over time, if the home’s value increases, that can build additional equity as well.
That’s wealth being built inside an asset you own.
Now, you’ve probably heard the saying:
“Marry the house. Date the rate.”
It’s a catchy phrase, but here’s what it actually means.
You need to buy the right house at a payment you can comfortably afford TODAY. Don’t buy a house you can’t afford because someone tells you that you’ll simply refinance later.
But if rates eventually fall enough to make refinancing worthwhile, you may have the opportunity to replace that mortgage with one carrying a lower rate and payment.
If rates don’t fall? You still bought a home at a payment you already knew you could afford.
And that’s the part that matters.
I’m not suggesting everyone should run out and buy a house tomorrow. Sometimes waiting is absolutely the right financial decision.
But if you’re financially ready to buy, don’t automatically put your life on hold waiting for another 2020.
The better question isn’t:
“Is this the perfect interest rate?”
It’s:
“Can I comfortably afford the right home at today’s rate, and does buying make sense for my life and long-term plans?”
That’s a much better conversation.
Pierre “Tony” Peres, REALTOR®
The Beard Sellz
Dascoulias Realty Group
Serving Central Montana and Beyond
Dascoulias Realty Group