Barbara Jane Smith, Realtor

09/20/2026

09/18/2026

🏡 WAITING FOR 3% MORTGAGE RATES? YOU MAY BE WAITING A LONG TIME.

If you’ve been saying, “I’m going to buy a house when rates come back down,” you’re not alone.

But here’s the reality: today’s higher mortgage rates may be with us for a while. NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun recently said buyers should “expect 7% as the new normal.”

Does that mean you should rush out and buy a house? Absolutely not.

It means you may want to stop asking:

❌ “When will rates drop?”

…and start asking:

✅ “Can I comfortably afford the right home TODAY?”

Because while you’re waiting:

🏠 Home prices could rise
💰 You’re still paying rent
📈 Lower rates could bring MORE buyers and MORE competition
❤️ The right house could come along before the “perfect” rate does

And here’s the part buyers sometimes forget:

If rates come down later, refinancing may be an option. But you can’t go back and buy the house you passed on today at today’s price.

Buying a home isn’t about perfectly timing the market. It’s about finding the right home, at the right payment, at the right time for YOU.

If the numbers don’t work today, WAIT. That’s okay.

But if they DO work, don’t let the dream of a “perfect” interest rate automatically stop you from becoming a homeowner.

Wondering what you could realistically afford in today’s market?

📲 Let’s run the numbers and find out. No pressure—just information.

Barbara Jane Smith, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Real Estate Connections

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