09/22/2026
"Should I wait to buy until rates come down?" I get this question every week right now. Here's my honest answer. 🏡
Rates just hit 6.95%, the highest in over a year and climbing for four straight weeks. If you're waiting for them to drop before you jump in, you're not alone, but here's what the data says instead: homes across East Idaho are still selling in about two months, and sellers are holding firm at 98% of asking price. Waiting on rates hasn't been creating a discount on the home itself, and there's no sign that's about to change.
For sellers, the question is usually "will higher rates scare buyers off?" Not really, not here. 1,138 homes closed across our five counties in the last 90 days, and well-priced listings are still moving fast. What does slow a home down is pricing it for last year's market instead of this one.
If you're buying, don't let the rate headline be the whole decision. Talk to a lender about a temporary buydown or seller-paid points, they can meaningfully soften the payment now, and you can always refinance later if rates ease. If you're selling, your home's value hasn't backed off just because rates went up. The two aren't moving in lockstep the way people assume.
A quick look by county, homes sold and median price over the last 90 days:
🏡 Bonneville (Idaho Falls): 471 sold · $400K median
🏔️ Bannock (Pocatello): 371 sold · $355K median
🎓 Madison (Rexburg): 75 sold · $420K median
📺 Jefferson (Rigby): 92 sold · $448K median
🥔 Bingham (Blackfoot): 129 sold · $400K median
Wondering what your specific situation looks like, whether that's what your home could sell for or what you could actually afford right now? That's exactly the conversation to have with me. Drop a comment, send me a DM, or tap the link in my bio.
Cindi Homer · Top-Notch Real Estate / Real Broker LLC
