09/18/2026
π¨ **WAIT! Before you decide to put your home-buying plans on holdβ¦READ THIS!** π‘
If youβve seen the headlines about the FED raising rates and immediately thought, *βWell, there goes that idea!β* β hold on. π
Yes, the Federal Reserve raised its key interest rate by **0.25%**.
But hereβs the part that often gets misunderstood:
π **A 0.25% FED rate increase does NOT automatically mean mortgage rates went up 0.25%.**
Mortgage rates and the FEDβs rate are two different things. Mortgage rates are affected by a combination of factors β including the bond market, Treasury yields, inflation and expectations about where the economy is headed.
And sometimes mortgage rates move **before** the FED even makes its announcement because the market is already anticipating whatβs coming.
Soβ¦what does this mean if youβre thinking about buying or selling? π
π **BUYERS β DONβT HIT PAUSE JUST YET!**
Your mortgage rate is only one part of the equation.
There may still be opportunities to negotiate things like:
βοΈ Purchase price
βοΈ Seller-paid closing costs
βοΈ Temporary or permanent rate buydowns
βοΈ Different loan options
βοΈ Other terms of the transaction
And if there are fewer buyers competing for the same homes, that can create opportunities for negotiation that may not exist in a multiple-offer market.
π **SELLERS β THIS IS WHY PRICE MATTERS!**
When buyers are watching their monthly payment closely, an overpriced home can sit while properly priced homes get attention.
Good pricing + great presentation + strong marketing = a much better chance of getting buyers through the door.
β€οΈ **THE BIG TAKEAWAY:**
Donβt let one news headline make your real estate decision for you.
Instead, ask:
**βDoes buying or selling make sense for ME right now?β**
There isnβt one answer that works for everyone.
If youβre curious about what the current market actually means for **your situation**, letβs talk! Iβm happy to help you look at the numbers and your options. π‘β€οΈ
