Not as much as you'd think—motivated buyers are still making moves. While rates have climbed, buyers are simply adapting. Many are using strategies like rate buydowns, adjustable-rate mortgages, or working with lenders and sellers, offering creative incentives to make homeownership work for them.
In fact, several of my buyer clients who got into contract this month, previously tried timing the market: Pausing for election uncertainty, waiting for the rates to drop. It left them frustrated. Despite rising interest rates, they were knowledgeable on the market, wrote offers with confidence, clear on their budgets, and made strong offers when they found the right home.
According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, mortgage applications were up 2% this week compared to last, even with 30-year rates at 6.98%, the highest since January. That tells us everything: for serious buyers, the certainty of home ownership outweighs market guesswork. Trying to predict interest rates, world events, or economic shifts is often a time-consuming distraction. The real focus? Finding the right home, knowing how much you can afford and moving forward
