As mortgage rates rose last year, activity in the housing market slowed down. And as a result, homes started seeing fewer offers and staying on the market longer. That meant some homeowners decided to press pause on selling to wait for lower mortgage rates to bring buyers back to the market. Selling in the shifting market is something we recently wrote a blog about.
Now, however, rates are beginning to come down—and buyers are starting to react to these lower mortgage rates by reentering the market. In fact, the latest data from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) shows mortgage applications increased last week by 7% compared to the week before.
So, if you’ve been thinking of selling your house but are unsure if there will be anyone to buy it, this shift in the market could present you with the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. Here’s what experts are saying about buyers returning to the market as we approach spring.
Mike Fratantoni, SVP and Chief Economist, MBA:
“Mortgage rates are now at their lowest level since September 2022, and about a percentage point below the peak mortgage rate last fall. As we enter the beginning of the spring buying season, lower mortgage rates and more homes on the market will help affordability for first-time homebuyers.”
Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist, National Association of Realtors (NAR):
“The upcoming months should see a return of buyers, as mortgage rates appear to have already peaked and have been coming down since mid-November.”
Thomas LaSalvia, Senior Economist, Moody’s Analytics:
“We expect the labor market to remain robust, wages to continue to rise—maybe not at the pace that they did during the pandemic, but that will open up some opportunity for folks to enter homeownership as interest rates stabilize a bit.”
Sam Khater, Chief Economist, Freddie Mac:
“Homebuyers are waiting for rates to decrease more significantly, and when they do, a strong job market and a large demographic tailwind of Millennial renters will provide support to the purchase market.”
Bottom Line
If you’ve been thinking about making a move, now’s the time to get your house ready to sell. Let’s connect so you can learn about buyer demand in our area and why now is the best time to put your house on the market in the last nine months.
