Are Higher Mortgage Rates Here To Stay?

<article class="post-823169 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry" id="post-823169"><span class="entry-date">October 16, 2023</span><div class="entry-header center-block text-center"><h1 class="entry-title">Are Higher Mortgage Rates Here To Stay?</h1><div class="shareBlock"><div class="shareTitle">Share</div><div class="shareIcons"><a aria-label="Twitter Share Link" class="twitter solid display-inline-block" data-tracking="Post,Social Post Link Clicked,Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/share?text=Are+Higher+Mortgage+Rates+Here+To+Stay%3F&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fgilliggroup.com%2Fblog%2Fare-higher-mortgage-rates-here-to-stay%2F" target="_blank"><span class="force-hidden">Twitter</span></a>
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</div></div><div class="post-tax post-category"><span></span><a href="../category/realtor-blog/index.html" rel="tag">Realtor Blog</a></div><div class="post-tax post-post_tag"></div></div><div class="entry-content"><div><img alt="Are Higher Mortgage Rates Here To Stay? Simplifying The Market" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://media.agentaprd.com/sites/222/20231016-Are-Higher-Mortgage-Rates-Here-To-Stay.webp" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear: both; max-width: 100%;" width="358"/>
<p><a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2023/09/06/mortgage-rates-past-present-and-possible-future/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mortgage rates</a> have been back on the rise recently and that’s getting a lot of attention from the press. If you’ve been following the headlines, you may have even seen rates recently reached their <a href="https://freddiemac.gcs-web.com/node/27781/pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">highest level</a> in over two decades (<em>see graph below</em>):  </p>
<p><a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/content/images/20231012/20231016-Mortgage-Rates-Reach-Highest-Level-In-Almost-23-Years.png?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img decoding="async" src="https://files.keepingcurrentmatters.com/content/images/20231012/20231016-Mortgage-Rates-Reach-Highest-Level-In-Almost-23-Years.png"/></a></p>
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<p>That can feel like a little bit of a gut punch if you’re thinking about <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2023/08/14/where-are-people-moving-today-and-why/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">making a move</a>. If you’re wondering whether or not you should delay your plans, here’s what you really need to know.   </p>
<h4> <strong>How Higher Mortgage Rates Impact You </strong> </h4>
<p> There’s no denying mortgage rates are higher right now than they were in recent years. And, when rates are up, that affects overall <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2023/09/07/get-ready-for-smaller-more-affordable-homes/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">home affordability</a>. It works like this. The higher the rate, the more expensive it is to borrow money when you <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2023/08/17/people-want-less-expensive-homes-and-builders-are-responding/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">buy a home</a>. That’s because, as rates trend up, your monthly <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2023/05/19/the-impact-of-changing-mortgage-rates-infographic/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">mortgage payment</a> for your future home loan also increases.  </p>
<p> <em>Urban Institute</em> <a href="https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/rising-interest-rates-put-brakes-mortgage-market-borrowers-low-incomes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">explains</a> how this is impacting buyers and sellers right now: </p>
<blockquote><p> <em>“</em><strong><em>When mortgage rates go up, monthly housing payments on new purchases also increase.</em></strong><em> For potential buyers, increased monthly payments can reduce the share of available affordable homes . . . Additionally, higher interest rates mean fewer homes on the market, as existing homeowners have an incentive to hold on to their home to keep their low interest rate.”</em> </p></blockquote>
<p> Basically, some people are deciding to put their plans on hold because of where mortgage rates are right now.<em> </em>But what you want to know is: is that a good <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2023/07/03/evaluating-your-wants-and-needs-as-a-homebuyer-matters-more-today/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">strategy</a>? </p>
<h4> <strong>Where Will Mortgage Rates Go from Here?</strong> </h4>
<p> If you’re eager for mortgage rates to drop, you’re not alone. A lot of people are waiting for that to happen. But here’s the thing. No one knows when it will. Even the experts can’t say with certainty what’s going to happen next.  </p>
<p> <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2023/08/04/housing-market-forecast-for-the-rest-of-2023-infographic-1/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Forecasts</a> project rates will fall in the months ahead, but what the latest <a href="https://www.freddiemac.com/pmms" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">data</a> says is that rates have been climbing lately. This disconnect shows just how tricky mortgage rates are to project.  </p>
<p> <strong>The best advice for your move is this: don’t try to control what you can’t control.</strong> This includes trying to time the market or guess what the future holds for mortgage rates. As <em>CBS News</em> <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dont-wait-for-mortgage-rates-to-drop-do-this-instead/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">states</a>: </p>
<blockquote><p> <em>“If you’re in the market for a new home, </em><strong><em>experts typically recommend focusing your search on the right home purchase — not the interest rate environment</em></strong><em>.”</em> </p></blockquote>
<p> Instead, work on building a team of <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2023/08/23/why-you-need-a-true-expert-in-todays-housing-market/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">skilled professionals</a>, including a trusted lender and real estate agent, who can explain what’s happening in the market and what it means for you. If you need to move because you’re <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2023/06/13/your-needs-matter-more-than-todays-mortgage-rates/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">changing jobs</a>, want to be closer to family, or are in the middle of another big <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2023/08/29/why-you-may-still-want-to-sell-your-house-after-all/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">life change</a>, the right team can help you <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2023/09/19/your-home-equity-can-offset-affordability-challenges/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">achieve your goal</a>, even now. </p>
<h3>Bottom Line</h3>
<p>The best advice for your move is: don’t try to control what you can’t control – especially mortgage rates. Even the experts can’t say for certain where they’ll go from here. Instead, focus on building a team of trusted professionals who can keep you informed. When you’re ready to get the process started, connect with a local real estate agent.</p>
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