Sellers: Don’t Let These Two Things Hold You Back

<article class="post-759695 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry" id="post-759695"><span class="entry-date">August 1, 2023</span><div class="entry-header center-block text-center"><h1 class="entry-title">Sellers: Don’t Let These Two Things Hold You Back</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=Sellers%3A+Don%E2%80%99t+Let+These+Two+Things+Hold+You+Back&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fgilliggroup.com%2Fblog%2Fsellers-dont-let-these-two-things-hold-you-back%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="Sellers: Don’t Let These Two Things Hold You Back Simplifying The Market" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://media.agentaprd.com/sites/222/20230801-Sellers-Don-t-let-these-two-things-hold-you-back.webp" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear: both; max-width: 100%;" width="358"/>
<p>Many homeowners thinking about <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2023/07/07/the-benefits-of-downsizing-for-homeowners-infographic/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">selling</a> have two key things holding them back. That’s feeling locked in by today’s higher mortgage rates and worrying they won’t be able to find something to buy while supply is so low. Let’s dive into each challenge and give you some helpful advice on how to overcome these obstacles.</p>
<h4><strong>Challenge #1: The Reluctance to Take on a Higher Mortgage Rate</strong></h4>
<p>According to the <em>Federal Housing Finance Agency </em>(FHFA), the <a href="https://www.fhfa.gov/DataTools/Downloads/Pages/National-Mortgage-Database-Aggregate-Data.aspx" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">average interest rate</a> for current homeowners with mortgages is less than 4% (<em>see graph below</em>):</p>
<p><a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/content/images/20230731/20230801-Average-Mortgage-Rate-Is-Less-Than-4-.png?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img decoding="async" src="https://files.keepingcurrentmatters.com/content/images/20230731/20230801-Average-Mortgage-Rate-Is-Less-Than-4-.png"/></a>But today, the typical 30-year fixed <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2023/07/19/explaining-todays-mortgage-rates/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">mortgage rate</a> offered to buyers is closer to <a href="https://www.freddiemac.com/pmms" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">7%</a>. As a result, many homeowners are opting to stay put instead of moving to another home with a higher borrowing cost. This is a situation known as the mortgage rate lock-in effect.</p>
<h4><strong>The Advice: Waiting May Not Pay Off</strong></h4>
<p>While experts project <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2023/07/05/two-questions-to-ask-yourself-if-youre-considering-buying-a-home/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">mortgage rates</a> will gradually fall this year as <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2023/06/23/homeownership-helps-protect-you-from-inflation-infographic/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">inflation</a> cools, that doesn’t necessarily mean you should wait to sell. Mortgage rates are notoriously hard to predict. And, right now <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2023/07/17/home-prices-are-rebounding/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">home prices</a> are back on the rise. If you move now, you’ll at least beat rising home prices when you buy your next home. And, if experts are right and rates fall, you can always refinance later if that happens.</p>
<h4><strong>Challenge #2: The Fear of Not Finding Something to Buy</strong></h4>
<p>When so many homeowners are reluctant to take on a higher rate, fewer homes are going to come onto the market. That’s going to keep <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2023/07/14/low-housing-inventory-is-a-sweet-spot-for-sellers-infographic/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">inventory</a> low. As Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the <em>National Association of Realtors</em> (NAR), <a href="https://themortgagereports.com/104622/homeowners-become-landlords" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">explains</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p><em>“</em><strong><em>Inventory will remain tight in the coming months and even for the next couple of years.</em></strong><em> Some homeowners are unwilling to trade up or trade down after locking in historically-low mortgage rates in recent years.”</em></p></blockquote>
<p>Even though you know this <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2023/07/06/todays-housing-inventory-is-a-sweet-spot-for-sellers/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">limited housing supply</a> helps your house stand out to eager buyers, it may also make you feel hesitant <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2023/06/26/the-true-cost-of-selling-your-house-on-your-own/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">to sell</a> because you don’t want to struggle to find something to purchase.</p>
<h4><strong>The Advice: Broaden Your Search </strong></h4>
<p>If fear you won’t be able to find your next home is the primary thing holding you back, remember to consider all your options. Looking at all housing types including condos, townhouses, and even <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2023/06/29/where-will-you-go-if-you-sell-newly-built-homes-might-be-the-answer/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">newly built homes</a> can help give you more to choose from. Plus, if you’re able to work fully <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2023/07/13/how-remote-work-expands-your-homebuying-horizons/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">remote</a> or hybrid, you may be able to consider areas you hadn’t previously searched. If you can look further from your place of work, you may have more affordable options.</p>
<h3>Bottom Line</h3>
<p>Instead of focusing on the challenges, focus on what you can control. Reach out to a local agent so you’re working with a professional who has the experience to navigate these waters and find the perfect home for you. </p>
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