Mortgage Rates: Let's All Take a Breath

I know.

Rates in the 6% range feel offensive after 2.65%.

But historically? They're not dramatic. They're just normal-ish.

For perspective:

1981: Over 18% (yes, eighteen)
1990: Around 10%
Early 2000s: About 8%
2021: A once-in-a-lifetime dip under 3%
Today: Mid-6% range

The 23% era was not the standard. It was the unicorn.

But What If the Fed Cuts?

Even if the Federal Reserve cuts rates this spring, mortgage rates don't fall in perfect obedience.

Most likely scenario:
Slow easing into the high-5% to low-6% range
Not a dramatic crash to 5% or below

To see sub-5% again soon, we'd probably need a meaningful economic slowdown. That's not exactly the kind of headline anyone is rooting for.

Here's the Reality

If rates drop even modestly:

Buyers re-enter
Competition increases
Sellers regain leverage
Prices feel the pressure

So waiting for perfect can sometimes cost more than acting strategically.

The smart move isn't chasing the bottom.
It's buying when it makes sense for your life and refinancing later if opportunity knocks.

If you want to run numbers instead of running in circles, I'm happy to walk through it with you.