Two things are true in today’s housing market at the same time. Supply is slowly building momentum in the right direction, and mortgage rates still aren’t giving buyers the relief a lot of people have been waiting for. If that combination has you feeling stuck on the sidelines, you’re not alone, and it’s worth understanding what’s actually going on before you decide to wait it out.
Supply Is Slowly Catching Up
Housing supply has been the industry’s biggest talking point for a reason. New construction, more sellers listing and shifting inventory patterns are all part of a slow but real effort to close the long standing gap between how many homes exist and how many households need one. Momentum in the right direction is good news, but "improving" doesn’t mean "solved." It’s a multi year process, not a switch that flips overnight.
Rates Aren’t the Tailwind Buyers Were Hoping For
At the same time, mortgage rates have stayed elevated instead of easing the way many buyers hoped they would by now. That combination, more homes potentially coming but financing still expensive, is exactly the kind of environment where buyers freeze up waiting for both things to align perfectly. In my experience, that perfect alignment rarely shows up on cue.
Why Waiting for the "Perfect" Rate Can Backfire
Here’s the tension I talk through with clients constantly. If you wait for rates to drop, you’re often competing with more buyers once they do, because lower rates bring people off the sidelines all at once. If more supply comes online in the meantime, that can offset some of the competition, but pricing power in a given neighborhood still tends to favor whoever moves first on the right property. Timing the absolute bottom of the rate cycle is nearly impossible. Timing your own readiness, your budget and the right home when it hits the market is something you actually can control.
How I Help Buyers Navigate Both Sides of This
Because I work as both your REALTOR® and your mortgage lender, I can show you real numbers instead of guesswork. That means running actual payment scenarios at today’s rates, looking at temporary or permanent buydown options, and helping you understand what refinancing later could look like if rates do eventually ease. You don’t have to choose between finding the right home and getting the right financing. I help you do both at the same time.
Quick Answers
Q: Is housing supply actually getting better?
A: Yes, it’s trending in a better direction, but closing a multi year national housing shortage takes time. Don’t expect a dramatic shift overnight.
Q: Should I wait for mortgage rates to drop before buying?
A: Waiting has real trade-offs. Lower rates in the future often bring more buyer competition, which can offset the savings. Getting pre-approved now lets you move when the right home appears, with a plan to refinance later if rates improve.
Q: What can I do if today’s rates make my budget feel tight?
A: Ask about temporary and permanent rate buydown options and other loan structures that can lower your payment now. As your mortgage lender, I can run these numbers with you directly.
Q: Why work with someone who is both a REALTOR® and a lender?
A: It means one person is coordinating your home search and your financing strategy together, rather than you managing two separate relationships that aren’t talking to each other.
Evan Hitch
REALTOR® | Mortgage Loan Originator, NMLS #2716178
Evan Hitch Property Group | Hitch Your Future
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