Tag Archives: Lock-In Effect

Relaxing mortgage rates equate to serious savings for buyers, and those shifts are beginning to lure some previously hesitant homeowners back into the sellers’ market.

With interest-rate shock continuing to impact new listing volumes, housing inventory remains at historically low levels, according to HouseCanary's December Market Pulse Report. But positive developments may be ahead.

While the combination of high home prices and interest rates continues to price many potential buyers out of the market, homebuyer mobility has stalled as a result as well. Riordan Frost, Senior Research Analyst for the Joint Center for Housing Studies, reveals the latest predictions surrounding homeowner mobility and what it would take to recover.

Michael Gifford of Splitero examines homeowners who are “locked” into their homes due to the interplay of rising interest rates, rising home prices, and a lack of inventory.

Homeowners nationwide are staying put as a historically low supply of existing homes for sale continues to make homeownership more difficult for buyers. New Fannie Mae research examines the factors that are keeping homeowners locked in place and leaving homebuyers in the lurch.

“The steep decline in sales driven by the rapid rise in mortgage rates seems to be behind us, as the initial shock of higher mortgage rates has worn off,” said Mark Fleming, the Chief Economist for First American Financial Corporation.

“Some buyers are hoping they can get a home for under asking price to make up for high interest rates because they’re hearing the housing market is slow. But what’s happening nationally isn’t necessarily true [locally],” said Kristin Sanchez, a Redfin Premier Agent.

Fannie Mae's latest Home Price Index reveals home prices grew 3% year-over-year in Q2, and while demand remained resilient, competition heated up for the near-historically limited supply of existing homes for sale.

"Home buyers have persisted this spring despite daunting affordability challenges and record-low inventory," said Jeff Tucker, Senior Economist at Zillow.

“The modest increases in home prices we saw a month ago accelerated in March 2023,” says Craig J. Lazzara, Managing Director at S&P DJI. “The National Composite rose by 1.3% in March, and now stands only 3.6% below its June 2022 peak.”