“The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was little changed this week at 6.49%” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “Rates have remained relatively stable over the last six weeks. Meanwhile, purchase activity eased modestly and refinance activity has continued to pick up recently, reflecting borrowers’ responsiveness to current rate levels.”
The 30-year FRM averaged 6.49% as of June 25, 2026, up from last week when it averaged 6.47%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.77%.
The 15-year FRM averaged 5.84%, up from last week when it averaged 5.81%. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.89%.
The PMMS® is focused on conventional, conforming, fully amortizing home purchase loans for borrowers who put 20% down and have excellent credit.
Open up a home search and you’ll see them. Listings that have been on the market for two months. Three. Some longer.
Most buyers scroll right past them, assuming something’s wrong with the house. But that instinct could be costing you, since the longer a home sits, the more motivated the seller usually gets.
Where Some Buyers Are Finding Better Deals
If affordability has been your #1 hurdle to buying, here’s a surprisingly simple strategy that could help you finally get your foot in the door. Start with the homes that have been sitting the longest. That’s often where the best deals are.
Here’s why. Data from Realtor.com shows there’s a connection between longer time on the market and lower sales prices. Basically, the longer a house sits, the more likely it is that the seller will reduce the price (see graph below):
The blue line tracks how long homes stay on the market, while the green line tracks the share of homes getting a price reduction. As one climbs, so does the other.
And if you focus on these homes that are just sitting and waiting, the opportunity for you is bigger than you may think right now.
Redfin data shows there’s $347 billion worth of stale listings on the market right now – more than ever before for this time of year. So, ask your agent to filter listings for you from oldest to newest. The home that fits your budget might already be there. Just further down the list than you thought.
Lingering Doesn’t Always Mean Something’s Wrong
Let’s say you do that and something catches your eye. Still, you might be questioning why the home has been sitting in the first place. Just remember, sometimes it has nothing to do with the home itself.
According to Redfin, common causes are:
The asking price was set too high to start
The home didn’t show well online
There are a lot of homes for sale in the area, so it just got buried
So, nothing that’s necessarily a dealbreaker, or even anything that’s wrong with the home itself. If there’s a real issue, a thorough inspection will surface it. And that’s information you can use to negotiate. Not a reason to assume it’s a house worth skipping over.
How To Turn a Lingering Listing into a Win
So how do you capitalize on a lingering listing? According to USA Today, you have two main levers to pull.
The first is price. Work with your agent to study what comparable homes recently sold for, then build an offer around that. Coming in below asking price is fair game when a home has been sitting.
The second is concessions. If a seller won’t budge much on price, they may still help in other ways, like covering some closing costs, repair credits, or even a mortgage rate buydown that lowers your monthly payment.
A local agent has the context to tell which homes are the real opportunities and which are skippable.
Bottom Line
A house sitting on the market isn’t always a glaring red flag. In today’s market, it may be your best opportunity yet.
For help deciding which lingering listings are actually worth a second look, let’s connect.
A few years ago, sellers could get away with saying “no” to just about everything.
No repairs.
No concessions.
No negotiation.
If buyers wanted the house, they pretty much had to take it on the seller’s terms. But now that inventory’s grown, negotiations are becoming a normal part of the process again.
That’s why one of the most important things sellers need to understand right now is this:
The goal isn’t to “win” every negotiation.
Sometimes, it’s worth meeting buyers where they are to get a deal done, fast. One example? Helping with a buyer’s closing costs.
Let’s break that down, so you know what to expect if it comes up in your sale.
What Are Buyer Closing Costs?
Closing costs are the extra expenses buyers pay on top of their down payment when they purchase a home. Freddie Mac gives some examples:
Loan origination fees
Appraisal and inspection costs
Title and attorney fees
Survey fees and more
Typically, buyer closing costs range from about 2% to 5% of the home’s purchase price. So, on the typical $400,000 home, that could mean anywhere from $8,000 to $20,000 out of pocket.
And in today’s affordability-challenged market, that upfront cash can be a major hurdle for some buyers – even if they can comfortably afford the monthly mortgage payment itself.
That’s why more people are asking sellers for help.
And More Sellers Are Saying “Yes”
According to the latest data from Zillow, 67% of sellers reported paying some or all of the buyer’s closing costs in 2025 (see chart below):
Now, that doesn’t mean every seller is doing it. And it definitely doesn’t mean every seller should. But it does show how common concessions have become as the market has shifted. And that’s important for you to know.
When Paying Closing Costs May Make Sense
This is where many sellers get stuck. They hear “help with closing costs” and immediately think: “Why should I pay for their expenses?”
But that’s not always the right way to look at it. You’ve got to consider who has the leverage in today’s market.
Redfin data shows there are more sellers than buyers active today. And that shifts the market dynamics (see graph below):
That doesn’t mean every market favors buyers. Far from it. In some areas, homes are still selling quickly and sellers have plenty of leverage. But in others, buyers have more room to negotiate than they’ve had in years.
That’s why local market conditions matter so much when you make your decision.
For example, helping with closing costs may be worth considering if:
There are a lot of homes for sale in your area
Your house has been sitting on the market longer than expected
You’ve had showings, but no offers
You’re motivated to move quickly
Or you’re trying to keep a deal together during negotiations
After all, if it’s the thing that helps bring a serious buyer across the finish line, it could be well worth it.
Other Concessions You Could Offer Instead
Just remember, being flexible doesn’t mean saying “yes” to every request. It means understanding which compromises actually help you accomplish your goals. Because there are always alternatives.
Redfin suggests considering other concessions if you’re not interested in helping with closing costs, like:
A home warranty
Repair credits
Flexible closing dates, or
Leave behind appliances or furniture
The right answer depends on what buyers in your market are asking for and what matters most to you. That’s exactly why working with an experienced local agent is so important.
Bottom Line
The sellers having the most success today are the ones who understand the market has changed and are adapting to meet it where it is.
Sometimes that means negotiating on closing costs. Sometimes it means offering something else. The key is knowing which concessions are worth it for our local market.
If you’re wondering what’s normal in our area, what’s worth negotiating, and where it makes sense to stand firm, let’s connect.
“The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.52% this week,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “Stronger employment momentum has helped existing home sales reach a five-month high. Importantly, we’re seeing homebuyers look past the short-term rate fluctuations and actively enter the market, signaling renewed confidence in homeownership opportunities.”
The 30-year FRM averaged 6.52% as of June 11, 2026, up from last week when it averaged 6.48%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.84%.
The 15-year FRM averaged 5.84%, up from last week when it averaged 5.79%. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.97%.
The PMMS® is focused on conventional, conforming, fully amortizing home purchase loans for borrowers who put 20% down and have excellent credit.
“The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage decreased to 6.48% this week,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “With mortgage rates in the mid-6% range and income growth outpacing home price growth, housing affordability is marginally improving.”
The 30-year FRM averaged 6.48% as of June 4, 2026, down from last week when it averaged 6.53%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.85%.
The 15-year FRM averaged 5.79%, down from last week when it averaged 5.87%. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.99%.
The PMMS® is focused on conventional, conforming, fully amortizing home purchase loans for borrowers who put 20% down and have excellent credit.
“The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.53% this week,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “Pending home sales have increased three months in a row, indicating there’s latent demand and homebuyers are ready to jump back into the market if mortgage rates decline.”
The 30-year FRM averaged 6.53% as of May 28, 2026, up from last week when it averaged 6.51%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.89%.
The 15-year FRM averaged 5.87%, up from last week when it averaged 5.85%. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 6.03%.
The PMMS® is focused on conventional, conforming, fully amortizing home purchase loans for borrowers who put 20% down and have excellent credit.
Let’s be real with each other for a second about affordability. Because you deserve someone who will be honest and transparent about what’s going on, especially if you’ve got a move on your mind.
Here’s the full picture of what’s happening and why. The good – and the bad. So, you know what it truly means for your move. Because while rates are certainly a big part of affordability, they’re not the only factor at play.
Mortgage Rates Have Been Rising
After a year or more of rates trending down, they’ve started to climb again. And, if you’re looking to buy, that’s not what you want to see. But it has happened. And here’s why.
Uncertainty is the enemy of mortgage rates.
And with lingering global uncertainty, ongoing tensions in the Middle East, and inflation refusing to fully cool off, there’s a lot that’s having an effect on rates. Colin Robertson, Founder of The Truth About Mortgage, put it plainly:
“You can’t have $100 a barrel oil and not expect inflation to rise, which translates to higher bond yields and mortgage rates.”
Take a look at the graph below. It uses data from Mortgage News Daily to show just how much all of those factors have had an impact:
It’s a pretty sharp contrast from where we’ve been, in a relatively short window. And it’s probably making you wonder: Should I just wait this out? Will rates fall when the uncertainty eases?
It’s possible. But it all depends on how the ongoing geopolitical conflict plays out and whether inflation continues to run hot afterwards – and for how long.
Rates probably aren’t heading down until both of those things improve. And even when that does happen, experts agree rates likely won’t be dramatically lower – maybe in the low to mid-6s. That’s the reality, and it’s worth knowing.
So, should you wait for lower rates? The general consensus is, if you can afford to buy and you find a home you like, it’s still worth it. Because no one knows for sure when rates will start to come back down – and how long do you really want to put your life on hold?
Wages Are Outpacing Home Prices
You’ve probably heard that inflation is making everything more expensive, and there’s no shortage of headlines about the cost-of-living outpacing paychecks. It’s a legitimate concern. And maybe you’re feeling the pinch yourself. But here’s what doesn’t make the headlines. It’s not all bad news.
Recently, wages have been increasing at around 4% year-over-year.
And home price growth is closer to 2% year-over-year.
As a buyer, you want your income to rise faster than prices because that helps make your purchase more manageable financially, and it quietly chips away at the affordability challenge over time. That’s exactly what we’re seeing lately. And every little bit is going to help.
A big reason wages have been gaining ground on home prices? Home prices have actually stayed pretty steady.
Existing Home Prices Have Held Steady
Check out the graph below. It shows home price data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) over the past 4 years. Notice anything? There’s been no dramatic runup, and no crash either. Just relative stability and slow growth:
Part of what’s keeping prices this stable is that buyers finally have more choices. That means less competition, more negotiating power, and more time to find the home that actually fits your life, not just the one you had to grab before someone else did.
And that gives you a chance to hopefully find something that works for your budget, even with today’s rates. At the same time, you’re not losing ground pricewise while you take time to make a careful decision.
Bottom Line
Yes, rates have been volatile, and global instability is keeping them from settling down anytime soon. There’s no sugar coating that. But the full picture of affordability is more nuanced than the headlines suggest.
Want to run the real numbers for your situation? Let’s talk. Reach out and let’s set up a quick, no-pressure conversation.
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It’s a pretty sharp contrast from where we’ve been, in a relatively short window. And it’s probably making you wonder: Should I just wait this out? Will rates fall when the uncertainty eases?
