09/01/2026
**That 3% mortgage rate is a lot harder to give up than people realize.**
As a loan officer, I talk to homeowners who would love to move—but their current mortgage makes the decision complicated.
Why trade a low-rate mortgage for a new loan at a significantly higher rate?
So they stay put.
That creates a ripple effect throughout the housing market:
Fewer homeowners sell.
Fewer homes come onto the market.
Move-up buyers hesitate.
And buyers have fewer options to choose from.
But here’s the important part:
**A higher current rate doesn’t automatically mean you shouldn’t move.**
Sometimes the reason for moving—more space, a new job, a growing family, downsizing—matters more than the rate.
The question isn't simply:
**“What’s the rate?”**
It’s:
**“What does the entire financial picture look like if I make this move?”**
That’s a conversation worth having before ruling it out.
