As mortgage rates rose last year, activity in the housing market slowed down. And as a result, homes started seeing fewer offers and stayed on the market longer. That meant some homeowners decided to press pause on selling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, however, rates are beginning to come down\u2014and buyers<\/a> are starting to reenter the market. In fact, the latest data from the Mortgage Bankers Association <\/em>(MBA) shows mortgage applications<\/a> increased last week by 7% compared to the week before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, if you\u2019ve been planning to sell your house<\/a> but you\u2019re unsure if there will be anyone to buy it, this shift in the market could be your chance. Here\u2019s what experts are saying about buyers returning to the market as we approach spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMortgage rates are now at their lowest level since September 2022, and about a percentage point below the peak mortgage rate last fall<\/strong>. As we enter the beginning of the spring buying season, lower mortgage rates and more homes on the market will help affordability for first-time homebuyers.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe upcoming months should see a return of buyers<\/strong>, as mortgage rates appear to have already peaked and have been coming down since mid-November.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe expect the labor market to remain robust, wages to continue to rise\u2014maybe not at the pace that they did during the pandemic, but that will open up some opportunity for folks to enter homeownership as interest rates stabilize a bit.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cHomebuyers are waiting for rates to decrease more significantly, and when they do, a strong job market and a large demographic tailwind of Millennial renters will provide support to the purchase market.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\nMike Fratantoni, SVP and Chief Economist, <\/strong>MBA<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist, <\/strong>National Association of Realtors<\/em><\/strong><\/a> (NAR):<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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Thomas LaSalvia, Senior Economist, <\/strong>Moody\u2019s Analytics<\/em><\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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Sam Khater, Chief Economist, <\/strong>Freddie Mac<\/em><\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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Bottom Line<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n