Photo by Precondo CA on Unsplash
Written by Elena Cox | Stacker
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It is a tough time to be in the market for a new house.
The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage rose above 7% at the start of November 2022, the highest level in more than a decade, as the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark rates to combat inflation. Rates have dipped slightly since, but remain at historic highs. Even a half of a percentage point change can significantly affect the monthly payments required for a mortgage.
Since mortgage rates were under 4% for the better part of the past decade, many homebuyers locked in far more affordable rates than what’s on offer in today’s environment. And sellers aren’t exactly coming down on price—nationally, home prices are still increasing, just more slowly than they did during the height of the pandemic.