Why Now Is the Best Time in a Decade to Buy a Home—Yes, Even With Higher Rates

If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines waiting for interest rates to drop before buying a home like many are, you might want to rethink that strategy  and do it fast!

While rates have been hanging in the 6–7% range for a while, everything else about the current market is screaming opportunity and not the this "might be a good deal someday" kind of opportunity, its much more of the “you’re going to look back and kick yourself if you miss this” kind.

Let’s break down why this may be the best time in over a decade to buy a home, even with higher borrowing costs.

Inventory Is UP—And That’s a HUUUGE Deal

Buyers finally have options again.

Across the country, and especially in markets like the Denver metro area, inventory is WAY up. We’re seeing the most active listings since way before the pandemic. Homes are sitting longer than we have been used to. In the Colorado foothills, inventory for townhomes and condos has surged by over 70% year over year. In Denver, new listings are climbing while days on market are stretching. Translation? More homes to choose from, more time to think, and more leverage when it comes time to negotiate!

If you were outbid or pushed out of the market in 2021 or 2022, this is the moment you’ve been waiting for. This is what a balanced market looks like.

Sellers Are Finally Making Repairs and Offering Concessions

During the peak frenzy of the pandemic housing market, sellers didn’t lift a finger. Buyers were waiving inspections, skipping appraisals, and offering tens of thousands over asking—just for the privilege of winning.

Now? My how the tables have turned!

According to recent national data, nearly half of all home sales this year included some kind of seller concession. That means sellers are now covering closing costs, offering repair credits, and even buying down mortgage rates for buyers. Some are throwing in temporary buydowns for the first 1–3 years while others are funding permanent reductions so buyers can lock in a better rate for the long haul. In the end, you can truly use the concession provided by the seller for whichever fits your situation best!

Sellers who wouldn’t fix a thing two years ago are now paying for new roofs, upgraded electrical panels, and sewer line repairs just to get a deal done.

Prices Are Flat—or Even Softening in Some Areas

Home prices aren’t falling off a cliff, but they’re not surging like they have been either. In fact, some of the most competitive markets are seeing prices come down slightly for the first time in years. And in many places, homes are being listed just above what sellers are willing to take, leaving some room for negotiation.

This opportunity gives buyers a rare chance to get a well-priced home, ask for repairs or credits, and not feel the pressure of a 30-person bidding war.

And remember: when rates eventually do drop, prices will likely rise as buyers flood back in. If you buy now and refinance later, you win twice!

Affordability Is Coming From the Seller, Not the Rate

Here’s the mindset shift that’s helping buyers win right now, and that is that affordability isn’t just about the rate.

It’s about the deal. 

Between the price negotiations, seller-paid closing costs, and rate buydowns, many buyers are walking into better financial positions now than they would if they waited for rates to drop. And when you factor in the cost of rising home prices in a hot future market, the numbers often work out better today even with a 6.75% rate.

Don’t Wait for the Herd to Come Back

Big names in real estate like Barbara Corcoran and Ryan Serhant have been loud and clear about what they think about it all. The best time to buy is when others are scared. When uncertainty is in the air, that’s when deals are made. That’s when buyers get their pick of the litter, and when sellers say “yes” to things they wouldn’t have dreamed of a few years ago.

Because here’s what happens when rates drop: buyers flood back in, prices spike, bidding wars resume, and all those perks we’re seeing today vanish overnight.

So if you’re thinking about buying—whether it’s your first home, your next home, or your first investment property—this market has more opportunity than any we’ve seen in the last ten years.

The only question is will you take it? I am ready if you are! Fill this out, give me a call, or shoot me a text to discuss your situation, and let's make a plan! If you want more info on the process, check out my buyer guide here!