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Could the midterm elections mean lower mortgage rates? History gives us an interesting reason to keep an eye on what happens next.
The election is bringing us a divided government. That means the President and Congress won't be controlled by the same political party.
And here's what's interesting: in 4 of the last 5 midterm elections that led to divided government, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate was lower one year later.
Does that mean rates are guaranteed to fall this time? No.
Inflation, the economy, and the Federal Reserve still have a much bigger influence on where mortgage rates go. And the historical declines weren't all the same size.
But rates have edged down slightly over the past few weeks. So, it'll be interesting to see whether history repeats itself.
Want to know if this trend continues and what it could mean for your next move? Follow along for updates.
💁🏻♀️ Andie Katz, Assoc. Broker | REALTOR®
📲 570-627-6017
📧 andiekatzrealtor@gmail.com
🌍 www.katziskey2poconoliving.com
🏛️ REAL of Pennsylvania
☎️ 855-450-0442
A lot of people are waiting for rates to fall… but here’s something you may not be thinking about.
While lower mortgage rates sound great, they usually come with a catch.
When rates drop, more buyers tend to jump back in. And suddenly, there's more competition and less room to negotiate on price, closing costs, or even a seller-paid rate buydown.
That's the trade-off most buyers overlook: lower rates and stronger negotiating power rarely come at the same time.
Right now, nearly half of buyers are getting concessions from sellers. And with rates expected to stay relatively steady over the next year, that's an advantage worth knowing about.
Does that mean you should rush to buy? Absolutely not. The numbers still need to work for you.
But here's the thing: the mortgage rate is only one part of what makes a home affordable. What you can negotiate matters, too.
Curious what that could mean for your budget? Let's take a look.
💁🏻♀️ Andie Katz, Assoc. Broker | REALTOR®
📲 570-627-6017
📧 andiekatzrealtor@gmail.com
🌍 www.katziskey2poconoliving.com
🏛️ REAL of Pennsylvania
☎️ 855-450-0442
The housing market looks a lot different than it did a few years ago.
In 2021, almost none of the top 100 metros favored buyers. But in 2026? Two-thirds of them do or are headed that way.
And depending on where you live, that means the market today is going to feel different. It shifts the power away from sellers in many places and puts it back into the hands of buyers.
For buyers, you may find sellers are more open to compromising on price and repairs than you’d expect.
For sellers, who has more power during negotiation depends ultimately on where you live. So, it’s important to have a strategy that matches your local market.
Want to know where things stand in our area? Let’s connect.
💁🏻♀️ Andie Katz, Assoc. Broker | REALTOR®
📲 570-627-6017
📧 andiekatzrealtor@gmail.com
🌍 www.katziskey2poconoliving.com
🏛️ REAL of Pennsylvania
☎️ 855-450-0442
Low Rates or Lots of Leverage? Buyers Rarely Get Both.
Higher mortgage rates come with a perk most buyers miss: negotiating power.
Back in 2022, after two years of rates near 3%, 95 of the top 100 metros favored sellers, according to Realtor.com. Bidding wars and offers over asking were everywhere.
Now rates are above 7%, and the picture has flipped. Today, 66 of those 100 metros lean toward buyers.
And sellers are making deals to prove it. Redfin reports nearly half of buyers now get a concession from the seller, like help with closing costs, money for repairs, or even paying to buy down the mortgage rate.
That’s the trade-off: buyers rarely get low rates and leverage at the same time. If rates dropped in a big way, more buyers would jump back in, and that leverage would likely shrink.
That doesn’t mean you have to move right now. The right time to buy is when the numbers work for you. But if you’re ready to move, today’s leverage could help make the math more doable than you think.
Just remember, every local market is different.
Want to see how much negotiating power you’d have in this area? Let’s look at homes where sellers may be open to a rate buydown or closing cost help.
💁🏻♀️ Andie Katz, Assoc. Broker | REALTOR®
📲 570-627-6017
📧 andiekatzrealtor@gmail.com
🌍 www.katziskey2poconoliving.com
🏛️ REAL of Pennsylvania
☎️ 855-450-0442
Are price cuts a winning strategy for sellers today? It depends.
Say your house is listed but you’re not getting any offers, and you’re thinking about your options to try to draw buyers back in. Here are two routes you can take:
Option 1 (the most common): You drop your price by $10k and your buyer saves about $70 a month on the median priced home.
Option 2: You put that same $10k to work and pay for a 2-1 rate buydown. That could save your buyer roughly $500 a month the first year they own the home.
Same money, bigger immediate impact. And since buyers shop by monthly payment, it’s something at least worth considering.
Want to learn more about which concessions actually move the needle for buyers today? Let's talk.
And if you’re interested in a buydown, have a quick conversation with a lender about whether it makes sense for you.
💁🏻♀️ Andie Katz, Assoc. Broker | REALTOR®
📲 570-627-6017
📧 andiekatzrealtor@gmail.com
🌍 www.katziskey2poconoliving.com
🏛️ REAL of Pennsylvania
☎️ 855-450-0442
🎉👏 Congratulations to our very own Jude Bonnick-McLaughlin! 🏡💙
We are proud to celebrate Jude for earning the REALTORS® Commitment to Excellence (C2EX) Endorsement from the National Association of REALTORS®!
🌟 What is C2EX?
The C2EX endorsement recognizes REALTORS® who are committed to raising the standards of professionalism in our industry through ethics, exceptional client service, continued education, and professional development.
Jude is not only an accomplished Associate Broker but also someone who consistently shares her knowledge, supports fellow agents, and leads by example.
At Real of Pennsylvania - Pocono, we believe that when our agents continue to learn and grow, our clients and our entire team benefit!
👏 Jude, congratulations on this well-deserved accomplishment! Your dedication to excellence and your willingness to help others succeed do not go unnoticed. We are blessed to have you as part of our team! ❤️
🏡 Looking for a knowledgeable and dedicated REALTOR®? Connect with Jude!
Jude Bonnick-McLaughlin
📲 (570) 460-5447
Andie Katz – Managing Broker
Real of Pennsylvania - Pocono
📲 Mobile: (570) 627-6017
☎️ Office: (570) 664-9936
📍 3101 PA-611, Ste. 2, Tannersville, PA
#C2EX #CommitmentToExcellence #CongratulationsJude #RealOfPennsylvania #AndieKatzTeam #PoconoRealtors #KatzsKey2PoconoLiving
🏡🎉 JUST SOLD! Another Happy Buyer! 🔑❤️
📍 1216 Hunter Woods Dr., East Stroudsburg, PA
Congratulations to our buyer on the purchase of this beautiful home! 🏡✨
There’s nothing quite like the excitement of getting the keys to a place you can finally call your own!
At the Andie Katz Team, we’re proud to guide our clients through every step of their real estate journey, from the first showing to the closing table and beyond.
Whether you’re buying your first home, relocating, downsizing, or looking for your next investment, we’re here to help make it happen!
Your next chapter could be just one key away! 🔑
❤️ Andie Katz – Managing Broker
Real of Pennsylvania - Pocono
📲 Mobile: (570) 627-6017
☎️ Office: (570) 664-9936
📍 3101 PA-611, Ste. 2, Tannersville, PA
#JustSold #HappyBuyers #AndieKatzTeam #KatzsKey2PoconoLiving #EastStroudsburgPA #PoconoRealEstate #RealOfPennsylvania #PoconoLiving
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