Navigating today’s real estate market means weighing a handful of critical questions around affordability. As someone who’s spent over a decade helping clients buy and sell in the Whittier and Helendale areas, I’m seeing some familiar themes: while there are signs of cooling inflation in housing, buyers and sellers still aren’t always meeting eye-to-eye. Sellers are offering more concessions, which can translate into savings for determined buyers, but borrowing costs continue to be the greatest hurdle—benchmark Treasury yields are near 5%, and 30-year mortgage rates have pushed beyond the low-7% range. In the four weeks ending September 13, the median monthly mortgage payment hit about $2,600, up roughly 3% from last year. Low-rate loans are keeping many would-be sellers on the sidelines, so listings remain limited. Those putting homes on the market are still hoping for pricing reminiscent of the pandemic boom. Overall, many experts see this less as a downturn and more as a move toward stability, with healthy equity positions, responsible lending, and opportunities for both buyers and sellers. In this climate, thoughtful guidance and local expertise make all the difference.
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