Bargain Hunting With Rates Above 7% | Looking for a REALTOR® you can trust? Let’s make your next move with confidence. Committed to Service. Driven by Integrity.

With mortgage rates continuing to hover above 7%, it’s understandable that affordability is weighing on many buyers’ minds. As someone who guides clients through both resale and new construction here in San Antonio, I know how crucial it is to plan ahead in a shifting market. Recent studies suggest that building a rate cushion—anticipating a potential half-point increase in the next three months, three-quarters by six months, and up to a full point over the next year—can help buyers prepare for the unexpected.

Interestingly, buyers who waited until later in the year often found more negotiating power: typical homes were about 5% less expensive in early Q4 compared to late Q2, with fewer competing offers and more opportunity to negotiate on price or terms. Last month’s roughly five-month supply meant buyers could also negotiate more confidently on closing costs, discount points, or even temporary rate buydowns.

Markets are signaling the possibility of further Fed tightening, but the long-term goal remains steady inflation—which could eventually bring some relief to those mortgage costs. My approach is always hands-on, detail-focused, and rooted in helping clients move forward with confidence, whatever the market brings.