If you paused your plans to move because of high rates or prices, it may finally be time to take a second look at your numbers. Affordability is improving in 39 of the top 50 markets, according to First American. And that's the 5th straight month where buying a home has started to get a little bit easier.
Let's break this down into real dollars, so you can see the difference this could make for you (and your move).
One of the clearest signs of this shift is in monthly payments. The latest data from Redfin shows mortgage payments on a median-priced home are now $283 lower than they were just a few months ago (see graph below):
For many Bend real estate brokers, the first half of 2025 had mixed sales results. Home prices moderated, and inventory levels increased. With more homes on the market, buyers had more choices. However, high mortgage interest rates kept many would-be home buyers off the market. Home sales proceeded through the summer at a relatively lower pace than was typical for Central Oregon.
However, the market changed in September. In the beginning of September, mortgage rates dropped below 6.5%. This coupled with more motivation from
Mortgage rates are finally heading in the right direction – and buyers are starting to jump back in.
According to the data, buyer demand picked up considerably once mortgage rates hit a new low for 2025. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reports that applications for home loans were up 23% compared to the first week of September last year.
If you've been waiting to sell, or your listing recently expired because the market was slower than you hoped it would be, now's the time to reconsider your move. Buyer demand is the highest it's been since July – and you don't want to miss this window.
The Federal Reserve (the Fed) meets this week, and expectations are high that they'll cut the Federal Funds Rate. But does that mean mortgage rates will drop? Let's clear up the confusion.
Right now, all eyes are on the Fed. Most economists expect they'll cut the Federal Funds Rate at their mid-September meeting to try to head off a potential recession.
According to the CME FedWatch Tool, markets are already betting on it. There's virtually a 100% chance of a September cut. And based on what we know now, there's about a 92% chance it'll be a small cut (25 basis points) and an 8% chance it will be a bigger cut (50 basis points):