A Note From Me from July 2026

A Note From Me

Winning Starts With Realizing Today Isn't Perfect

If we're being honest…

This market doesn't feel like a winner.

Buyers feel like they're losing because mortgage rates are still hovering around 6.5%.

Sellers feel like they're losing because they're accepting offers below list price, paying concessions they didn't expect, and watching homes sit longer than they did a few years ago.

Renters feel like they're losing because they're waiting for rates to come down while another year of rent disappears into someone else's investment.

So here's my question…

What if everyone is measuring winning with the wrong yard stick?

Real estate has never been about winning today's headline.

It's about putting yourself in the strongest position five, ten, or twenty years from now.

The people who build wealth through real estate rarely do it because they bought at the absolute perfect time. They do it because they made thoughtful decisions, stayed in the market, and let time do the heavy lifting.

If you're fortunate enough to own a home with a mortgage below 4%, that loan is incredibly valuable. But if you've outgrown your home or simply don't love living there anymore, selling isn't your only option. Depending on your financial situation, keeping that home as a rental while purchasing your next home may allow you to preserve a historically low interest rate, generate rental income, continue building equity, and create another long-term investment. It's not the right solution for everyone—but it's a conversation worth having.

If selling is the right move, don't let your old interest rate keep you trapped.

I've started telling clients to date the rate and marry the home.

Interest rates change.

Homes that fit your lifestyle don't come along every day.

If rates improve in the future, refinancing is always a possibility. You can change your mortgage. You can't go back and buy today's house at yesterday's price or negotiate under today's market conditions.

And if you're currently renting because you're waiting for rates to fall, I'd encourage you to consider the full cost of waiting.

Waiting isn't just another year of rent.

It's another year without building equity.

Another year without potential tax advantages of homeownership.

Another year of hoping rates move in your favor when there are no guarantees they will.

In fact, the Federal Reserve recently held interest rates steady but signaled inflation remains stubborn enough that future rate cuts may not happen as quickly as many buyers expected. Mortgage industry forecasts now generally expect 30-year mortgage rates to remain around the mid-6% range through much of the coming year rather than falling dramatically. While no one can predict the future, today's market may be closer to "normal" than many people realize.

Here's the encouraging part.

Today's buyers actually have something they haven't enjoyed in years:

Negotiating power.

More inventory means more choices.

Homes are staying on the market longer.

Seller concessions, repair requests, and closing cost assistance have all become more common.

Ironically, if rates eventually fall significantly, many of those advantages will likely disappear as more buyers rush back into the market.

Buying won't necessarily become cheaper.

It may simply become more competitive.

There is some good news already. National listing prices in June were approximately 2.5% lower than a year ago, and the combination of slightly lower home prices and modestly improved mortgage rates means the typical monthly payment on a median-priced home is lower than it was last summer. That's meaningful progress—even if it doesn't always feel like it.

My job has never been to convince someone to buy or sell.

My job is to help people make informed decisions with real numbers, realistic expectations, and a long-term plan.

Sometimes the smartest move is buying.

Sometimes it's waiting.

Sometimes it's keeping your current home and turning it into an investment.

Sometimes it's selling and moving on.

There isn't one right answer for everyone.

There is only the right answer for you.

If you or someone you know would like to sit down and run the numbers together—whether you're buying, selling, investing, or simply wondering what your options are—I would love to help.

No pressure.

Just real conversations about real estate from a REAL person you know and trust! Stay Well & God Bless America!

Warmly,

Kendra Harrison
Real Estate Advisor
GetRealAZ.com