• Mortgage rates briefly dipped below 6%. 
• Buyer optimism increased. 

• Inflation concerns and geopolitical events pushed rates higher. 
• 30-year rates climbed into the mid-6% range. 

• Rates have stabilized but remain elevated around 6.5%. 
• Most economists now expect mortgage rates to stay above 6% through the remainder of 2026.

The good news is that buyers have largely adjusted to today's rate environment.

• Inventory levels have increased throughout Central Florida. 
• The market is becoming more balanced, giving buyers more negotiating power. 
• Properly priced homes in desirable areas such as beachside New Smyrna Beach, Venetian Bay, and Port Orange continue to attract strong interest.  

For many buyers, the conversation has shifted from "waiting for rates to fall" to "finding the right home and refinancing later if rates improve."

• 30-year fixed mortgages: likely to remain in the 6.25%–6.75% range 
• Significant drops below 6% appear unlikely in the near term. 
• Any meaningful improvement will likely require lower inflation readings and declining Treasury yields.