02/28/2026
Mortgage rates just hit 5.98%, the lowest in over two years. This could bring back buyers who stepped away when rates were higher. However, most homeowners with cheap loans are staying put rather than selling. A big change from recent years: more than 60% of home shoppers now look outside their local market, up from about 50% in 2019. Sun Belt cities and tech hubs are attracting the most out-of-state interest.