Don't Celebrate Just Yet

By Rob Sassos, Broker/President, Simplicity Luxury Real Estate — August 24, 2026

We may have just gotten the first piece of good news for mortgage rates in a while. Before you get excited, let me walk you through what the numbers really say.

July inflation came in at 3.4%, down slightly from 3.5% in June. Core inflation cooled to 2.5% annually. And for those of us in real estate, there is a third number worth watching closely: shelter inflation slowed to 3.2% year over year, with shelter costs rising just 0.1% in July.

Why this matters if you are buying or selling

Mortgage rates. Rates climbed from around 6.43% in early July to 6.69% in early August, a 13-month high. Cooling inflation can take some of the upward pressure off borrowing costs, and that is real good news for buyers who have been waiting on the sidelines.

But one inflation report does not mean mortgage rates are suddenly dropping. Inflation is still above the Federal Reserve's 2% target, and expectations are currently leaning toward the Fed holding rates steady in September. So if you are waiting for some magical announcement that sends rates back into the 4s or 5s, you could be waiting a long time while the market changes around you.

Watch the whole equation

I have owned my brokerage for 15 years, and the buyers who win are rarely the ones who time the bottom on rates. They are the ones watching the entire equation: home prices, mortgage rates, seller concessions, negotiating leverage, and inventory. Right now, several of those levers favor buyers who are ready to act. Sellers are offering concessions. Homes are sitting a little longer. That is leverage you can use today, and it tends to disappear the moment rates fall and the crowd comes back.

Sometimes the best buying opportunity doesn't happen when rates are lowest. It happens when everyone else is waiting.

If rates do come down later, you can refinance the loan. You can never go back and re-negotiate the price you paid, or the concessions you didn't ask for, in a market that was working in your favor.

Let's look at your numbers

I'm Rob Sassos, your Central Florida luxury real estate expert. If you are thinking about buying or selling, the next step is simple: reach out and we will look at what these numbers actually mean for you in today's Central Florida market.

 

SimplicityRE.com | 407.920.6020 | Rob@SimplicityRE.com