The Weekly Highlight 9.28.2026
Updated: Oct 5
Mortgage rates. Housing. Financing Strategies.
The Week of Sept 28th, 2026 - A quick breakdown of what's happening in mortgage and real estate — and what it could mean for buyers, sellers, and real estate professionals.
Mortgage Rate Update
Feds hike for 1st time since July 2023. 10YR US Treasury is at the highest level since 2007 (5.26). More Info below...
Housing Market
Inventory Continues to RISE, as of August National numbers show an average of 60 days on market before contract and a 4.9 month supply. More info below...
Financing Strategy
"FREE" Refinances are Back! Rate REWIND is a program we are offering buyers that purchase and close prior to 12/31/2026. See below for more info..
Mortgage Rate Update
*Currently the National Average for 30yr fixed mortgage rates = 7.33%
Unfortunately Mortgage Rates have gone haywire the last two weeks! Upon popular belief it was unrelated to the Federal Reserve raising their Fed Funds Rate by .25%. The News over the last few weeks that DID influence increased mortgage rates headline better than expected jobs created for August (expectations 50-60k, actuals 162k), a resilient economy showing promising growth (1.80% GDP 1st Half of year), oil prices continuing to increase (between $90-100 a barrel) and IMO the news that took the bond market over the top...the announcement of the Iran Conflict not coming to an end before the mid-term elections, was too much for the bond market and sent it to a sell off.
Rates are probably somewhere between .40 - .50% worse in rates from two weeks ago.
**Chart below-10yr US Treasury for the last few months. Mortgage Rates typically follow the 10yr UST, so as it goes up or down, usually mortgage rates do as well.(Red=good/lower, Green=bad/higher)
Housing Market
Listings continue to grow as homes are seeing longer days on market and inventory is expected to continue to rise as mortgage rates increase. The current supply of homes is up to 4.9 months on inventory available, basically the amount of homes available at the current sales pace. Typically less than 3 months inventory is a sellers market and more than 6 months of inventory indicates a buyer's market. However, today we are seeing the closest thing to a Buyer's Market that we have seen in recent years. As sellers' homes sit without offers, they are more prone to reduce their asking price, accept an offer that is less than their asking price, accept offers from buyers who are asking for the sellers to pay closing cost and or potentially both.
While mortgage rates might be higher than they have been in the last few months, it is creating opportunities for buyers that they haven’t had in quite sometime. Buyers have more negotiating power today than they did at any point in 2026 and maybe even since 2024 or 2019.
Make sure to check out the next section to see how this could help buyers.
Financing Strategy
Higher rates don't always mean it's a bad time to buy. With sellers becoming more willing to negotiate, we're seeing opportunities to use seller-paid concessions to create a better overall financing game plan.
Depending on the buyer's situation, those seller credits could be used toward a 2-1 Temporary Buydown to lower the payment for the first two years, a Permanent Rate Buydown to reduce the rate for the life of the loan, or simply toward closing costs—allowing the buyer to keep more of their own money in their pocket.
We're also offering a Rate REWIND for purchases closing from 10/1/26–12/31/26. If rates improve after closing, eligible borrowers who refinance with us by 12/31/29 can refinance with our processing and underwriting fees waived. The goal: take advantage of today's negotiating opportunities without feeling like today's rate has to be your rate forever.
My Take / The Game Plan
Don't let one number—the mortgage rate—tell you whether today is a good or bad time to buy. Look at the entire picture.
Yes, rates are higher. But buyers may also have more negotiating power, more homes to choose from, opportunities for seller-paid closing costs, price reductions and fewer multiple-offer situations. We can potentially use those advantages to make today's purchase more affordable—and if rates improve later, Rate REWIND gives us another play.
The goal isn't to perfectly time the market. It's to build the best game plan with the market we're given.
Have a Scenario? Let's Build a Game Plan.
Every buyer, seller and situation is different. If you're wondering how today's rates, seller concessions or financing strategies could work for you or one of your clients, let's run the numbers and build a game plan.
Questions are always welcome. Let's WIN Together!
More About JT Greene
I am licensed in North Carolina and South Carolina, and my team covers 46 states nationwide. Whether you're moving around the corner or across the country, I've got your back with custom mortgage planning and unbeatable service.
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