Blog Post

June 5, 2026

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June 5, 2026

Why "I'll Wait for Rates to Drop" Is Becoming a Riskier Strategy

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A lot of buyers are sitting on the sidelines waiting for rates to drop. After this week, that bet just got harder.

The May jobs report blew past expectations. 172,000 new jobs versus 85,000 expected, with prior months revised higher too. That is the third labor reading in a row pointing to a strong economy. Good news overall, but strong data pushes bonds lower and mortgage rates higher.

So why does this matter for buyers waiting on lower rates? Because the Fed isn't cutting anytime soon. Their next meeting is June 16-17, and they are widely expected to hold steady. A strong economy gives them no reason to rush.

Meanwhile, the housing market itself is healthier than most people realize. Purchase applications are running 7% above last year. Inventory is still below pre-pandemic levels in 35 states, which keeps a solid floor under home values. Buyers waiting for prices to drop are waiting for something the data doesn't support.

Here is what is actually working: buying the right home now and refinancing later if rates improve. Many buyers who purchased in 2025 were able to refinance 0.5% to 0.75% lower earlier this year before the war started. They didn't time the rate. They timed the home.

The buyers in the strongest position right now aren't the ones watching rates every day. They are the ones who found the right home and made their move.

If you want clarity on what buying could look like for you this year, we’re happy to walk through the numbers anytime.

Featuring:

Rate Source: MortgageNewsDaily.com

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*The Mortgage News Daily index attempts to capture the most prevalently quoted conventional, FHA, and VA 30-year fixed rates for highly qualified homebuyers that meet the appropriate down payment requirements and have no major loan-level price adjustments.

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Mortgage News Daily is a trademark of Mortgage News Daily, LLC. CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC; its subsidiaries; and its affiliates have not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Mortgage News Daily, LLC or any of the above-mentioned companies.

Additional Resources

A picture from mortgage university

What an Economic Slowdown Could Mean for the Housing Market

Let’s take a look at some historical data to show what’s happened in the housing market during each recession, going all the way back to the 1980s. The facts may surprise you.

A picture from mortgage university

A Tale of Two Housing Markets

Knowing which housing market you’re in makes a huge difference when you move.

A picture from mortgage university

Why Today’s Foreclosure Numbers Aren’t a Warning Sign

Even with the recent increase, foreclosure numbers are not at the levels seen during the 2008 crash.

© 2026 Hansen-Tyler Team. All Rights Reserved.

Equal Housing Opportunity. CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC. Company NMLS 3029. Branch NMLS 1437924. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org)

All loans subject to underwriting approval. Certain restrictions apply. Call (858) 259-8700 for details. All borrowers must meet minimum credit score, loan-to-value, debt-to-income, and other requirements to qualify for any mortgage program. CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC is an FHA Approved Lending Institution and is not acting on behalf of or at the direction of HUD/FHA or the federal government. CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC is not affiliated with or acting on behalf of or at the direction of the Veteran Affairs Office or any government agency. Certificate of Eligibility required for VA loans. By refinancing, the existing loan total finance charges may be higher over the life of the loan. For more licensing and disclosures, see crosscountrymortgage.com/licensing-and-disclosures.
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TESTIMONIALS
Compensation was not paid in exchange for any testimonial on this site. Individuals pictured may not be that of the endorsers and are for display purposes only.
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REFINANCING
Refinancing may result in higher total finance charges over the life of the loan.
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RATE ASSUMPTIONS
Rates displayed are subject to change and assume that you are buying or refinancing an owner-occupied single-family home, debt-to-income ratios of 35% or lower, asset and reserve requirements are met, and your property has a loan-to-value of 80% or less. The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is based on the loan amount and may include up to 3 points. (Points include any origination, discount and lender fees.) On adjustable-rate loans, interest rates are subject to potential increases over the life of the loan, once the initial fixed-rate period expires. Please contact one of our Mortgage Experts at (858) 259-8700 for a customized rate and payment quote.

STATE LICENSING
AZ - Main Office Licensed as a Mortgage Banker with the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions No. 0919020.
CA - Licensed by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act No. 4131098. California - DFPI Residential Mortgage Lending Act License.
CO - Mortgage Company Registration – Regulated by the Division of Real Estate - www.dora.state.co.us/real-estate.
FL - Mortgage Lender Servicer License No. MLD806.
ID - Licensed as a Mortgage Broker/Lender No. MBL-7779. Regulated Lender License RRL-10257.
MI - 1st Mortgage Broker/Lender/Servicer Registrant No. FR0024287. 2nd Mortgage Broker/Lender/Servicer Registrant No. SR0019909.
MT - Mortgage Lender/Broker/Servicer License No. 3029.
NV - NV Mortgage Company License 3259. Supplemental Mortgage Servicer License No. 4352.
OK - Mortgage Broker License No. MB001744. Mortgage Lender License No. ML010107.
OR - Lender License No. ML-4709. Servicer License MS-134.
TN - Mortgage License No. 109408. Industrial Loan and Trust Company Registration No. 3029.
TX - SML Mortgage Banker Registration. SML Residential Mortgage Loan Servicer Registration 3029. Texas Rights.
WA - Licensed by the Department of Financial Institutions under the Consumer Loan Act No. CL-3029.

TEXAS RIGHTS
Consumers wishing to file a complaint against a mortgage banker or a licensed mortgage banker residential mortgage loan originator should complete and send a complaint form to the Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending, 2601 N. Lamar, Suite 201, Austin, TX 78705. Complaint forms and instructions may be obtained from the department’s website at www.sml.texas.gov. A toll-free consumer hotline is available at 1-877-276-5550. The department maintains a recovery fund to make payments of certain actual out of pocket damages sustained by borrowers caused by acts of licensed mortgage banker residential mortgage loan originators. A written application for reimbursement from the recovery fund must be filed with and investigated by the department prior to the payment of a claim. For more information about the recovery fund, please consult the department’s website at www.sml.texas.gov.
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