Why Homeowners Are Moving Anyway (Even with a Low Mortgage Rate)

Let’s just say it out loud: giving up a 3% mortgage rate is not easy.

I know that. You know that. It’s one of the biggest reasons so many homeowners have pressed pause on their plans to move in recent years. And believe me, if I could bottle up that rate and hand it to every buyer, I would.

But here’s the thing: life doesn’t freeze just because interest rates went up.

Your mortgage might be low, but if your house no longer fits your real life, that rate won’t solve everything. It won’t fix the lack of bedrooms, the steep stairs that hurt your knees, or the cross-country distance from the people you love most. And that’s why so many sellers are finally saying, “We’re moving anyway.”

Real Life > Interest Rates

According to data from Realtor.com, nearly 80% of homeowners considering selling today are doing it out of necessity—not because the market is perfect, but because their life has changed. And they’re done waiting for the perfect rate to match the realities they’re facing.

Let me give you some examples I see every single week:

• You’re working from home now and need an office that doesn’t share a wall with a toddler’s nap.
• The house you bought when your kids were in diapers? Well, they’re teenagers now—and somehow twice your height—and suddenly that cozy home feels claustrophobic.
• Or maybe the opposite is true. The kids are grown and gone, and every time you vacuum the upstairs or mow the lawn, you’re thinking, why am I doing this?
• You’ve found yourself single again. Or you’ve found love again. Either way, that means a new chapter—and maybe a new place to call home.
• You want Sunday dinners with your grandkids, not FaceTime calls from 1,000 miles away.

None of those reasons are about money. They’re about life. And that’s what so many leaders in our industry are saying loud and clear right now: people move when their lives demand it—not when rates allow it.

In fact, Lawrence Yun from NAR points out that the share of homeowners with sub-3% mortgage rates is declining. More people are moving. Why? Because as Sharran Srivatsa says: “The pain of staying stuck finally outweighs the fear of the unknown.”

But What About the Rates?

Yes, mortgage rates are higher than they were in 2020. And yes, experts are forecasting some easing, but no one’s predicting a plunge back to 3%.

Waiting for the "perfect rate" could mean putting your life on hold for another year… or two… or more. And if you’ve already been thinking about moving for a while (Realtor.com says 2 out of 3 sellers have been planning for over a year), ask yourself:

How much longer are you willing to wait for your life to begin again?

Let’s Be Honest

The house that made sense five years ago? It might be weighing you down now. And if you’re trying to fit your current life into a home that was meant for a totally different season, it’s okay to admit—it’s time to make a move.

Mortgage rates are part of the equation, yes. But they shouldn’t be the only thing holding you back. Not when your real life—your people, your health, your happiness—is pointing you in a different direction.

Bottom Line:
Let’s talk about what’s changed for you. Because if your home isn’t supporting the life you’re living now, it might be time to stop waiting and start moving.

I'm here when you're ready.