Don’t Let a 3% Mortgage Keep You from Your Next Chapter

May 15, 2025

Parents play with their young children on a living room sofa beside a stone fireplace.

That Low Mortgage Rate Might Be Holding You Back More Than You Think

If you’ve got a 3% mortgage rate, you’re probably not eager to give it up. And I get it—those rates were rare, and locking one in felt like winning the lottery.

But here’s a question worth asking: is keeping that rate the only thing keeping you in your current home?

Let’s flip the script and look at this a little differently:

What are the chances you’ll still be living in this home five years from now?

Take a second to picture your future. Are you planning to expand your family? Downsizing after the kids leave? Looking to simplify life as retirement nears? Maybe your home just doesn’t fit like it used to.

If nothing is changing and you love where you’re at, staying might make perfect sense. But if there’s even a chance that change is coming, now is the time to start planning. Because the longer you wait, the more your next move could cost you.

Here’s What the Experts Are Saying About Prices

Chart forecasts home price increases of 3.33% to 3.98% annually from 2025 through 2029.

According to Fannie Mae’s Home Price Expectations Survey, over 100 housing market experts agree—home prices are expected to keep rising through at least 2029. Even if the increases aren’t huge year by year, they stack up quickly.

Let’s say you’re eyeing a $400,000 home today. If you wait five years, that same home could cost you nearly $80,000 more based on those projections. That’s a major difference.

And About Interest Rates...

Chart of 30-year fixed mortgage rates and forecasts from 2023 through 2026.

Yes, we may see rates come down some—but experts aren’t predicting a return to 3%. Waiting around for that kind of drop could cost you more in price increases than you’d save in interest.

So the real question becomes: “When should I move?”

Because for many, it’s not the rate that determines the right move—it’s life. And timing your move around the market, rather than letting the market control your timeline, can put you in a much stronger position.

Bottom Line

That 3% mortgage rate was a win—but don’t let it hold you back from what’s next.

If there’s even a chance a move might be in your future, let’s take a closer look at what it could mean for you financially. You might be surprised by what the numbers say—and better yet, you’ll be prepared to move on your terms.

Visit buywithamber.pillarrealestate.com for more buyer tips and resources to help you plan your next move smartly and confidently.

Amber Johnson, Founder
Pillar Real Estate
805.835.3425
[email protected]
1345 Park St. Paso Robles, CA 93446
DRE# 01925434

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