Wow, 2024 was definitely a surprise, at the beginning of the year, there were huge predictions of a rapid decline in rates, fast forward to 2025 and now rates are actually rapidly increasing even after the federal reserve cut short term rates. Why are rates increasing and poised to remain higher for longer? What does this mean for residential and commercial real estate prices and volumes?
30 year bond predicts long term inflation
Although the 30 year bond is not the 10 year treasury that is basically the “peg” for mortgage rates, it does show the long term market expectations for treasuries and in turn mortgage rates. If we look at the chart above the latest predictions from Wells Fargo show that 30 year rates will remain about where they are today give or take ½%. Unfortunately Wells is already light on their rate predictions, look at the chart below. 30 year is already at almost 5% today.
I would agree with Well’s predictions as government spending is off the charts both in the US and throughout the world which will ultimately lead to substantially more treasuries for sale and ultimately higher rates (remember treasury prices and rates work in inverse).
Mortgage rate predictions are wrong, they will be much higher for longer
If you look at any mainstream real estate publication, interest rates are predicted to fall well below where they are today. Unfortunately, I think these predictions are dead wrong. To determine where mortgage rates will be in 2026 if I lined up the 30 year historical chart above along with the historical mortgage chart below, it implies that rates will be very similar to where they were in 2008 which would put mortgage rates through 2026 in the 6.25 to 7% range which is about where they are now.
Even looking beyond 2026 rate likely will stay well above the ultra low rates from 2009 to 2019 as government spending ramps up which will keep rates considerably higher than the last 10 years.
What do 6% and above rates mean for residential and commercial real estate?
With rates staying higher for longer there will be huge impacts on real estate prices:
Residential: Higher rates eventually will lead to declining prices especially in higher priced markets as less people can afford to purchase expensive houses. Assuming a 500k mortgage at a 4% rate precovid the payments would be 2,387/month, now fast forward and that same mortgage would be 3160/month. This is an extra 9300/year in mortgage payments. This huge jump in payments does not work for most prospective buyers which will ultimately lead to prices falling in order to increase affordability. The million dollar question is how much? I think most markets will reset to the tune of 10-15% with some even higher.
Commercial: We have not even come close to seeing the bottom in the commercial market. As rates remain higher cap rates will also need to rise which will ultimately lead to a much deeper reset in commercial property values. Billions in mortgages are going to reset over the next few years and for now lenders have kicked the can down the road but as rates remain higher for longer eventually the market will have to face the music of much lower property values. For example, I’ve seen office buildings trading at 20-30% off their values from just a few years ago. You will also see a further reset in multifamily and retail as cap rates are way too low with treasuries staying higher for longer.
Summary
The market is dead wrong on the assumption that interest rates will rapidly fall anytime soon. We are already seeing this play out today with the fed’s ½% cut mortgage rates ultimately increased almost ½% as opposed to decreasing. Unfortunately, larger government spending and the push for a soft landing will keep long term rates like mortgages much higher for much longer than is being priced in.
Since the market hasn’t come to terms with higher for longer, the market is grossly underestimating the impacts to residential and commercial real estate. With mortgage rates above 6% through 2026, both residential and commercial real estate is primed for a substantial correction as the current prices are not sustainable in a higher rate environment. For example, why would someone buy a commercial property on a 4-5% cap when they can buy a government bond with the same return with zero risk. Unfortunately, they would not, which means prices must adjust downward.
Unfortunately predicting when the reset will occur is challenging as macro factors like a war, surge in oil prices, stock market meltdown, etc… can happen out of nowhere. With that said, my best guess is the second half of 2025 as the market comes to grips that low long term rates are not going to bail out the real estate market as rates stay higher for longer.
Additional Reading/Resources
- https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MORTGAGE30US
- https://econforecasting.com/forecast/t30y
- https://www.fairviewlending.com/fed-cuts-rates-why-are-mortgage-rates-rising/
- https://www.fairviewlending.com/commercial-real-estate-what-is-causing-the-decline/
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Glen Weinberg personally writes these weekly real estate blogs based on his real estate experience as a lender and property owner. I’m not an armchair reporter/writer. We are an actual private lender, lending our own money. We service our own loans and own commercial and residential real estate throughout the country.
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Written by Glen Weinberg, COO/ VP Fairview Commercial Lending. Glen has been published as an expert in hard money lending, real estate valuation, financing, and various other real estate topics in Bloomberg, Businessweek ,the Colorado Real Estate Journal, National Association of Realtors Magazine, The Real Deal real estate news, the CO Biz Magazine, The Denver Post, The Scotsman mortgage broker guide, Mortgage Professional America and various other national publications.
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