This Week's Trending Topic: Mortgage Rates Push Toward 7%

The mortgage market gave buyers, Realtors, and business owners something new to pay attention to this week.

Freddie Mac reported that the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate reached 6.95% on September 17, up from 6.76% the previous week and 6.26% a year ago.

At the same time, the Federal Reserve raised its federal funds target range by 0.25 percentage points to 3.75%–4%, citing elevated inflation and continued economic activity.

The important takeaway?

The market is not waiting for anyone.

Rates can move. Buyer affordability can change. Seller expectations can shift. And business plans built around "what rates might do next" can quickly become outdated.

That makes preparation more important than prediction.

Abdel's Angle

This is where I believe Realtors and business owners need to change the conversation.

Don't build your business around guessing the next rate move. Build it around being ready for multiple scenarios.

For referral partners, that means knowing your buyers' numbers before they start shopping. Understand their payment range, cash-to-close, financing options, and what happens if rates move another 25–50 basis points.

For buyers, this is a reminder that the headline rate is only one part of the decision. Your purchase price, loan structure, taxes, insurance, cash reserves, and long-term plan all matter.

And for business owners, this is a systems conversation.

Your pipeline should not depend on motivation. Your follow-up should not depend on memory. Your growth should not depend on one market condition.

Use AI, automation, consistent follow-up, and clear processes to create a business that can operate through changing conditions.

The market will change.

Your system should be built to handle it.

Action Step of the Week

Run a "3-Scenario Review" with your pipeline.

For each active buyer or prospect, review:

  • Scenario 1: Current rate/payment
  • Scenario 2: Rate moves higher
  • Scenario 3: Rate improves later

Then ask: "What would you do in each scenario?"

That conversation creates clarity, and clarity creates action.

Call to Action

Want to collaborate this quarter? Message me.

Originally published in Abdel Khawatmi’s Monday Market Pulse newsletter on LinkedIn.