PR Newswire·Apr 23, 2026, 8:00 AM ET

Coldwell Banker: Mortgage Rate "Lock-In Effect" Eases; One in Three Home Sellers are Giving up a Sub-5% Rate to List this Spring

Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC released its 2026 Home Shopping Season Report based on a survey of 727 agents conducted between March 23 & April 6, 2026.
43% of agents report a busier spring housing season compared to last year despite geopolitical uncertainty.
35% of sellers working with Coldwell Banker agents have mortgage rates below 5% yet plan to sell due to personal life circumstances.
61% of agents say the mortgage rate lock-in effect remains a major or moderate factor influencing seller decisions.
"Comeback buyers" who paused their search in the last two years account for approximately 20% of current shoppers.
75% of agents report that comeback buyers are returning with budgets similar to their initial search.
80% of agents say buyers are actively purchasing now rather than waiting for mortgage rates to drop.
31% of agents note that climate risks, including insurance costs & extreme weather exposure, are a larger factor in buyer decisions than last year.
The Midwest & Northeast are characterized as sellers' markets by 70% & 74% of agents respectively, while the South & West are predominantly buyers' markets.
Only 25% of agents nationally describe their local market as balanced this spring.