Mortgage Rates Topped 7.5%. What Does That Mean for Buying a Home in Scottsdale?

Posted by Judy Orr on September 30th, 2026

Should You Still Buy a Home in Scottsdale With Rates Over 7%?

Quick Answer

Mortgage rates jumped past 7.5% at the end of September 2026, the highest level since April 2024. That raises monthly payments and shrinks buying power. But more homes are for sale and fewer buyers are shopping, so prepared Scottsdale home buyers may find better deals. The key is building a budget that works even if rates move.

If you've been watching mortgage rates lately, you might feel a little like you're checking the temperature in Phoenix in July. You already know it's going to be high. You just don't know how high.

I get a lot of texts that start with "Judy, did you see rates today?" Yes, I did. And I want to walk you through what's going on in plain English,…

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Homebuyers Are Backing Out at the Highest Rate Ever Recorded

Posted by Judy Orr on March 15th, 2026

Getting Under Contract Used to Feel Like the Finish Line. Not Anymore

Something genuinely interesting is happening in the housing market right now, and if you're thinking about selling your home, this is exactly the kind of thing you need to understand before you put up that for sale sign.

Back in the not-so-distant past, getting a buyer to sign a purchase agreement felt like you had basically won. Pop the champagne, start packing boxes, call the moving company. The hard part was over. But that's just not the reality anymore, and the numbers tell a pretty striking story about how much things have changed.

In December alone, roughly 40,000 home purchase agreements across the United States were canceled before ever making it to the closing…

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