Higher Mortgage Rates Give Homebuyers More Bargaining Power, Myers Capital Hawaii Says

• Myers Capital Hawaii’s housing market analysis finds higher borrowing costs are cooling demand, giving buyers more choices and greater negotiating power.
• The average U.S. 30-year fixed mortgage rate reached 7.28% in early October 2026, versus below 6% earlier in the year.
• Housing inventory rose to 1,620,000 homes in August, up 5.9% from a year earlier.
• Existing-home sales slipped to a 3,980,000 annual pace in August; the national median existing-home price remained 1.6% higher year over year.
• Sustained mortgage rate relief likely requires lower inflation and cooling economic growth to bring longer-term bond yields down.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Myers Capital Hawaii LLC published the original content used to generate this news brief on October 26, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.