Coldwell Banker: Mortgage Rate "Lock-In Effect" Eases; One in Three Home Sellers are Giving up a Sub-5% Rate to List this Spring
Rhea-AI Summary
Coldwell Banker (NYSE:COMP) released its 2026 Home Shopping Season Report on April 23, 2026, based on a survey of 727 affiliated agents conducted March 23–April 6, 2026. Key findings: 35% of sellers have sub-5% mortgages but plan to sell, 77% of agents work with "comeback buyers," and 80% report active buyers not waiting for lower rates. Regional splits show Midwest and Northeast leaning seller's markets while South and West trend toward buyers' markets. Climate risk and insurance costs are a larger factor for 31% of agents.
Positive
- 35% of sellers hold sub-5% mortgage rates and plan to sell
- 77% of agents report working with returning "comeback buyers"
- 80% of agents say buyers are actively purchasing, not waiting
Negative
- 61% of agents say mortgage rate lock-in remains a major or moderate factor
- 31% of agents report climate risk influences buyer decisions more than last year
- Regional imbalance: only 25% of agents call markets balanced
News Market Reaction – COMP
On the day this news was published, COMP declined 1.52%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 21 | Earnings date notice | Neutral | -3.1% | Announced timing and webcast details for Q1 2026 earnings release. |
| Apr 16 | Brand expansion | Positive | +0.3% | Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate added a multi-office Connecticut brokerage. |
| Apr 15 | Awards recognition | Positive | +2.7% | Century 21 inducted two long-time high-performing agents into its Hall of Fame. |
| Apr 15 | Top brand award | Positive | +2.7% | Century 21 Atwood received the brand’s top global Art Bartlett 2100 Cup award. |
| Apr 06 | Leadership appointment | Positive | -3.8% | Century 21 leader installed as 2026 NAHREP president, extending long partnership. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Recent news items have mostly been positive brand or expansion updates, with the stock usually moving in the same direction as the news tone, though one positive governance/partnership item saw a negative reaction.
Over the past month, COMP news has centered on brand expansion, recognition, and corporate events. On Apr 6, a leadership role within NAHREP highlighted long-standing engagement with Hispanic homeownership. On Apr 15, Century 21 announced Hall of Fame inductions and a major brand award for Century 21 Atwood, both emphasizing performance and service culture. On Apr 16, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate expanded in Connecticut via a multi-office affiliation. An Apr 21 release set the date for first-quarter 2026 results. Today’s housing-market sentiment report fits this pattern of brand- and market-focused updates.
Key Terms
lock-in effect financial
seller's market financial
buyers' markets financial
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
New survey data tops a list of five trends shaping the 2026 spring housing market
The findings are based on a survey of more than 700 real estate agents nationwide, offering a real-time snapshot of the 2026 spring housing market. Early indicators point to renewed buyer and seller activity, with
"We are seeing activity on both sides of the housing market this spring, but it is measured," said Jason Waugh, President of Coldwell Banker Affiliates. "Buyers are prepared to move forward, yet they are focused on homes that meet long‑term financial and practical needs, and they are taking the time to evaluate their options. On the seller side, many homeowners are listing because their circumstances require a change, even if it means giving up a historically low mortgage rate. With clear motivations on both sides, there is opportunity in the market, but the pace is more controlled than the period immediately following the pandemic."
Top 5 Spring Housing Market Trends for 2026
One in Three Home Sellers are Giving Up a Mortgage Rate Below
Homeowners are beginning to let go of historically low mortgage rates, signaling a potential shift in one of the biggest and most persistent constraints on housing supply. For many sellers, the decision to list is less about timing the market and more about necessity, with
35% of sellers currently working with Coldwell Banker affiliated agents have mortgage rates below5% and are still planning to sell this spring.39% of agents say the mortgage rate "lock-in effect" is not a meaningful factor, or only a minor one, when sellers decide to list.- However, still
61% of agents say it remains a major or moderate factor influencing decisions.
"Working through the lock-in effect will take time," Waugh said. "But we are starting to see early signs that it is loosening, particularly in the Midwest and in the West, which could have a meaningful impact on inventory."
"Comeback Buyers" Account for about
Seventy-seven percent of agents surveyed say they are working with homebuyers who are re-entering the market after previously pausing their search. Agents describe these "comeback buyers" as cautious but motivated by current market conditions, with many maintaining budgets similar to their initial search.
- About
20% of current homebuyers working with Coldwell Banker® affiliated agents paused their search in the last two years before re-entering the market this spring. - The majority (
75% ) of agents working with "comeback buyers" say these buyers are returning with about the same budget, while24% say these buyers have increased budgets. - Returning buyers are most likely to have upped their budgets in the Midwest. This may be in part because many agents describe the Midwest as a seller's market this spring.
Buyers are Not Waiting for Mortgage Rates to Drop
Buyers today are not window shopping. Eighty percent of agents say homebuyers this spring are actively on the market and are not waiting for market conditions or rates to drop further before purchasing their next house.
- Agents in the Northeast are most likely to report working with active buyers, whereas agents in the South are most likely to report that their buyers are waiting for rates to fall or other market conditions to shift.
- Overall, only
20% of agents say buyers are waiting for better conditions or lower rates.
Climate Risk Concerns Rise Among Buyers Compared to Last Year
Buyers are increasingly factoring in environmental risks, as well as climate-influenced costs like home insurance, into their purchasing decision – especially in regions most exposed to extreme weather.
31% of agents say climate-related risks – including home insurance costs, wildfire risks and flood zones or hurricane exposure – are a bigger factor in buyer decision-making than just one year ago.- That share rises to
35% in the South and39% in the West. - Only
27% of agents say climate risks rarely influence buyer behavior in their market.
The Regional Divide Between "Buyer and Seller Markets" Deepened
For much of the past two decades following the Global Financial Crisis, regional housing markets largely moved in tandem. This spring, however, Coldwell Banker affiliated agents report a different story.
70% of agents in the Midwest and74% of agents in the Northeast characterize their markets as sellers' markets, compared to just13% in the South and22% in the West.- By contrast, around half of agents in the South (
56% ) and West (46% ) describe their markets as buyers' markets, compared to about13% in the Midwest and12% Northeast. - Nationally, just
25% of agents say their market is balanced.
Survey Methodology
Coldwell Banker Real Estate surveyed 727 Coldwell Banker affiliated real estate agents to get their insights on local market conditions and buyer and seller sentiment. The survey was conducted online between March 23 and April 6, 2026. The survey included real estate professionals from various markets throughout
About Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC
Powered by its network of 93,000 affiliated sales professionals across 50 countries and territories, the Coldwell Banker® system is a leading provider of full-service residential and commercial real estate brokerage services. The Coldwell Banker brand prides itself on its history of expertise, honesty and an empowering culture of excellence since its beginnings in 1906. The Coldwell Banker brand is committed to providing its network of affiliated sales agents with the tools and insights needed to excel in today's marketplace and is known for its bold leadership and dedication to driving the industry forward. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each office is independently owned and operated. Coldwell Banker is a part of Compass International Holdings (NYSE: COMP), a global real estate services company with a presence in every major
CONTACT: Alexa Fiander, alexa@motherbear.agency
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SOURCE Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC