Home Prices Stay High Despite Market Cooldown: The Surprising Power of Low Inventory and the Lock-In Effect
Despite a cooling housing market and declining mortgage applications, home prices remain persistently high due to an unexpectedly low inventory of homes for sale. Many homeowners are choosing to stay put, reluctant to part with low-interest mortgages secured during the pandemic-era rates. This “lock-in effect” has sharply reduced housing supply, which continues to support elevated…