Market Conditions

A few forces are shaping conditions across the whole region.

Mortgage rates remain a headwind. As of early July 2026, the average 30-year fixed rate sits at about 6.54%, up roughly 40 basis points from a February low of 6.09%. Rates have been drifting sideways to slightly higher in recent weeks, and elevated inflation (still running around 3.4% annually) has made it harder for the Fed to justify significant rate relief. That combination keeps monthly payments high relative to a few years ago, which naturally slows how quickly buyers can act, even when they're motivated.

At the same time, inventory is genuinely improving. Nationally, listings were up around 4.6% year-over-year as of spring 2026, and most forecasters expect home prices to keep appreciating modestly, in the 2–4% range, rather than spike or crash. That national backdrop lines up well with what we're seeing locally in West Georgia,  where more choices for buyers are translating into longer selling times, even as prices hold up.