High interest rates aren’t your biggest obstacle — fear and bad advice are. In this episode, David Sidoni shows you how to win anyway.

Synopsis

If you’re waiting on mortgage rates to drop before you buy a home, you may be setting yourself up to lose thousands. This episode breaks down the real math of affordability — and why obsessing over interest rates could cost you far more than you think. David walks through the truth behind today’s rates, the history that puts them in context, and the emotional traps that keep first-time buyers on the sidelines.

You’ll learn how to stop hoping for a return to 3% rates (spoiler: that era was a global emergency, not a market trend) and instead start planning within the reality of 2025. This is a continuation of the affordability conversation from Episodes 237 and 262, with a sharper focus on how to beat high-rate fears with facts, strategy, and a new mindset.

Whether you’re renting, budgeting, or just plain overwhelmed, this episode will help you shift from stuck to strategic.

Want to see the full affordability breakdown and rent vs. buy math? Read the blog: https://howtobuyahome.com/2025-homebuying-high-mortgage-rates-guide/

Learn how interest rates have changed over the decades — and what that means for your plan.

Quote

“If you’re waiting for 3% rates, you’re waiting for another global crisis. That’s not a plan.”

Highlights

• Why 3% mortgage rates aren’t coming back — and why that’s okay
• The historical average interest rate since 1970 (spoiler: it’s 7.7%)
• How fear and recency bias distort smart homebuying decisions
• What today’s rates really mean for your monthly payment
• How to build a rent replacement plan instead of chasing the market
• Why emotion-based waiting can cost you thousands in lost equity
• How to use strategy — not timing — to create long-term wins

REFERENCED EPISODES

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David Sidoni, the "How to Buy a Home Guy," is a seasoned real estate professional and consumer advocate with two decades of experience helping first-time homebuyers navigate the real estate market. His podcast, "How to Buy a Home," is a trusted resource for anyone looking to buy their first home. It offers expert advice, actionable tips, and inspiring stories from real first-time homebuyers. With a focus on making the home-buying process accessible and understandable, David breaks down complex topics into easy-to-follow steps, covering everything from budgeting and financing to finding the right home and making an offer.

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