The Mortgage Files

Nationally syndicated mortgage news and advice from Senior Loan Officer Scott Sheldon.

Why Housing Inventory Still Feels Tight—And What Interest Rates Have to Do With It

By Scott Sheldon / March 25, 2026

Let’s start with a simple but powerful scenario. A homeowner locked in a mortgage at 2.75% during the pandemic. Fast forward to today, and that same homeowner is now looking at interest rates closer to 6.5% on a 30-year fixed. Even if their life has changed—maybe they’ve grown their family or simply need more space—the…