The Truth About 6.95% Mortgage Rates: Don't Buy Until You Watch This

Mortgage rates hit 6.95% — the highest since January 2025 — but Tampa Bay buyers still have 4 real strategies, including assumable loans under 5%. Call or text Tamily Abdo: 813-669-0857. 🏠 GET IN TOUCH WITH TAMILY 📞 Call or Text: 813-669-0857 📅 Book a free Tampa Bay buyer consultation: https://calendly.com/tamily-besttampa... 🎯 ABOUT THIS EPISODE Per Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 6.95% the week of September 17, 2026 — the highest since January 2025, up from 6.26% a year ago. Tamily Abdo, REALTOR® with the Kendall Bonner Team at eXp Realty, breaks down what 6.95% actually costs (roughly $2,380/month principal and interest on a $360,000 loan — an illustration, not a quote) and the four strategies Tampa Bay buyers are using instead of waiting: builder rate incentives, assumable FHA/VA/USDA mortgages with rates under 5%, seller-paid rate buydowns, and negotiating leverage — including where each one breaks. If you're buying a home in Tampa Bay in 2026 or researching assumable mortgages in Florida, this is the full picture, trade-offs included. ⏱ CHAPTERS 00:00 Rates just hit 6.95% — highest since Jan 2025 01:04 Disclosure: agent, not lender 01:33 What the Fed actually did 02:30 What 6.95% really costs per month 03:14 Why 2026 buyers have leverage 04:13 Strategy 1: builder rate incentives 05:43 Where builder incentives break 06:50 Strategy 2: what is an assumable mortgage? 07:57 How we find homes with loans under 5% 09:24 The equity gap nobody talks about 11:44 Strategy 3: seller-paid buydowns + loan limits 12:55 Strategy 4: reading a seller's leverage 13:57 What the 30-second reels skip 15:14 Q&A: waiting, refinancing, finding assumables 18:01 The takeaway: rate isn't the whole picture ❓ TAMPA BAY BUYER FAQ Q: What is an assumable mortgage? A: Certain buyers can take over a seller's existing loan — same rate, balance, and remaining term — instead of getting a new mortgage. FHA, VA, and USDA loans are commonly assumable; most conventional loans are not. Explained at 06:50. Q: Do you have to be a veteran to assume a VA loan? A: No — a qualified civilian buyer may assume a VA loan with servicer approval and full underwriting, though the selling veteran's entitlement can remain tied to the loan. Details at 07:33 and 14:23. Q: Should I wait for mortgage rates to come down before buying? A: Nobody can predict rates with certainty. The decision should be built on whether the numbers work today for your situation — including builder incentives, seller contributions, and assumable options that can change the payment now. See 15:14. 🏡 WATCH NEXT — More Tampa Bay buyer guides ▶️ Rent vs Buy in Tampa Bay 2026: [INSERT LINK] ▶️ Why Are Tampa Bay Sellers Getting Desperate:    • Why Are Tampa Bay Sellers Getting Desperate   ▶️ 4 Things Tampa Bay Sellers Are Paying For Right Now:    • Buying in 2026? 4 Things sellers are payin...   ▶️ Tampa vs Miami vs Orlando vs Jacksonville vs Sarasota:    • Tampa vs Miami vs Orlando vs Jacksonville ...   📚 SOURCES + DATA CITED Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (6.95%, week of Sept 17, 2026): https://www.freddiemac.com/pmms Federal Reserve FOMC statement, September 16, 2026: https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsev... Realtor.com Tampa market data (August 2026: ~74 median days on market, ~26% with price reductions) Redfin Tampa market data (average sale ~3% below list): https://www.redfin.com/city/18142/FL/... M/I Homes advertised incentives (as of publish; subject to qualification and expiration): https://www.mihomes.com All figures are estimates, not quotes or offers. 🎤 ABOUT TAMILY ABDO, REALTOR® Tamily Abdo is a licensed REALTOR® serving the Tampa Bay area through the Kendall Bonner Team (KBT) at eXp Realty — helping buyers across Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco County, including Wesley Chapel, Land O' Lakes, and St. Petersburg, Florida. Buying outside Tampa Bay? Reach out — we can connect you with licensed representation in your market. 🌴 Best of Tampa Bay Now is Tampa Bay's buyer-focused real estate education channel. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for new breakdowns every week. ⚖️ COMPLIANCE + DISCLOSURES Best of Tampa Bay Now is brought to you by the Kendall Bonner Team (KBT) at eXp Realty. Equal housing opportunity. Member, National Association of Realtors. Tamily Abdo is a real estate professional, not a mortgage lender. Nothing here is a loan offer, rate quote, or lending advice — loan products, qualification, assumable-loan approval, and financing structure are determined by licensed lenders and servicers. Builder incentives have qualifications and expiration dates. This is general information, not personalized financial, legal, or tax advice. Estimates may change. #TampaBay #TampaRealEstate #MortgageRates #AssumableMortgage #MovingToTampa #FloridaRealEstate #TampaBayRealEstate #HomeBuying #TampaHomes #FirstTimeHomeBuyer