Is It a Big Deal That the Fed Didn’t Cut Rates at Their Last Meeting?

Short answer: It’s not nothing—but it’s also not a reason to panic, pause your life, or cancel your home search.
Long answer (the one that actually matters): let’s break it down.

First, what the Fed didn’t do

The Federal Reserve held rates steady instead of cutting them. That tells us one thing loud and clear:
👉 The Fed isn’t convinced inflation is fully tamed yet, and they don’t want to risk lighting that fire again.

This wasn’t a shocker. The Fed has been saying for months: “We’re not rushing this.” And—surprise—they meant it.

Why this feels bigger than it actually is

Markets (and headlines) love drama. When people hear “no rate cut,” they translate it to:

• “Mortgage rates are going higher” ❌
• “The housing market is frozen” ❌
• “I should wait another year” ❌

In reality:

• Mortgage rates didn’t spike.
• Buyers and sellers didn’t disappear.
• Life continued. Homes still sold. Deals still closed.

A pause is not a reversal. It’s more like the Fed saying, “Let’s keep watching the data before we pop the champagne.”

What this means for mortgage rates

Here’s the part most people miss:

📌 Mortgage rates don’t move in lockstep with the Fed.
They’re driven more by:

• Inflation trends
• Bond markets
• Investor expectations

That’s why we’ve seen mortgage rates drift before Fed moves and sometimes improve even when the Fed does… nothing.

Translation: Waiting for a Fed cut to magically fix affordability is like waiting for gas prices to drop before buying groceries.

Impact on buyers

If you’re a buyer, this pause means:

• Competition remains manageable (good news)
• Inventory is slowly improving (also good)
• Sellers are more realistic than they were in peak frenzy years

The buyers who win aren’t the ones waiting for the “perfect” rate—they’re the ones buying the right home and refinancing later when rates eventually ease.

Impact on sellers

For sellers, a Fed pause actually creates clarity:

• Serious buyers are still active
• Overpriced homes still sit
• Well-priced homes still move

The market is rewarding strategy, not optimism. Pricing it right from day one matters more now than at any point in the last few years.

The bigger picture

The Fed not cutting rates doesn’t mean:

• Rates will stay high forever
• The market is headed for trouble
• You missed your chance

It means we’re in a more balanced, more rational market—and honestly, that’s healthier for everyone.

Bottom line

Is it a big deal the Fed didn’t lower rates?
Not really—unless you were counting on it to make the decision for you.

Smart moves are still being made by people who:

• Focus on long-term goals
• Understand today’s market (not yesterday’s headlines)
• Get advice instead of guessing

And those tend to be the people who look back and say, “I’m glad I didn’t wait.”

If you want to talk through how this actually affects your buying or selling plans—numbers, strategy, no fluff—I’m always happy to help.