Jeff Stone, Realtor

10/08/2026

**Mortgage rates are stuck at 7.59%... so what needs to happen for them to finally come down?**

Last week, the average 30-year fixed was 7.60%. This week? Just 7.59%, according to Mortgage News Daily.

The reality is, mortgage rates aren't going to drop just because politicians keep telling us how great the economy is doing.

We need inflation to cool down.
We need relief from rising energy prices and global conflicts.
We need Treasury yields to come down.
And no, a Federal Reserve rate cut doesn't automatically mean lower mortgage rates!

In this week's update, I break down what's actually keeping rates elevated and what could finally bring some relief to homebuyers.

I'm Jeffrey Stone, your Blue Shoe Realtor, keeping you informed about the Tampa Bay housing market.

https://blueshoerealtor.com/

10/01/2026

Mortgage rates are up again, with the average 30 year fixed sitting around 7.6%.

But the bigger story this week is the bond market.

The 10 year Treasury yield just hit its highest level since 2002, and that helps explain why mortgage rates continue to feel upward pressure.

In this video, I break down the connection between Treasury yields, mortgage backed securities, and the rate you actually see when buying a home.

09/28/2026

Tampa Bay buyers are still buying, but they’re definitely making sellers work for it.

This week we saw 970 homes go pending and 825 close, compared with just 426 listings that canceled, withdrew, or expired.

At the same time, there were more than 2,000 price reductions.

So the story isn’t that buyers disappeared. It’s that buyers have more options and are being much more selective about price.

I’m covering the latest numbers across Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties.

09/25/2026

Mortgage rates jumped again this week, with the average 30 year fixed hitting 7.49% according to Mortgage News Daily.

After briefly easing earlier in the week, rates turned higher as stronger economic data, inflation concerns, higher oil prices, and expectations for more Fed tightening pushed the bond market in the wrong direction.

That does not mean the Federal Reserve directly sets mortgage rates, but Fed expectations absolutely affect the bond market that mortgage rates tend to follow.

Here’s the quick breakdown of what happened and what buyers and sellers should be watching next.

09/21/2026

About 1,200 new listings, around 1,000 pending, roughly 900 closed, and close to 2,000 price reductions in just one week across Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco.

So is the Tampa Bay real estate market crashing?

I don’t think the numbers say that. Inventory is still rising, but buyer demand is still there. What we may be seeing is the market continuing to correct from prices that stayed too high after the seller’s market.

I’m also covering the latest Rays stadium update, including what’s happening with Hillsborough College and why the college redevelopment is a much bigger part of the story than a lot of social media posts are letting on.

I’m Jeff Stone with LoKation, your Blue Shoe Realtor, keeping you up to date on the Tampa Bay market.

09/17/2026

09/17/2026

Mortgage rates are sitting around 7.19% after the Fed raised rates by a quarter point.

Sounds dramatic, right?

But 25 basis points is actually a pretty normal-sized Fed move. What makes this one feel bigger is that we haven’t seen a rate hike in about three years.

And remember, the Fed does not directly set mortgage rates.

So what does this mean for buyers?

Higher rates can definitely affect affordability, but they can also mean less competition, more negotiating power, and potentially better opportunities on the purchase price.

Don’t panic over the headline. Look at the whole market.

09/10/2026

Mortgage rates are back up to 6.97%, putting us right on the doorstep of 7% again.

That’s not the number buyers want to see, but there is still some reason for optimism.

Inflation data, Treasury yields, and next week’s Federal Reserve meeting could all have an impact on where rates go from here. And while higher rates can be frustrating, they can also mean less buyer competition and more negotiating power.

That could create opportunities for price negotiations, seller concessions, closing cost help, or even a rate buydown.

I’ll keep watching the numbers and breaking down what they mean for Tampa Bay buyers and sellers.