“Date the Rate, Marry the House”: What That Really Means in 2025

At GreenTree, we don’t just help you find a house. We help you build a strategy.

In today’s real estate landscape, future homeowners are making long-term decisions based on a flood of noise and opinions, many of which come from people who aren’t experts. From social media influencers to well-meaning friends, everyone seems to have advice on how to build wealth through real estate. But not all advice is created equal.

As licensed professionals, we at GreenTree Realty are committed to offering informed, expert guidance based on real-time market conditions, especially in our unique Hampton Roads region. Unlike many parts of the country, our local market is deeply insulated thanks to our strong military presence, which creates consistent demand and a more stable housing environment.

You may have heard the classic strategy: buy the least expensive home in the best neighborhood you can afford, stay for two years, and either sell to leverage your equity into a new purchase or hold the property as a rental. That approach still holds value—but in 2025, it’s more important than ever to understand the financing side of the equation.

That’s where the phrase “Date the Rate, Marry the House” comes in. It’s a popular real estate mantra that reminds buyers to focus on finding the right home for the long haul—even if today’s interest rates aren’t ideal. Why? Because mortgage rates fluctuate. You can refinance later when rates drop, but the opportunity to buy the right home may not come around again2.

As of September 2025, mortgage rates have been hovering around 6.5% for 30-year fixed loans4. While that’s higher than the historic lows of 2020–2021, rates have already started to decline from their 2023 peak, and experts anticipate further easing into 2026.

Our job as real estate professionals is to educate—not just sell. We help buyers understand the full picture:

• How to evaluate affordability beyond interest rates

• When refinancing makes financial sense (typically when rates drop by at least 0.75%)

• Why local market dynamics matter more than national headlines

So yes—marry the house. Choose the home that fits your life, your goals, and your future. And date the rate—knowing that you can always renegotiate your mortgage when the time is right.