If you’re like many Redlands, Yucaipa, Highland, or Loma Linda homeowners, you’ve probably thought:
“I want to move, but I don’t want to give up my 3% rate.”
Totally valid. That rate has been one of your best financial wins.
But here’s the truth many local sellers are finally accepting:
👉 A low rate won’t fix a home that no longer fits your life anymore.
Life changes — and your home needs to change with it. And you’re not the only one making that decision.
The Lock-In Effect Is Finally Starting To Ease
For years, Inland Empire homeowners stayed put because they didn’t want to trade a 2–3% mortgage for anything higher.
But according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), that “lock-in effect” is slowly fading.
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The share of homeowners with rates below 3% is shrinking
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The number of homeowners taking on rates above 6% is rising
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Mortgage rates over 6% just hit a 10-year high, meaning more people are accepting today’s rates as the new normal
This shift is finally unlocking inventory in markets like Redlands, Mentone, Beaumont, Calimesa, and the surrounding Inland Empire.
Why Are More Redlands Sellers Moving Now — Even with Higher Rates?
Because life isn’t waiting anymore.
Families are growing, jobs are changing, and needs are evolving.
As Redfin’s Chen Zhao puts it:
“More homeowners are deciding it’s worth moving even if it means giving up a lower mortgage rate… Those needs are starting to outweigh the financial benefit of clinging to a rock-bottom mortgage rate.”
First American calls these motivators the 5 Ds — and they apply heavily here in Redlands:
✔️ Diplomas
As incomes rise after college, many locals are upgrading from starter homes into larger, more functional spaces.
✔️ Diapers
Growing families in Redlands, Loma Linda, and Yucaipa are outgrowing their current homes.
✔️ Divorce
Life changes often require new living arrangements.
✔️ Downsizing
Empty-nesters from Redlands Ranch, South Redlands, and Cherry Valley are opting for low-maintenance living.
✔️ Death
Many locals are moving to be closer to family after a loss.
These are real, immediate life shifts. And they matter more than a low interest rate.
How Long Have Homeowners Been Waiting? Too Long.
Realtor.com reports almost 2 in 3 sellers have been considering moving for over a year.
That’s a long time to stay in a home that no longer supports your lifestyle — or your family’s needs.
So the question isn’t really:
“Should I move?”
It’s actually:
“How much longer am I willing to live in a home that no longer fits my life?”
Rates Are Easing — And Likely to Improve More in 2026
Rates have already come down from their 2025 peak.
Experts expect them to gradually ease further into 2026, not spike dramatically.
When you combine:
✔️ improving rates
✔️ rising local inventory
✔️ strong buyer demand across the Inland Empire
✔️ your real-life need for a better-fitting home
…moving may be far more achievable than you think.
Bottom Line
Life doesn’t wait for the perfect mortgage rate — and neither should you.
If your Redlands-area home no longer fits your needs, staying put may be costing you more than moving will.
If you’re wondering what moving looks like in today’s market — with your current rate, equity, and budget — let’s talk about your options.
