If you’re like a lot of Boston condo owners, you’ve probably thought: “I’d like to move… but I don’t want to give up my 3% rate.” That’s fair. That rate has been one of your best financial wins – and it can be hard to let go. But here’s what you need to remember…

A great rate won’t make up for a home that no longer works for you. Life changes, and sometimes, your home needs to change with it. And you’re not the only one making that choice.

The Lock-In Effect Is Starting to Ease

Many Boston condo owners have been frozen in place by something the experts call the lock-in effect. That’s when you won’t move because you don’t want to take on a higher rate on your next home loan. But data from Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) shows the lock-in effect is slowly starting to ease for some people.

The share of homeowners with a mortgage rate below 3% (the yellow in the graph below) is slowly declining as more people move. And while some of the people with a rate over 6% are first-time buyers, the number of homeowners with a rate above 6% (the blue) is rising as others take on higher rates for their next home:

And while it may not seem that dramatic, it’s actually a pretty noteworthy shift. The share of mortgages with a rate above 6% just hit a 10-year high (see graph below). That shows more people are getting used to today’s rates as the new normal.

Why Are More People Moving Now, if It Means Taking on a Higher Rate?

It’s simple. Sometimes they can’t put their life on pause anymore. Families grow, jobs change, priorities shift, and a house that once fit perfectly may not fit at all anymore – no matter how good their rate was. And that’s okay. As Chen Zhao, Head of Economic Research at Redfin, explains:

“More homeowners are deciding it’s worth moving even if it means giving up a lower mortgage rate. Life doesn’t standstill—people get new jobs, grow their families, downsize after retirement, or simply want to live in a different neighborhood. Those needs are starting to outweigh the financial benefit of clinging to a rock-bottom mortgage rate.”

First American refers to these life motivators as the 5 Ds:

Diplomas: People with college degrees typically earn more, and that adds up to more buying power. Maybe you bought your house when you were younger and now that you’ve graduated and have a rising career, you’re ready to move up.
Diapers: You’ve outgrown your space. If you’re welcoming a new baby, your current home might not be cutting it anymore.
Divorce: Whether it’s ending a marriage (or starting one), it can create the need for a new place to call home.
Downsizing: You’re ready to downsize. Maybe the kids have moved out and it’s time to simplify. Smaller house, less maintenance, more freedom.
Death: If you’ve recently lost a loved one, maybe you’ve realized you want to be closer to family. Life’s too short to live far from the people who matter most.

Whatever your reason, here’s what you need to think about. Yes, your low rate is great. But staying put means your life may stay on hold. And maybe that’s not working for you anymore.

According to Realtor.com, nearly 2 in 3 potential sellers have already been thinking about moving for over a year. That’s a long time to press pause on your plans. On your needs. On your family’s goals. So, maybe the question isn’t: “Should I move?”

It’s actually: “How much longer am I willing to stay somewhere that no longer fits my life?”

Because we’ve already seen rates come down from their peak earlier this year. And they’re expected to ease a bit more in 2026. When you stack that on top of the very real reasons you may need a new home, it may be enough to finally move the needle for you.

Boston Condos for Sale and the Bottom Line

With mortgage rates down from their peak and forecast to dip slightly more in 2026, moving may be more feasible than you think. If you’re ready to see what’s possible in your market, connect with a local agent and lender.

Life doesn’t wait for the perfect rate. Maybe you shouldn’t either.

Visit our office at 137 Charles Street Rear, Beacon Hill MA 02114

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29 Results

21 Beacon #6D
Boston, MA 02108

0
Beds

1
Baths

300
SqFt

(21)

#73443191 | Condo

$469,999

21 Beacon #6K
Boston, MA 02108

0
Beds

1
Baths

265
SqFt

(21)

#73446196 | Condo

$499,000

27 Bowdoin St #1C
Boston, MA 02114

0
Beds

1
Baths

431
SqFt

(16)

#73430197 | Condo

$499,000

80 Revere St #1
Boston, MA 02114

0
Beds

1
Baths

327
SqFt

(20)

#73340531 | Condo

$630,000

39 Revere St #6
Boston, MA 02114

1
Beds

1
Baths

495
SqFt

(22)

#73458465 | Condo

$675,000

75 Charles Street #4B
Boston, MA 02114

1
Beds

1
Baths

523
SqFt

(14)

#73454974 | Condo

$765,000

14 Joy #1
Boston, MA 02114

1
Beds

1
Baths

655
SqFt

(21)

#73423177 | Condo

$850,000 (Back on Market)

27 Bowdoin St #5
Boston, MA 02114

2
Beds

1
Baths

794
SqFt

(11)

#73431002 | Condo

$900,000

70 Phillips St #3
Boston, MA 02114

2
Beds

1
Baths

560
SqFt

(16)

#73413142 | Condo

$919,000

59 W Cedar Street #6
Boston, MA 02114

2
Beds

1
Baths

775
SqFt

(28)

Virtual Tour

#73419845 | Condo

$985,000

23 Joy Street #1
Boston, MA 02114

2
Beds

1
Baths

812
SqFt

(25)

#73436432 | Condo

$1,249,000

35 Mt Vernon Street #1
Boston, MA 02108

2
Beds

1 | 1
Baths

1,192
SqFt

(34)

Virtual Tour

#73439481 | Condo

$1,450,000

140 Charles St #2
Boston, MA 02114

2
Beds

2
Baths

1,185
SqFt

(14)

#73436952 | Condo

$1,934,000

6 Walnut St #3
Boston, MA 02108

3
Beds

2
Baths

1,272
SqFt

(18)

#73448957 | Condo

$2,100,000

145 Pinckney Street Concierge Bldg #603-605
Boston, MA 02114

2
Beds

2
Baths

1,250
SqFt

(38)

#73415842 | Condo

$2,499,000

1-3 Winter Place #3
Boston, MA 02108

3
Beds

2 | 1
Baths

3,357
SqFt

(23)

#73393161 | Condo

$2,750,000

72 Mt Vernon #2A
Boston, MA 02108

2
Beds

2
Baths

1,612
SqFt

(25)

#73393837 | Condo

$2,800,000

45 Temple Street #408
Boston, MA 02114

2
Beds

2 | 1
Baths

1,761
SqFt

(36)

Virtual Tour

#73447141 | Condo

$3,200,000

45 Temple St #306
Boston, MA 02114

2
Beds

2 | 1
Baths

2,140
SqFt

(13)

#73430285 | Condo

$4,890,000

86 Beacon Street #2
Boston, MA 02108

3
Beds

3 | 1
Baths

2,634
SqFt

(22)

Virtual Tour

#73447377 | Condo

$4,995,000

45 Temple St #502
Boston, MA 02114

3
Beds

3 | 1
Baths

3,045
SqFt

(22)

#73430286 | Condo

$5,695,000

50 Beacon Street #1
Boston, MA 02108

3
Beds

3 | 1
Baths

3,116
SqFt

(28)

Virtual Tour

#73445104 | Condo

$5,750,000

51 Beacon St #3
Boston, MA 02108

3
Beds

4 | 2
Baths

2,930
SqFt

(23)

Virtual Tour

#73450990 | Condo

$5,995,000

5 Joy Street #1
Boston, MA 02108

3
Beds

3 | 1
Baths

2,974
SqFt

(35)

Virtual Tour

#73431094 | Condo

$6,495,000

20 Chestnut Street #1
Boston, MA 02108

4
Beds

3 | 1
Baths

3,485
SqFt

(35)

#73425403 | Condo

$7,500,000

71 Mount Vernon St #1
Boston, MA 02108

4
Beds

4 | 1
Baths

4,013
SqFt

(13)

#73340438 | Condo

$9,495,000

25 Beacon Street #4
Boston, MA 02108

3
Beds

3 | 1
Baths

3,578
SqFt

(41)

Virtual Tour

#73338699 | Condo

$11,000,000

34.5 Beacon St #PH
Boston, MA 02108

5
Beds

6 | 2
Baths

8,068
SqFt

(11)

#73459616 | Condo

$18,500,000 (New)

89 Beacon Street #PH
Boston, MA 02108

4
Beds

5 | 3
Baths

5,703
SqFt

(29)

#73460670 | Condo

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MLS PIN data last updated at December 8, 2025, 1:05 PM ET