The Real Cost of Waiting for Lower Mortgage Rates (EXAMPLE of Fairfax County, Virginia (2026))

Waiting for mortgage rates to drop before buying (example done in Fairfax County)? The math might surprise you. With the median home price at $813,000 and rising, a one-year delay could cost you $32,520 more on the purchase price, $6,500 more for your down payment — and your monthly payment may still be higher even if rates fall. Here's what the numbers actually say.