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growing number of American homeowners are hesitant to sell their homes in 2025, according to a recent survey from Bankrate. Over half of U.S. homeowners said they would be uncomfortable selling this year, regardless of mortgage rates - a 12 percentage point increase from last year's survey.

    One reason for this reluctance is the "lock-in" phenomenon, where homeowners with low, fixed-rate mortgages are hesitant to give up their favorable interest rates. With mortgage rates remaining above 6% for nearly three years, buyers and sellers have had to adjust to higher rates.

    Many current homeowners are not looking to buy a new home because they believe mortgage rates need to drop below 6% before they feel comfortable making a purchase. However, what constitutes "lower" rates has shifted, with some now considering rates in the mid-5s as acceptable.

    The current mortgage rate is around 6.75%, according to Freddie Mac's latest figures. This is close to last year's average and doesn't account for fees or points that may vary by location.