The Fort Lauderdale and South Florida markets just wrapped one of the more surprising weeks of the season, a week where mortgage rates ticked upward again, inventory continued its slow climb, and post-Fed-meeting commentary added more questions than answers.

If you’re watching the market as a homeowner, investor, or future buyer, here’s what actually matters from this week’s data and what it signals heading into early 2026.

🔺 Mortgage Rates Move Higher — Even After a Fed Cut

You’d think a Fed rate cut would mean lower mortgage rates... but this week proved once again that the two don’t always move together. As seen in page 1 of the report, rates climbed back toward their highest levels of the past three months despite the Fed’s recent decision.

Here’s where things landed:

• 30-yr Conventional: 6.32%

• 15-yr Conventional: 5.77%

• FHA: 5.90%

• VA: 5.92%

• 7-yr ARM: 6.01%

Why the disconnect?

Timing.
Mortgage rates move daily. The Fed adjusts rates only eight times a year. That means the market often “pre-prices” rate cuts long before they’re officially announced — which is exactly what happened here.

🔮 Fed Outlook: January Could Be... Quiet

The next Fed meeting is scheduled for January 28, 2026, and current projections give only a 26% chance of another cut.

Unless inflation cools noticeably or employment data softens, the Fed is expected to hold steady. Keep an eye on:

• Jobs Report

• CPI (Consumer Inflation)

• PPI (Producer Inflation)

• Core PCE (the Fed’s preferred metric)

These will be the real market movers through January.

🏡 Housing Supply Continues to Build in South Florida

The local inventory data shows slow but steady growth across the tri-county region:

• Total listings: 56,800 (+425)

• Active listings: 47,700 (+469)

• New listings: down

• Pending sales: down slightly

It’s not a surge, but it is enough to give the market more balance — especially compared to the ultra-tight years of 2020–2023.

Nationally (page 3), we’re at 1.52M homes, still far below the historic average of 2.23M, but moving in the right direction.

In short:
📌 Inventory is rising.
📌 Prices remain supported.
📌 The market is stabilizing.

⭐ The MPH Team Takeaway

This week was all about recalibration:

• Rates ticked higher

• Inventory expanded

• The Fed signaled patience

• And the market settled into a more sustainable rhythm

As Fort Lauderdale heads into 2026, conditions continue leaning toward a balanced market, offering clearer paths for homeowners, investors, and future movers alike.

Check back every Monday for your fresh, real-time Fort Lauderdale market update from The MPH Team, your trusted Fort Lauderdale agents.