Buyers should understand that current mortgage rates around six point one nine percent make home buying more affordable than the highs seen in recent years, but affordability still requires careful planning. Getting fully underwritten pre-approval and comparing loan scenarios—like 30-year fixed, 15-year fixed, and adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) with caps—helps. Buyers should model payments at a rate fifty basis points (zero point five percent) higher than the offer to stress test budgets, ask lenders about float-down lock options, and consider total monthly costs including taxes, insurance, utilities, and HOA fees for accurate affordability calculations.