Survey shows many buyers nervous, but rate risks still loom larger
A new snapshot of US consumer sentiment suggested the Iran war unsettled a minority of would‑be homebuyers, but left most plans intact even as markets priced in fresh rate risk.
According to a Redfin‑commissioned Ipsos survey of 1,005 US residents conducted March 5–6, one‑quarter of Americans reported canceling or delaying a major purchase such as a home or car because of the conflict.
Another 56% said the war has “no impact” on their timeline, while 7% said they are canceling plans outright and 18% are delaying a major purchase.
A further 7% said they would buy sooner than planned, 7% already bought sooner than expected, and 8% are unsure.
The survey framed the backdrop starkly: the US is “embroiled in a military conflict with Iran, which has driven oil prices up and caused volatility in financial markets.” That, it warned, “could push mortgage rates up,” and “exacerbating economic uncertainty…can make people more cautious about major financial commitments.”
On the ground, most Redfin agents in large military markets such as San Antonio and San Diego said the war has not yet featured in client conversations. But isolated cases have emerged.
A Washington, D.C. agent said “one house hunter is pausing buying plans due to uneasiness about tensions in the Middle East.”
In San Diego, an agent said “two buyers are stepping back from their home searches because they have family in Iran and are unsure about future plans.”
In Chicago, another agent reported “a general air of hesitation about buying a home, especially among first‑time buyers, because of the Iran conflict and its economic tailwinds.”
Conflict impact trails tariffs and job fears
Earlier Redfin survey found government disruption had only a modest drag on demand, with roughly one‑fifth of Americans delaying or canceling purchases during the October shutdown while nearly two‑thirds reported no impact.
By contrast, a previous Redfin survey in April found that more than half of Americans were putting off big‑ticket purchases because of tariffs, while an August poll showed 42% of workers doing the same due to job‑security worries.
US crude oil prices jumped above $90 per barrel on Friday as the US war on Iran continued while bond yields ticked slightly lower on the back of an underwhelming jobs report.https://t.co/7IzXs6scSI
— Mortgage Professional America Magazine (@MPAMagazineUS) March 6, 2026
Geopolitics raised fresh questions on rates
For mortgage professionals, the more immediate channel from the Iran war remains interest rates.
Concern over an escalation in the ongoing war pushed 10-year US Treasury yields, which strongly influence mortgage rates, higher on Wednesday. After starting the day just above 4.14%, those yields jumped close to 4.20% at the time of writing.
That shift followed a broader jump in oil prices and renewed inflation concerns. Average long‑term US mortgage rates ticked back up to around 6% in early March after briefly dipping below that level, as bond yields rose on the back of higher energy costs linked to the war.
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