Higher rates hit the entry-level, first-time end of the market hardest, and the reason is financial cushion. First-time buyers usually don't have equity from a prior sale to bring to the table, and they're more likely to be stretched to begin with. When rates rise, the payment math squeezes them directly and some drop out entirely. Worth remembering that "entry level" is relative: in an expensive area, a price most of the country would call high can still be a genuine first-time-buyer price point. Higher-end buyers feel rates differently. They still run into inventory challenges, but they generally have more capital, lower debt-to-income ratios, and more lending options, so a rate increase doesn't corner them the same way. They also tend to be more informed, often working with financial advisors and CPAs, which makes them more opportunity-sensitive than price-sensitive. They'll walk if a deal stops making sense to them, but the monthly payment isn't what forces them out. There's an emotional layer too. Lower-price-point buyers are often more emotionally invested in the purchase, since it's a bigger life stretch, while higher-net-worth buyers more often treat it as a business decision and act accordingly. The practical lesson if you're buying at the entry level: rate moves affect you more, so build in margin. Know your real qualification range and your true comfortable payment before you shop, so a rate change doesn't knock you out of the home you're counting on. That's exactly what the free Roadmap conversation pins down: about 20 minutes where we run your real numbers.