DecisionMath analysts have identified a specific numerical threshold that will act as the "Great Unlock" for national inventory. We call it the 5.5% Tripwire.
The Architecture of the Stalemate: Auditing the 3% Anchor
To understand why 5.5% is the magic number, we must first audit the scale of the current problem. Over 80% of U.S. mortgage holders currently have a rate below 5%.
> **The Current Anchor**
> Current Loan: $350,000 at 3.0%
> Monthly P&I: $1,475
> **The Trade-Up Wall (7.0%)**
> New Home Target: $500,000
> New Loan (7.0%): $3,326
> **Monthly Delta: +$1,851**
At 5.5%, the equation shifts. The payment jump enters the 30% "Acceptable Friction" zone, allowing 2.4 million potential sellers to finally list their homes.