10/03/2026
What Is the Move Act? What is a Portable Mortgage?
The Move Act addresses a key friction point: when homeowners sell and buy a new property, they lose their existing mortgage. If interest rates have risen, they must accept higher rates or refinance at significant cost. Portable mortgages would allow borrowers to carry their rate lock and loan terms to their next purchase.
Unlike traditional mortgage assumptions (which apply only to the same property), the
Move Act would make mortgages transferable across different properties and lenders, increasing housing market liquidity and affordability by reducing barriers to mobility caused by interest rate fluctuations.
Portable Mortgage Benefits for Homeowners:
The primary benefit is rate protection. Homeowners with favorable rates preserve that advantage across multiple home purchases. If you locked in a 3.5% mortgage and rates rise to 6% or higher, your portable mortgage maintains that advantage throughout your life.
A homeowner maintaining a 3.5% rate instead of refinancing at 5.5% saves approximately $200 per month. Over a 30-year loan, this compounds substantially, potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars in cumulative savings across multiple transactions.
Portable mortgages reduce transaction friction by eliminating refinancing, simplifying the process and providing certainty about post-purchase monthly obligations, important when relocating for job changes, family needs, or lifestyle preferences.
The Move Act could particularly benefit homeowners in high-appreciation markets, where preserving favorable rates when upgrading or relocating removes a disincentive to move.
Full guide 👉🏿
The Move Act proposes portable mortgages for homeowners. Learn how it works, its impact on mortgage rates, and current legislative status.
