This causes some people to move away softening demand for housing at the same time the locality needs to increase taxes.

Commercial loans should start softening, but not enough to be a game changer. 

Overbuilding and market softening could lead to downward pressure on prices, so consider areas with limited new construction.

Considering you purchased in June and with the drastic increase in rates over the last month, everyone we are working with we are recommending to line up the refinancing: get through processing and underwriting, but don't "pull the trigger" on it until rates soften. 

Additionally, rates will come down because job market softens.  

To "soften" or reach a compromised we agreed to ONLY have $30K of the $60K in funds be considered "OPTION CONSIDERATION" funds (giving us the EXCLUSIVE RIGHT to buy the property at the $300K Purchase price) and the OTHER $30K of funds would be STILL be given to them but we informed them that it likely will be consider TAXABLE INCOME to them.

There was downward compression on pricing with local comps, high interest rates, and a softening buyer pool.

The heat must have softened the glue and expanded the vinyl.   

We typically cover lawn care, pool maintenance, and if they have a softener system - the salt required to maintain the system.

I don't know your market, but since 2021 my local market has softened somewhat.