If you are debating purchasing a home right now, you are surely getting a lot of advice. Though your friends and family will have your best interest at heart, they may not be fully aware of your needs and what is currently happening in the real estate market.
Let’s look at whether or not now is actually a good time for you to buy a home.
There are 3 questions you should ask before purchasing in today’s market:
Why are you buying a home in the first place?
The most important question to answer is why! Forget the finances for a minute. Why did you even begin to consider purchasing a home? For most, the reason has nothing to do with finances.
A study by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University reveals that the four major reasons people buy a home have nothing to do with money:
- A good place to raise children and for them to get a good education
- A place where you and your family feel safe
- More space for you and your family
- Control of your future
What non-financial benefits will you and your family derive from owning a home? The answer to that question should be the biggest reason you decide to purchase or not.
Are home values going to rise or fall in the future?
When looking at housing values, Path & Post publishes weekly market updates at https://www.pathpost.com/reports. In these reports, you will see if it’s a Buyer’s Market or Seller’s Market – think the opposite. If it’s a Seller’s Market, that means the prices are headed up. If it’s a Buyer’s Market, that means prices may be headed for a decline.
(Be sure to scroll down to the graph to see a visualization of which direction prices are headed.)
Will mortgage interest rates go up or down in the future?
A buyer must be concerned about more than just the price of a home. The ‘long term cost’ of a home can be dramatically impacted by an increase in mortgage rates. A simple 1% rise in mortgage rates could drop your buying power by $25,000.
We have also found that many buyers are still confused about what it takes to qualify for a mortgage. The right mixture of FICO score and down payment amount can drastically impact your borrowing power.
Contact Your Real Estate Experts
Only you and your family will know for certain if now is the right time to purchase a home. Answering these questions will help you decide if you should move forward.
