Renting a home is like paying a 100% interest rate, basically paying for a roof over your head with no other benefit. Over time interest rates tend to come down with stability in the market, so at some point, when the time is right, those who buy homes at these rates will be able to refinance. So, a buyer locks in a home at a lower price, due to the softening of the market, and that’s fixed. And, as a bonus, will be able to in the future, refinance for a lower rate. Locking in a home at a lower price also locks in lower property taxes.

Also, over time, owning a home is the best financial investment one can tend to make in years to come. It’s how the majority of people build their wealth, through homeownership and building equity and stability, and being able to have a good tax write off. Overall, most people want to own a home and have that stable life, make their home their own, maybe have pets, or whatever it may be for that more independent lifestyle as opposed to having a landlord that makes all the rules. Most people prefer to own once they can afford to do so, as opposed to renting forever.

Once you buy in a home, unlike rent, the payment is fixed, and won’t go up over time like rentals do. Renters have very little control over rent prices and increases.

 

So, just some food for thought. For those with a stable job and feel financially secure, it’s still a good time to buy, regardless of the increase in interest rate, since the prices have come down to compensate for the rate. Now that the home prices have softened, and the competition is mostly gone, I am seeing more buyers come out that could not afford to buy in the hot market, taking advantage of being able to lock in a home, as opposed to when the market was hot, prices were high, and these buyers just could not compete.

Some buyers that do not have the highest paying jobs now have an opportunity to squeak into homeownership. For those buyers who have stable jobs and feel financially secure, it may be a good opportunity to lock in a home, while prices are soft and buyers are more in control of negotiations and such.

I have found over the years that taking the oppportunity to buy when most people are not buying, really pays off in the end.

On the flip side, in my opinion, the only reason to sell in this market, is to have the opportunity to get a contingent sale through and also buy low and lock in the next home at a lower price. And, often when the market is hot, a buyer who has to sell a home in order to buy, just can’t even get their offer accepted. This would be a time in which more sellers would likely be open to negotiations and taking a contingent offer if they have no other options.

Otherwise, it’s not a great time to sell…unless there is a real need to do so.