5 Reasons To Buy A Home Now
This may be the perfect time to be a home buyer. Owning your very own home is a dream for many people. Unfortunately, over the last five years owning a home has been a real nightmare for homeowners. However, the popping of the real estate bubble has created new opportunities for those who want to own their own home and at a good price. Here are 5 reasons why you should consider buying a home now.
1. Interest rates are low and that may not last forever. Many expect interest rates to increase so the window of low interest rates and low home prices won’t here forever. This could be the perfect opportunity for a home buyer. Real estate prices could be at an all time low with low interest rates makes home ownership very affordable. Depending on your area some homes are selling for a third or a half of what they used to sell for.
2. Home prices might be at the bottom. There is no way to know for sure. Some believe priced will continue to fall while others think prices are going to rise because of a shortage of properties for sale. Regardless of who is right, the facts are that home prices are much lower than they were 5 years ago. You should only be buying a home if you are planning on owning for a number of years. Don’t plan on buying if you need to sell a year from now.
3. It is just nice to live in a place that you own. You have more control when you own where you live. Suppose your landlord decides to sell. Then you have to go through the headache of moving and finding a new place to live. Being a renter can be a hassle.
4. Build equity. If you can afford the home you live in and your time horizon is long enough you will create wealth through home ownership. If we are at the bottom then prices will eventually start heading up again. It has happened in the past and should happen in the future. Imagine buying five rental properties worth a total of $500,000. Let’s assume you get a 15 year mortgage on all of these properties. In 15 years when the mortgages are paid off and a 4% increase in home prices these five rental properties will be worth $900,471. Not too shabby.
5. Credit Score. When you obtain a mortgage your credit score automatically improves. People that own a home are considered a lower risk by the credit reporting agencies and are given a higher score. Your higher score translates into the ability to obtain other credit at a lower interest rate. Owning your home creates many opportunities to establish credit and do so at a fair price. The equity that is built in your home is an incentive for creditors to offer you credit.
There may never be another time like this where prices and interest rates are low. This window of opportunity may disappear. I don’t see rampant speculation anytime soon that will make homes unaffordable again however interest could and probably will rise. Consider making a home purchase today.
Marc Rasmussen sells Bird Key real estate
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