This is follow-up to a post on my other blog that I thought had relevance here as well. I’ve read and heard comments that buyers are afraid to purchase a home because they are afraid that they will miss a better deal. This is simply not a good strategy. Buying a home is not like waiting to buy a TV on Black Friday. There are too many variables beyond your control. In fact, even if you get a better price by waiting, you may get a worse deal.
Consider this scenario,
Last week, a property came onto the market for $160,000 that a buyer was interested in. If the buyer had made a reasonable offer (97% is reasonable in Louisville), he or she could have possibly purchased the home for $155,200. At the time, average interest rates were 5.82% according to Bankrate. Monthly Principal and Interest payments for this purchase would be $912.62. However, if the buyer waited until this week, the 30-year average rate rose to 6.08% and the payment is now $938.50! To get back to $912.62, the buyer would have to get the house for approximately $150,900! This is far more unlikely.
So, now what? Should he/she wait and see what happens next week? The answer is a resounding NO. According to this week’s survey of 250 experts by mortgage-x.com, 37.9% believe rates will increase slightly and 41.4% believe they will fall slightly over the next 30 days. A virtual coin-flip. Buyers must stop denying themselves a home that they want out of fear of missing a better deal! If they find a home, they need to purchase it and start earning equity. This is something that they can control!
The bottom is only visible in the rear view mirror.