C21AGVoices

Is there ever a perfect time to buy? Yes, when you need or want to move. I hear it quite often … “I am going to hold off until the market bottoms out.” But what you don’t realize is that when the market “bottoms out” that means it is already starting to turn around and with that can come stiff competition when making an offer to buy the home of your dreams. Everyone tends to scramble to get the best deal leaving you contending with multiple offers on the home you want — and before you know it, poof … it’s a seller’s market!

No, most sellers are NOT desperate. Simple as that. Unless there is some unforeseen disaster (carrying 2 mortgages because their buyer took off the night before settlement and they are now carrying 2 homes would be a good example of a disaster that comes to mind) … sellers are not as desperate as the media would have you believe. Real estate is VERY localized. Fact, Philadelphia and it’s surrounding suburbs have not been hit as hard as the rest of the country. Overall, we have only seen a slight decrease in home prices and now that spring is around the corner and interest rates are super low, I am seeing a huge increase in activity. My best guess would say that the Spring market is going to be booming if the rates remain at all time lows.

Rates are currently under 6% if you have a decent credit score! They haven’t been this low in years. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying … “You snooze you lose.”  No one can predict when the rates are going to bottom out, just the same as no one can predict when home prices are going to bottom out, if they could there would be a lot of millionaires in the world and most of us aren’t millionaires. Home prices do not necessarily coincide with interest rates. For example, even if the home drops in price and the interest rate goes up, you lost money in the long term. Rates are low NOW and Spring is the busiest marketing time of the year … Why? Most people like to do their moving when their children are out of school and before the school year begins plus they have the additional cushion of their income tax refunds. If I had a crystal ball, I would see a busy spring this year even if the rates do not go any lower.