Are you in the market to buy a home? The current market may seem daunting, but there are several benefits to buying a home now that make it worthwhile. While there are some challenges, such as volatile mortgage rates and difficulty finding available homes, the long-term benefits of homeownership make it worth your time and effort.
Building Wealth through Homeownership Owning a home helps to build net worth, making it an important step towards long-term financial stability. By investing in a home, you will have monthly payments going towards home equity. According to Freddie Mac, homeownership not only builds a sense of pride and accomplishment but also builds long-term financial stability. Although short-term challenges exist in the current market, the financial benefits of homeownership, such as home value appreciation and equity, outweigh these challenges.
Fluctuating Mortgage Rates Mortgage rates have been fluctuating around 6.5% over the last several months. However, as Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist, Sam Khater notes, rates have recently been coming down: “Economic uncertainty continues to bring mortgage rates down. Over the last several weeks, declining rates have brought borrowers back to the market…” Lower mortgage rates improve your purchasing power when buying a home and can make homeownership more affordable. Hannah Jones, Economic Data Analyst at realtor.com, explains that as we enter the spring buying season, lower mortgage rates are a welcomed sign of progress toward affordability.
Increasing Home Prices Home values are predicted to rise steadily over the next few years after a slight decline this year. According to the Home Price Expectation Survey, which polls over 100 real estate experts, this means that waiting to buy a home could mean it will become more expensive to do so. Buying now means that the value of your home and your net worth will likely grow over time.
Bottom Line Although the current market may seem intimidating, buying a home now has several benefits. The long-term benefits of homeownership, such as building net worth and home value appreciation, outweigh the short-term challenges that come with today’s market. Mortgage rates have been decreasing recently, and home values are predicted to increase steadily in the coming years. Don’t be discouraged, and keep searching for your dream home.