Real Estate
According to a recent Harris Poll survey, 8 in 10 Americans say buying a home is a priority, and 28 million Americans actually plan to buy within the next 12 months. Homeownership provides many financial and nonfinancial benefits, so that interest is understandable.
However, it’s unlikely all 28 million Americans will accomplish that goal in the coming year. Experts project a total of around five million homes will be sold in 2023. Why is there such a big difference? It’s partly because there can be challenges to buying a home.
In the same survey, when asked, “Which of the following are preventing you from pursuing homeownership at this time?”:
If you’re aiming to buy a home, here’s what you need to know to accomplish that goal.
Your down payment is a big chunk of what you pay up front for your home. For most home purchases, buyers put down some amount of cash up front (a down payment) and then take out a loan (a mortgage) to pay for the rest.
It’s a longstanding myth that you need to pay 20% of the purchase price for your down payment. In reality, 20% down isn’t always required. In fact, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), today’s median down payment is 14% for the average buyer and just 6% for a first-time buyer.
Regardless of how much money you can save for your down payment, know there’s help available. A local lender can show you options to help you get closer to your down payment goal. Plus, there are even loan types, like FHA loans, with down payments as low as 3.5% for some buyers, as well as options like VA loans and USDA loans with no down payment requirements for qualified applicants.
Beyond assistance programs and different loan types, here are a few other tips to help you as you save for your down payment:
Your credit score is a number that indicates how financially reliable you are to lenders. A higher credit score usually means you’ll be able to borrow more money at a better interest rate. If your credit score is preventing you from getting an affordable mortgage, there are steps you can take to improve it. Here are two:
If you want to purchase a home this year, let’s connect so we can start preparing.
Stay up to date on the latest real estate trends.
Mortgage rates will come down slightly. More homes will sell. And prices will rise more moderately.
If you're in the market for a million-dollar home, now is an excellent time to explore the thriving luxury market.
What does this mean for the housing market, and more importantly, for you as a potential homebuyer or seller?
While financial aspects are important, sometimes the personal motivations for moving are reason enough
Here’s some information that could help you make your decision.
The biggest missteps are pricing a house too high, skipping repairs, not being objective, and not being willing to negotiate.
6 beds | 4 baths | 2,232 sq ft
For now, this is still seller’s market territory – it’s just not as frenzied of a seller’s market as it’s been over the past few years.
Mortgage Rates Are Projected To Come Down Slightly
You’ve got questions and we can’t wait to answer them.