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Many
economists are saying, although existing home sales
and median home prices see a continued decline in
value, some indicators point to a leveling in the
market and home value declines leveling out. Over
the first 3 months of 2008, property values dropped
approx 7.7% but existing home sales in March of 2008
show a surprising increase in home sales.
The
market has seen consistent decrease in home values
for the 12th straight month but the
National Realtors Association predicts the deepest
value cuts may have peaked but some areas of the
country will still see slight declines while others
holding level.
Many
consumers are asking if now would be a good time to
buy a home. When you look at the various market
factors that traditionally determine what a
“buyers market” is, now seems like a pretty good
time to buy. Here are some of the factors to weigh
in determining if buying now makes good sense.
First,
there is a huge glut of housing inventory on the
market in most major cities and small to large towns
throughout the country. In
fact, the glut of housing in the market place is the
biggest in almost a decade and a half. It’s taking
months longer to sell a home than it did in the past
several years. Which is always the case in a slowing
market, sellers have to bolster the incentives and
cut the price just to get the property sold. That,
together with mortgage interest rates still hanging
around 6%ish makes the prospect of purchasing a home
pretty rosy.
Financial consultants are basically saying if your
job is secure, if your income is stable and if the
new house payment doesn’t exceed more than a third
of your income, now could be a very good time to
buy.
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