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When Opportunity Knocks, Are You Listening?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Pasadena Views Real Estate Team, Inc. BRE# 000872112

Or, are you just listening to the white noise?

As I was getting ready to go to work this morning, I overheard a news report that my husband was watching about the real estate market.  What struck me as odd was not that it was yet another "chicken little" report about the downfall of the Los Angeles real estate values.  Let's face it, there's nothing like fear to get viewership.

No... what struck me as odd was that immediately after that dreaded real estate "for sale" sign, there was an image of a No Vacancy sign and a discussion about the difficulty renters are having finding good housing at a reasonable price.

So let's see... the prices are going down and the rents are going up, does anyone see an opportunity here?  Savvy investors do.

It's common sense, isn't it? 

There's an opportunity for investors to get into properties at a reasonable price and get them rented quickly.  Demand is there!

Now is also a great time to purchase that investment property at pretty decent interest rates. 

 

"Finance costs will rise as the economy recovers, so trying to time real estate might not pay off" - Justin Sullivan / Getty

Let's take a look at the price of homes in its relationship to the price of financing:

Scenario #1 - Price of a Pasadena home decreases 5% and interest rates increase .5%

Scenario #2 - Price of a Pasadena home decreases 10% and interest rates increase 1%

 

Today Scenario #1 Scenario #2

Home Price:

$600,000

Home Price: - 5%

$570,000

Home Price:  -10%

$540,000

Interest Rate:

6%

Interest Rate: +.5%

6.5%

Interest Rate:  +1%

7%

Your Mortgage Payment:

$2,878

Your Mortgage Payment

$2,882

Your Mortgage Payment

$2,874


The assumptions for the above scenarios are 20% down and a 30 year fixed mortgage.

As you can see, even if the prices go down 10%, but the interet rate goes up by only 1%, your monthly payments will be about the same.  Interesting relationship between prices and rates.

With the rental prices going up, interest rates still being historically low and the home prices more affordable, the time could be right to buy a Pasadena home or investment right now.

The question is, is the time right for YOU to buy a Pasadena home right now?  I don't know.  It depends on YOUR individual needs.  

What I would suggest though, is that you get together with a Pasadena Real Estate agent who can sit down with you and take a look at your long term personal or investment plans.  Someone that can provide FACTS not conjecture and then make a decision that is right for YOU.

Also, there's an interesting article in Times Magazine that provides a level look at the housing market - see it here.

If you are ready to see if the time is good for you to buy a home, please do not hesitate to call me at 626.627.7107 or email me at Irina@Irina4RealEstate.com.

 

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Mana Tulberg
805 County Real Estate - Camarillo, CA
Real Estate Agent - Camarillo CA

Irina, Great post. I fllagged this post to be featured.

May 20, 2008 03:29 AM
Irina Netchaev
Pasadena Views Real Estate Team, Inc. - Pasadena, CA
Pasadena CA Real Estate

Mana, thank you for the kind words!

May 20, 2008 04:11 AM
Lynda Eisenmann
Preferred Home Brokers - Brea, CA
Broker Associate ,CRS,GRI,SRES, Brea,CA, Orange Co

Hi Irina,

"So let's see... the prices are going down and the rents are going up, does anyone see an opportunity here?"  I loved this statement! Great job, now I'll click on over and look at the other report.

May 20, 2008 04:49 AM
Irina Netchaev
Pasadena Views Real Estate Team, Inc. - Pasadena, CA
Pasadena CA Real Estate

Lynda, I just wish the media would be a bit more factual in their reporting.  This is not the right time to buy a home for everyone, but for people with cash for down payment, good credit and a long term plan, it is an excellent opportunity for an investment. 

May 20, 2008 05:04 AM
Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist
Kingsbridge Realty, Inc - Hubert, NC

Hello Irina,
I've been a little perplexed as to why more investors haven't taken advantage of this market.  What are they waiting for?  I truly believe the time is RIGHT.

May 20, 2008 11:23 PM
Kathy Clulow
Uxbridge, ON
Trusted For Experience - Respected For Results

Irena - A very convincing argument for buying now and locking in your financing given the current market for homes and mortgages

May 21, 2008 01:22 AM
Irina Netchaev
Pasadena Views Real Estate Team, Inc. - Pasadena, CA
Pasadena CA Real Estate

Cynthia, it's hard to time the market.  Opportunities are everywhere.  Buyers just need to look for them.

Kathy, thank you!

May 21, 2008 03:08 AM
Lisa Heindel
Crescent City Living LLC - New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Real Estate Broker

Great job, Irina!  Putting into dollars and cents is a wonderful way to show the impact (or not!) of waiting for the next dip in pricing.

May 22, 2008 06:24 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Great point, Irina. So many buyers seem to forget that both home prices and rates will affect the monthly payment. Since the price is a bigger numebr they tend to focus on that and look for a drop before making the decision to buy, without, possibly, realizing that the drop in price was obliterated by an increase in rates. The dollars and cents comparison makes it that much clearer.

Jeff

May 22, 2008 04:25 PM
Irina Netchaev
Pasadena Views Real Estate Team, Inc. - Pasadena, CA
Pasadena CA Real Estate

Lisa, thanks!

Jeff, interesting point... you are right that the buyers do focus on the larger number.  It's important for them to have a holistic view of the financials.  I wish it was as simple as looking at the price.

May 23, 2008 04:57 AM