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Is now the "right" time to invest in residential real estate??

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Sunbelt Network

Over the last two years one of the biggest reasons give for not moving forward with a purchase is the, "I want to wait until prices go down further".  This may sound valid to a point but when you consider where interest rates are likely going to head in the next 12 to 18 months, maybe not.

Further price drops will likely coincide with interest rate increases which will eliminate the incentive/attraction that price drop brings, which is a lower payment. 

Check out the graph below as an illustrative example.  The % down doesn't really matter because the ratio of payment vs. price drop / rate increases stays the same. 

If you have a client that uses this reason, get the relevent info and break it down as shown below.  It will generate questions and more discussion if nothing else.

Any input, opinions or thoughts are welcome and appreciated.

 

financing, housing inventory, financing

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Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239
Real Estate One - Commerce, MI
Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com

But what if interest rates stay level or go down.  I have to be the devil's advocate on this one.

Apr 07, 2009 12:11 PM
Anonymous
Doug

Hi Russ,  Thanks for the comment I appreciate it.  You're absolutley right, they certainly could.  But what if rates drop and prices rise?  Same equation and no one really knows.  I guess what I'm trying to get at is that at some point buyers decide we are close enough to the bottom that not much more harm can be had and it's time to jump in.  Something else to think about is how much lower can interest rates go vs. price drops and the speed and timing of each.  The point being that additional price drops won't be creating that much more of an opportunity from a payment standpoint while waiting for additional drops could cost much more in lost or missed opportunities.  What do you think?

Apr 08, 2009 06:18 AM
#2