is now a good time to buy a home

By
Industry Observer with Howard Sumner Consulting

the question of timing of a purchase of home, in economically turbulent times. would perplex most rational thinking person. the short answer i would give it depends. the largest factor i would suggest the a buyer whether a first time or an move buyer ask them "is how long do i plan to stay in the home i purchase?" i believe this is the critical component of comparing the "rent vs buy" dilemma. the short answer in most markets in the past would be a minimum ownership of 24 months. the prudent answer with today's environment would suggest a longer view of ownership ranging more in the 36 to 60 month range to receive the befits of ownership versus the cost of buying and selling when compared to the lost opportunity of ownership and renting. below is a graph showing the monthly principal and interest payment of the average sales priced home as compared to the average asking price for a home for rent in Yellowstone county. i hope this would give the reader more insight into recent develops that would tip the balance to purchasing within the parameters i outlined above.  

graph rent vs buy

Comments (3)

Brent Johnson
Chase International South Tahoe Realty - South Lake Tahoe, CA

You are right, times have changed. Long term ownership is now the way to accumulate wealth!

Apr 09, 2009 02:50 AM
Sylvie Conde
Sutton Group-Associates Realty Inc., Brokerage - Toronto, ON
Broker, Toronto Real Estate

I always say that home ownership is forced savings, in more ways than one.
If you're in it for the long term, you can definitely accumulate some decent equity.

 

Apr 09, 2009 05:06 AM
Aaron Poling
Long & Foster - Martinsburg, WV
Working to get YOU the BEST Deal!

Real Estate Investment has always been a long term investment, but people got greedy. If you can buy a house and without improving it immediately make a large profit, there is a problem with the market.

Apr 09, 2009 07:13 AM

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