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Now Probably is the Time to Buy: Looks Like Interest Rates Will Hold For a While

By
Real Estate Agent with Century 21 Sundance Realty

 Now really may be the time to buy that new home or second home if Ben Bernanke the Federal Reserve Chairman predictions are correct. Home prices here in Ormond Beach and the Daytona area are definitely down as they are in many areas. Interest rates are still pretty low, and the economy is growing at a fairly steady rate. When you take all those factors into consideration the smartest thing to do might be taking advantage of the current market.

I know some people are waiting, because they think that the prices are going to continue to go down, that may be true in some areas, but on the coast there is just so much property. I feel prices are becoming stable. Sure you are still seeing homes that are overpriced for the times, but most of those homeowners paid too much for their homes to begin with or they are still wishing for the house fairy to make it a sellers market again.

I do think this buyers market will come to an end at some point in the not to distant future, but for the moment buyers you should take advantage of the situation. When we hear national statistics on how much home prices have declined I think we get a false picture of our local situation. I see prices down by 25% or more in most cases. The national average hasn't shown that to be the norm for the country as a whole.

So all of you up North who have been considering a move to Florida now might be the time to really give that some consideration. When you can pick up a 2 bedroom 1 bath beach-side home for around $150 to $180 depending on it's upgrades and condition, or a 3 bedroom, 2 bath for $250 to $300 some with pools or larger floor plans. If you compare those homes prices to 2005 when the smaller 2 bedroom, 1 bath homes were selling (in a very short period of time) for $235 to $285, and the larger 3 bedroom homes were well over $300 and up. These prices are really down and the selection is great. Call me or visit my web site I have hundreds of houses for you to see. 

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke signaled Wednesday that he is comfortable with current interest rates as long as inflation is moderate. The economic outlook for this year and next appears favorable," the Fed said, as the slowdown in the housing market is expected to diminish this year, while gains in real wages, along with employment gains, "should support a solid rise in consumer spending."  He said it is "encouraging" that inflation expectations "appear to have remain contained" The Fed has kept interest rates steady at 5.25% since last summer, a stretch covering five Federal Open Market Committee meetings, and is widely expected to keep them steady at least through the middle of the year. According to an article in RisMedia on February 15, 2007

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Bob Sloop, Consultant, Indianapolis, IN
RS Mortgage Consulting - Indianapolis, IN

HUMM, I think our market can and will change at any given time.  We are at war, and this factor alone can make or break our economy.  I am not holding my breath on the interest rate factor.  I think our consumers are not spending money and this causes our economy to go into a slump as well.  Statistics unfortunately are not measured correctly in so many ways.  Take unemployment, we can say the numbers are down, but down from what, and when?  Take the State of Michigan, where is this State headed?  With the big three up there struggling, and so many people without jobs now, I can only hope something happens that will stimulate this issue.  Iam happy things are better in Florida, we did consider the move over a year ago to Ocala, didn't make it as you can see, hate that when that happens...

I enjoyed your post, and I would like to be a bit more positive, but this time its just a little hard to do.  Sorry!  Thank you for sharing Donna.

Feb 15, 2007 11:20 PM
Donna Dosch
Century 21 Sundance Realty - Ormond Beach, FL
Broker Associate, CRS, e-PRO

Hi Bob,

Thanks for your comments. I do agree that in some parts of the country the economy is really bad and probably will be for quite sometime. I sold a home to people from Michigan last month and they were telling me how bad the housing market is there. I wish the best for you!

Thanks Again

Feb 16, 2007 12:26 PM