Evenboer-Walton REALTORS®

Don’t you wish you could predict when we will hit the bottom of the stock market and the housing market? The decrease of the stock market has created some great values for investors.

The housing market is not different! We are all aware that there has been a correction in the housing market. Prices have decreased in most parts of the country. Combine these prices with the attractive rates currently available as well as the low down payment loans and people may soon be looking back saying ”that was the best time to buy.”

Many folks are still holding back from buying a home. People want to purchase when they KNOW prices are at their lowest. But, you will not know the the bottom of the market until it begins rising again.

Interest rates are also nearing an all time low! What happens if you wait for the “bottom” of the housing market and while you are waiting, the interest rate increases again. Let me show you what that can mean.

Let’s make an assumption that the prices may still decline 5% more before they start appreciating again. If while a buyer was waiting for the price on a $250,000 to go down 5% to $237,500, and the interest rate goes up one percent from 5.25% to 6.25%, which is entirely possible, the buyer’s monthly payments will increase almost $79 per month.

For most buyers, the monthly payment is an important gauge for affordability.

There is also one other major factor to consider! Lately there has been talk about the 4.5% 30-year fixed rate mortgage. No one really knows if this will actually become a reality. Homeowners who could benefit from a lower interest rate need to know that even if 4.5% becomes a reality from Washington’s actions, it would only be available to home buyers and not to homeowners who would like to refinance.

The Fed announced recently that they are going to buy up to $600 billion in mortgage-backed securities. This has driven rates to historical lows. In January, the SEC is meeting and information may be released that could have a significant bearing on rates, perhaps raising them again.

Obtaining the best rate may only be possible for those with loan applications already in process. Interest rates are incredibly volatile and fluctuations that used to take months are now occurring in just days or even hours. If you don’t have an application in process, you could lose out.

Lenders are already telling us that they are beginning to see lender backlog due to low interest rates. In 2003, with rates at these same low levels, we saw some lenders taking up to 90 days to close a loan.

Home loan rates are currently in the mid- to low-5% range. Home values are currently at 2003-2004 levels, coming down significantly from their high point. If you–or friends and family members you know–are contemplating purchasing a house, now is the time to act.

Then as an added bonus, there is a first time home buyer tax credit of up to $8,000 and low or no money down programs available for many people today. All in all — it is a great time to buy a home.

Call us today at 269-350-5514 or click here to request help from the Veenstra Team. We have lenders waiting to help you get pre-qualified for a loan, the first step in ensuring that you can purchase a home and we will be happy to get you settled into a new home of your own.