New Jersey Real Estate Digest: Market Cooling: Is It Time to Buy?

Thursday, July 27, 2006

Market Cooling: Is It Time to Buy?

It is still the American dream to own a home but with the market cooling and the Fed increase interest rates, is it really time to purchase a home? Amy Hoak of MarketWatch says in answer to this question:

Of course it is -- if you're buying it for a place to live, not as a speculative investment, and can afford to take the leap.

A cooling market is generally a buyer’s market. In a buyer’s market the number of houses available to purchase tends to be larger – the variety greater – asking prices diminish over time. Sellers tend to make more concessions than any other time. Sounds like a win win for buyers right?

Not so fast. There was an important point that bares a closer look. Can you afford to take the leap and if so how big of a leap can you take? If in doing the calculations you determine you can take the leap, then the next question to find the answer to is how much house can you afford? A house that meets your specific needs will also take into consideration the taxes on the property, the utility costs, and time to save for major repairs. Getting that combination correct may make difference in enjoying your new home and having to work hard to keep your new home.

The property tax records can shed some light on part of the answer. The seller can help with answers on utilities. Sellers willing answer these questions for prospective buyers. If you are working with a real estate professional they consider post sale budget in their research on properties to present to you – at least that is what I do. There is nothing worse than helping a buyer purchase a home only to have them have to turn around and sell it a few years later to prevent foreclosure.

A buyer’s market is a good time to buy, if you remember keeping the home five or six years is the goal.