Marc Roth of Business Week recently wrote, ‘If You Don’t Buy a House Now, You’re Stupid or Broke. Interest rates are at historic lows but cyclical trends suggest they will soon rise. Home buyers may never see such a chance again.’
Now is when prices worldwide are at their lowest in years.
Now is when inventory is at the highest rate in years.
Now is when rates are historically low, the lowest recorded in nearly 40 years.
Many call this confluence of buying factors the change of a lifetime. It is, at least, the once-in-a-generation opportunity.
Roth explains that the most important driving force of this buyers jackpot is the low interest rate. He says, ‘The most important lesson is to understand the actual financial impact the rate has on the cost of purchasing and paying off a home. Every quarter-point change in interest rates is equivalent to approximately $6,000 for every $100,000 borrowed over the course of a 30-year fixed. While different in each region, for the sake of simplicity, let’s assume that the average person is putting $40,000 down and borrowing $200,000 to pay the price of a typical home nationwide. Thus, over the course of the life of the loan, each quarter-point move up in interest rates will cost that buyer $12,000.
‘As the global economy stabilizes, it is reasonable for us to see 30-year fixed rates climb to 6% within the near future and probably to a range of 7% to 8% when the economy is humming again. If every quarter of a point is worth $12,000 per $200,000 borrowed, then each point is worth almost $50,000.
‘Let’s put that into perspective. You have a good stable job. You would like to own a $240,000 home. However, even though home prices have steadied, you may be thinking you can get another $5,000 or $10,000 discount if you wait. Or you may be waiting for the news to tell you the economy is ‘more stable’ and it’s safe to get back in the pool. In exchange for what you may think is prudence, you will risk paying $50,000 more per point in interest rate changes between now and the time you decide you are ready to buy.
‘If you are someone who is looking to buy or upgrade in the $350,000-to-$800,000 home price range, and many people out there are, then you’re borrowing $300,000 to $600,000. At 7%, the $300,000 loan will cost just under $150,000 more over the lifetime, and the $600,000 loan an additional $300,000, if rates move up just 2% before you pull the trigger.
‘What I’m trying to impress upon everyone is that if you are planning on being a homeowner now and/or in the foreseeable future, or if you are looking to move your family into a bigger home, then pay more attention to the interest rates than the price of the home. If you have a steady job, good credit, and the down payment, then you really are being offered the gift of a lifetime.’
Stop in our Coldwell Banker office and let’s talk about your options, and your buying opportunity of a generation.
