Monday, April 6, 2009

It May Be Time to Start Thinking About Buying a House

Via NY Times

The points made in this December '08 nytimes.com article are still valid in the current market...

"Five or 10 years from now, when the financial crisis has ended and housing prices are up smartly once more, we will look in the rear-view mirror and realize that we missed a golden age for first-time home buyers.
Then, everyone who sat on their down payment savings accounts for a few years too long will kick themselves for not taking advantage of what may turn out to be the buying opportunity of a lifetime for those who can qualify for a mortgage.Unfortunately, we do not know when this golden age will begin, because we will be able to identify a bottom to the housing market only with the benefit of hindsight. But as it does with the stock market, the moment will probably arrive when everyone is feeling the most pessimistic. "

"Allow yourself to consider how it would feel if you bought and then prices dropped another 10 or 15 percent. It might not bother you if you plan to stick around. Plenty of people seem to be making a longer commitment to their homes. According to a survey that the National Association of Realtors released last month, typical first-time buyers plan to stay in their home 10 years, up from 7 last year. " - www.nytimes.com 12/5/08

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