Humpty Dumpty Needs A Good Fall

We are all guilty of alittle fence riding. Be it a car, a house, or any other major purchase, all of us can be well, indecisive.

However, now more than ever the Humpty Dumpty inside us all needs to face plant off of that wall on one side or another, and the most savvy of savvy will land on the side of the wall/fence that means making a home purchase.

Record low rates, record low prices, record high inventory, record breaking incentives and tax breaks, and a motivation level that's through the roof make this the best time imaginable to get off the fence and buy a house. And, it is our job as Real Estate agents, to help push you over the fence:) Not just because it's our livelihood for now, but because making a choice to purchase a home right now could be not only the best time to buy into the American dream, but a cornerstone in a person's wealth building strategy. Which means that you will love us for helping you make the leap, and we will continue to build a relationship with you for years to come, continue to do more business with you, and build a mutually beneficial relationship...which is a win/win for everyone involved:)

By and large, the biggest argument that I hear from my first time home buyers who are teetering on the edge of homeownership but are too timid to make the leap is the fear that homeownership comes with a huge price tag above and beyond the mortgage payment (i.e. maintenance and upkeep). Also, I hear people saying that they'd like to be debt-free otherwise before committing to such a large debt. Well. Here are my soapboxes on both of those arguments (and yes, I will recite them while helping you to the other side of the fence) lol:

You are not debt-free right now, but you have to pay rent to live somewhere. That rent could possibly be more than what you would pay to own. Living expenses for shelter are unavoidable no matter what other financial commitments you have (unless you are living with a relative rent free. This argument doesn't go so far if that is the case). LOL!

Making a commitment to a 15 or 30 year debt for a house can be quite daunting. However, when looking at every incentive, and all of the other positive identifiers in the market right now, it makes the possibility of renting a more daunting alternative. Even with the added expense of taxes, PMI, and home owner's insurance, with interest rates and incentives, the cost of ownership is so low, that an interest bearing savings account where one deposits the money saved per month from renting could go a long way for a person's comfort level when dealing with the "what if this breaks" fear... Not to mention that if you qualify for the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit, you have the potential of an $8000.00 nest egg right off of the bat. And you are building an equitable return on your money when you pay for your living expenses every month pertaining to your home.

As the deadline for the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit looms, I find more and more people trying to make a commitment to become a homeowner. The time is now. Sieze the day. Take the leap. You won't regret it :)

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