- The number of homes available on the market is dropping significantly.
- Home prices are lower than they have been in the last 3 years, but seem to be bottoming out.
- Interest Rates are still historically at their lowest.
- The Home Sellers are very motivated.
- You can deduct your mortgage interest (plus other costs) on your tax return, something you can't do with rent.
- There is a limited time $7500 tax credit for first-time homebuyers.
Many potential homebuyers have been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the real estate market to bottom out. It's not a bad plan, as long as you have perfect timing. The experts can't even agree among themselves as to whether prices have reached the floor, so trying to time the market can be tricky. Though there are plenty of people who are buying properties right now, it will be nothing like it the rush there will be once prices start to rise again and everyone decides to jump into the mosh pit of buyers making offers!
OK, so there will be more competition in the next 6 to 12 months, but you want to make sure that you don't overpay for a home that you may be able to get for less in 6 months. So if you wait, you will get a better deal, right?
Not necessarily. First of all the inventory (number of properties on the market) has gone down considerably in the last few months, giving you less choices. When supply goes down, demand goes up. When demand goes up, prices tend to rise. It's a basic law of economics. Compared to last year, there are 23% fewer property on the market today, and the number of sold listings are up. The good news for you is that the median on-market home price is down 5.8% compared to October 2007 (for Essex County). But with selection dropping, can it be long before the market turns around?
Mortgage rates are still historically low (take it from someone who paid 14% in the early 90's), with rates hovering around the 6% mark. But rates are extremely volatile, especially with the shape of the financial market and everything that is happening with Wall Street lately. A couple of weeks ago the rates dipped into the 5%'s, but that only lasted a week before jumping up to 6.5% (they have settled a little since). It is likely that rates will trend up, according to most experts. With each jump in interest, you will be paying more in your monthly payment, which would negate any (potential) savings you would make by waiting to buy.
Another reason to buy now is that you are losing all your potential tax benefit of home ownership. You are able to deduct all of your mortgage interest, PMI & closing costs when you buy a home. This would result in a significant tax savings for you. On a $250,000 mortgage that could mean $4600 in tax savings, or about $380 per month over renting. Try out the Rent vs. Buy and Tax Savings calculators here.
One of the recent incentives initiated by the Feds is the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit. It gives a 1st time buyer up to a $7,500 credit on your taxes when you buy any home purchased between April 9, 2008 and July 1, 2009. This is not a deduction, this is an actual credit. So if you owed $6,000 in taxes next year, not only would you not have to pay them, the IRS would give you an additional $1,500 refund. If you don't owe any taxes and you are expecting a refund, then the $7,500 would be added to your refund. How cool is that? The caveat is that this is really a refundable credit, so it would be repaid, but only at the rate of around $500 per year starting in 2011. It is basically a no interest loan payable over 15 years. Everyone should take advantage of this credit! Go here for some FAQ on this credit.
*All mortgage calculations and tax savings are estimates and are examples for informational purposes only. Please contact your financial, tax or mortgage advisor for more information.
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