Real Estate Today

Why should I purchase a home in 2012? If you are planning on living in our area for
more than two years, there is no better time than this year to take that big step of home
ownership. Interest rates are at an all time low and inventory is plentiful. As the spring market
leads to summer, you will see the inventory diminish quite substantially.

Over time, the value of home ownership goes beyond the return on your investment.
You will have peace of mind knowing that you are building your own real estate investment
portfolio, rather than your landlord’s. Home ownership is perhaps the largest investment that
most of us will ever make.

Over the long haul, real estate has always led us out of a recession and has always
increased in value. Though there are peaks and valleys that come and go in the real estate
cycle. It always rebounds and goes up even higher. I believe that we have bottomed out in our
area and we are climbing out of that deep abyss in the real estate market. Yes, it’s a slow climb,
but we will recover.

Home ownership gives you a place to sink roots and raise your children. It will give
stability in society and the family. You will get to know your neighbors. You will have more
positive relationships. Your kids will not have to keep changing schools. There is a certain
freedom from the constraints of landlords.

Think of your home ownership as a forced savings account. As you make that mortgage
payment each month you are reducing the principle, thereby increasing your equity. No more
rent receipts—sending your money down the drain. You make the decisions. No more landlords
telling you what you can or cannot do. You can remodel, paint, tear out, and redecorate. You
can do anything you want with your own home as long as it is legally permitted.

You are not at the whim of some landlord who will raise your rent at the end of your
lease period. Rents are going up. They have gone up at least 5% in the last year, much higher
than inflation. The vacancy rates are the lowest we have seen in many years. It makes a lot
of sense to own rather than rent. Don’t be a “fence sitter.” Contact your Realtor today and
get going. You will be glad you did. Until next week, keep smiling. Email your questions to
billbrown@dishmail.net.