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Are you thinking of buying a home in Washington or Oregon, but aren’t sure if you should make the leap right now or wait until next year? You might see others transitioning to homeownership, but should you? This article will help you make the decision about whether to buy this year or next.
There are certain important factors that you’ll need to take into consideration and compare 2022 to next year. For instance, the interest rate, the cost of homes, and mortgage payments are just a few of the crucial factors that must be considered before making that decision. Plus, there is the coronavirus pandemic to deal with.
Here are some things to consider when deciding between buying a Washington or Oregon home today versus the following year.
The interest rate that you pay on your mortgage will make a huge difference in how much you pay for your mortgage overall. Over the life of your loan, you not only will be paying off the principal amount you borrowed (based on the purchase price of the home), but the interest portion attached to it.
Obviously, the lower the interest rate, the less you’ll pay in your mortgage over the long run. That’s why it’s so important to be able to lock in at the lowest rate possible. Before you decide whether to buy this year or next, consider the rate.
Right now, the interest rate is 3.05% for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. That’s near historical lows. But rates are starting to tick upward again, and it’s not as likely that the rate will be this low next year.
Rates have already hit all-time lows three times in the past year, and today’s rate is not that far off. At a rate of 3.05%, you may find that today is the perfect time to lock in at a low rate and potentially save tens of thousands of dollars over the life of your loan.
The price that you will pay for a home today versus next year will also play a role in when to buy a home. The average price for a home in the US is currently $316,368. Over the past 12 months, prices across the nation have risen 19.3%, which means buyers are paying that much more for a home than they did last year.
While it’s tough to tell where prices will be next year, it’s safe to say that home prices will follow an upward trend over time, despite the odd blip here and there. So, waiting to buy a home when prices may likely increase means you may be paying more for a home later down the line than you would this year.
It’s important to take a look at your finances to make sure you are ready to buy. For starters, you will have to come up with a down payment for a home, which could be anywhere between 3% to 20% or more of the purchase price of the home, depending on the type of mortgage you take out and your current financial status.
Further, you’ll have to assess your current income and debts to make sure you have more than enough money coming in to cover the cost of your mortgage payments. Your lender will be looking at this closely before approving you for a mortgage.
The question is, are you financially stable right now? Or do you need more time to get your finances in order? Ask yourself this question before you decide to buy a Washington or Oregon home today or next year.
At the end of the day, how much will it cost you to buy your dream home today versus tomorrow? Even just one year can make a big difference in the overall cost, so it’s important for you to crunch the numbers and get familiar with the market right now versus what it is expected to be next year in order for you to make the right decision about whether to wait or make the move today.
Sammamish Mortgage is a local, family-owned company based in Bellevue, Washington. We have been serving the entire state, as well as the broader Pacific Northwest region that includes Idaho, Colorado, and Oregon since 1992. We offer a wide variety of mortgage programs and products with flexible qualification criteria. Please contact us if you have mortgage-related questions.
Whether you’re buying a home or ready to refinance, our professionals can help.
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No Obligation and transparency 24/7. Instantly compare live rates and costs from our network of lenders across the country. Real-time accurate rates and closing costs for a variety of loan programs custom to your specific situation.