If you're among the many who have puzzled over when it’s the ‘right time’ to buy a home in Southeast Michigan, you’ve probably found the answer to be elusive and volatile. Monday’s convincing solution can be suspect by Wednesday—and even flimsier by Friday.
Pinning down an acceptable answer can be helped by identifying several distinct primary factors to examine when making the call: your financial situation, the current state of Southeast Michigan’s housing market—and your personal goals.
Assessing your financial situation is the first factor that should precede any other. Do you have a stable income and sufficient savings to afford a down payment and monthly mortgage payments? One way to know for sure is to get pre-qualified by a lender—an action that has the additional benefit of making your position stronger if and when you decide to write an offer.
If you can’t get pre-qualified to secure a sufficient loan to qualify for the level of the home you are targeting, you’ll need to hold off until you are in a better financial position; either that—or adjust your search parameters to include less expensive properties.
Once you can be confident that you are financially prepared to buy a home in Southeast Michigan, the state of the local housing market comes into play. Specifically, in the Southeast Michigan neighborhoods you have decided to target, does the most recent activity point to its being a buyer's or a seller's market? If it's a buyer's market, you can expect to have more negotiating power. You’re more likely to be able to negotiate a better deal on a home you’ve targeted. On the other hand, if it's clearly more of a seller's market, you may need to act quickly and be prepared to pay more for a home.
Whichever side of the coin the current market is trending toward, if you are buying a home you can afford and plan to reside in it for a sustained period, historically speaking, buying in either market should prove an adept move—if your personal goals support it.
That said, your personal goals also need to be aligned with your purchase. Are you looking for a long-term investment or a short-term living situation? If you're planning to remain in Southeast Michigan for a while—are ready to put down roots—buying a home today is likely to be a good choice no matter what the market does. But if you are unsure how long you'll be staying, or would be more comfortable in a more flexible living situation, renting may be a better option; at least for now.
If you’re thinking of buying a home in Southeast Michigan this summer, reach out today—I’ll be happy to help devise the path that gets you there!
