Five Reasons to Buy a Home Now
Photo: © Troels Graugaard - iStockphoto

We all want to be wise investors, but our brains get in the way. Behavioral scientists tell us we are hard-wired to assume the future will be like the past. These tendencies can cause us to miss bargains in real estate. Here are five reasons why buying a house now is a good investment:

1. It's becoming more expensive to rent than to own.
Yes, renting is convenient, but living in a rental also comes with restrictions on what renters can do with their living space—a simple task like painting requires permission from the property owners. Low interest rates and reasonable home prices make owning look more favorable than renting, especially when rent costs are rising!

2. The population of the United States is still growing.
We are the only major industrialized nation that isn't suffering negative population growth. All those households have to go somewhere, and many families are already doubled up.

3. Building has been almost nonexistent for several years.
Ultimately, it comes down to supply and demand. There are still lots of foreclosures to work through, but the absolute supply of houses is declining.

4. Investors are removing inventory.
As investors generate positive cash flow by buying bargain properties, more become landlords, reducing the available supply.

5. Homes can't be replaced for their current prices.
When building finally starts, builders will be forced to charge more than existing homes fetch. The cost of lumber, copper, and petroleum-based products has risen, taking building costs with them. That will make existing homes a bargain.

In the history of this country, there has never been a down economy that hasn't recovered. This one will too, and those who take advantage of record-low interest rates will do well.

Unfortunately, people don't want to buy at a good time; they want to buy at the best time. Few realize it's impossible to pinpoint that time until it's past.

It's certainly a better time to buy than before the real estate bubble. No one can say exactly how things will come out, but those who can afford to hold their property at least five years should do extremely well. 

  All numbers are taken from the Hudson MLS 5-4-2012 and do not include new construction. As you can see we are in a normal market and inventory is low. If you are thinking of selling and price properly it can be a very good time.
  If you are considering buying 30 year fixed interest rates hit at an all time low.  Any questions, please don't hesitate to call or email.

5/4/2012
Hoboken: Lowest in the last couple of years
1 Family= 12 Active and 4 Under Contract last 30 days= 3 months absorption rate
Multi Fam= 14 Active and 2 Under Contract lst 30 days= 7 month absorption rate
Condo/Coop= 248 Active and 81 Under Contract lst 30 dys= 3.06

        Total Town 274 Active properties and 87 Under Contract last 30 days= 3.14 months absorption rate.

As of 5-4-2012

Downtown Jersey City: Does not Include New Construction
 1 Family= 14 Active and 2 Under Contract last 30 days= 7 months absorp rate
 Multi Fam= 19 Active and 9 Under Contract last 30 days= 2.1 month absorp rate
 Condo/Coop= 224 Active and 51 Under Contract last 30 days= 4.39 month absorp rate
    Total Section: 257 Active properties and 62 Under Contractlast 30 days= 4.14 month absorption rate.

 

As of 5-4-2012

Weehawken:
  1 Family= 12 Active and 1 Under Contract last 30 days= 12 month absorpion rate
  Mulfti Fam= 21 Active and 3 Under Contract last 30 Days= 7 month absorption rate
  Condo/Coop= 51 Active  and 5 Under Contract last 30 days= 10.2 absorption rate
        Total Town: 84 Active properties and 9 Under Contract last 30 days= 9.3 month absorption rate. 


 

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