Real Estate Information

1. Lower Interest Rates!

Current interest rates are at historic lows. Now is the time to lock in great low rates.

2. Outstanding Selection!

With so many homes on the market in Lane County, there is a full range of prices in a wide variety of locations. Your dream home is waiting.

3. Invest in Your Future!

Home prices are lower than they have been in years.  As your property appreciates, your mortgage payment contributes to a tangible asset that increases in value and belongs to you.

4. Tax Savings!

As a homeowner, the interest on your monthly mortgage payment is tax-deductible and it is generally the largest component of your payment. Property taxes are a deductible item also.

5. Pride of Ownership!

Paint the walls any color you want, choose the permanent fixtures, decorate or remodel to suit your own taste.  It belongs to you, not a landlord.  You’ll have the sense of accomplishment and security of owning your own home.

I'm often asked if this is a good time to buy a home. Some clients are concerned that home prices may fall further than they have already. They are assuming that the best course of action is to wait for the bottom in the market and then buy. The problem with this approach is that you don't know where the bottom is until you see it in the rear view mirror, meaning until you've missed it!

Home prices are one factor in determining your cost of ownership, but so are interest rates and financing availability. Even though interest rates have gone up in the last six months, they are still near historic lows. Since your monthly mortgage payment is a combination of paying down your principal and paying the interest owed, if home prices come down a little further but interest rates go up, it could cost you even more to service a mortgage on an identical home!

While a home is a major investment, it is also the center of your personal life. It's important to live in a home that reflects your taste and values, yet is within your financial "comfort zone." To that end, it may be more important to lock in today's relatively low interest rates and low home prices, rather than to hope for a further break in prices in the future.

Please give me a call if I can be of any assistance in determining how much home you can afford in today's market.