Don't Be Sheepish About Buying A Home

by Broderick Perkins DeadlineNews.Com If you are following the herd, waiting for higher interest rates to depress prices that could be a baaaa...d approach. Interest rates have become part of a vicious housing market cycle that's pushing prices up, not down, and more than ever conditions warrant a more holistic approach to buying a home. This year, interest rates have been rising during the spring season when most buyers traditionally hit the market. That has swelled the ranks of seasonal buyers with an influx of buyers chasing interest rates. The extra demand is contributing to higher prices. As prices rise, yet another wave of buyers are elbowing rate-chasers to chase rising prices. If interest rates is your buying indicator, it's a cycle that may not end anytime soon. During the mid- to late-1990s' technology-driven economic and housing boom, interest rates were, at times, more than two percentage points higher than they are now. In the 1980s' housing boom, mortgage interest rates were higher still, from 10 percent to more than 12 percent at times, according to Freddie Mac. In addition to interest rates-driven demand and home price-driven demand, demographics and mathematics continue to put further price pressures on the housing market. The growing bulge of second home-buying baby boomers as well as home owners who see housing as their only money-making investment, well, they've already done the math. Stocks remain well below their peaks, while housing not only survived the recession, but helped shoulder the national economy through the downturn. Older, wiser buyers are moving up and moving on to second and third houses. What's more, for most buyers, the bottom line isn't home prices or even interest rates, but the affordability of the monthly mortgage. As long as buyers continue to enjoy income growth and can make that mortgage payment, they will continue to buy into the housing market. A host of mortgage programs make housing more affordable. Putting still more pressure on prices is the perpetual housing shortage. Bottom line? Interest rates don't rise in a vacuum and that makes an interest rate-driven home buying strategy a myopic approach to the transaction. Even when all the market conditions appear to trumpet "Buy!", it's not your time until owning is cheaper than renting and a home purchase is a natural fit for your financial needs, goals, obligations and lifestyle. Instead of making the home-buying decision based on one or more economic conditions alone, don't overlook the more holistic context of your own home economics. If you are too over-burdened financially to buy a home and take the "Buy now!" advice, it could bankrupt you. Step back, take a thorough look at your financial picture, pay off debt and otherwise take the time to prepare yourself for the financial responsibilities of home ownership. Don't overlook the value of a financial planner or other professional personal finance specialist for objective advise about home buying. The most expensive transaction you'll likely ever complete, comes with many more costs than the monthly mortgage payment, property taxes and insurance. For you, it's the "right time to buy" when buying a home won't put you in the red. Copyright © 2005 DeadlineNews.Com -- Broderick Perkins, is executive editor of San Jose, CA-based DeadlineNews.Com, an editorial content and consulting firm. Perkins has been a consumer and real estate journalist for more than 25 years.