Things to Consider:  

·         Housing is a good long-term investment – it’s not a day-trading activity.

·         Owning a home isn’t just about investment, although that’s certainly important. It’s also about building community, a place of your own, and having a part of the American Dream.

·         Homes are not stocks. Most people stay in their home for about 6 years – they buy for the long haul to create a home for their family, not to buy then turn around and sell six months later.

·         It’s impossible to time any market. Right now, interest rates are favorable and buyers have lots of options.

·         For buyers able to qualify for conventional financing, there are ample opportunities in the current market. Conventional loans are available and rates are reasonable, and FHA-insured mortgage applications have been rising as low- and moderate-income buyers seek alternatives to sub-prime loans.

·         Two-thirds of metropolitan areas across the country are showing modest price gains, and the national median home price in August showed a slight increase. 

·         The average homeowner has seen an increase of 50 percent in value over the past five years. We project prices to rise about 2 percent next year, and in coming years, average home price appreciation should return to historical averages, around 6 percent.

·         Realtors ^Ò are passionate about helping people into homes and expanding homeownership opportunities. Realtors ^Ò live where they work and can see the benefits of homeownership firsthand.