03/08/2022
Housing Market Perspectives
What will 2022 be like for homebuyers, especially first-time homebuyers?
Homebuyers have much to look forward to in 2022. After years of declining, the inventory of homes for sale is finally expected to rebound from all-time lows. Still, the housing market will remain competitive for buyers, particularly those looking for homes in entry-level price tiers. With more than 45 million millennials in the prime first-time home buying ages of 26 to 35 in 2022, entry level buyers are likely to have a lot of company. Plenty of buyers mean rising home prices and when combined with rising mortgage rates buyers will face higher monthly payments. On top of this, homes are expected to continue to sell quickly, meaning buyers will need to make quick decisions in order to win offers.
How can homebuyers prepare?
To navigate these challenges, buyers will want to carefully consider their budget before embarking on their home search. Buyers can use online tools like the affordability calculator found in home listings on Realtor.com to get a sense of how much they can afford, and once theyāve set a price point, rate-proof that home purchase budget by running the numbers to see how higher mortgage rates could affect the monthly payment. Bottom line for buyers: no matter what the calculator says, make sure it feels comfortable to you! Additionally, honing a list of must-haves vs. nice-to-haves can help shoppers keep their search focused. And buyers can also use personalization tools so that their online search is similarly dialed-in on homes that are the best fit. Hereās a great āhow-toā on personalizing-your-home search on Realtor.com.
https://www.realtor.com/research/about/team/danielle-hale/
