Buying A Home

The Truths Young Homebuyers Need To Hear
Posted by Lori Penney on Wednesday, July 7, 2021 at 9:12 AM By Lori Penney / July 7, 2021 Comment

The Truths Young Homebuyers Need To Hear

The Truths Young Homebuyers Need To Hear | MyKCM

For many young or first-time homebuyers, purchasing a home can feel intimidating. A recent survey shows some homebuyers ages 25 to 40 may be unsure about the homebuying process and what they can afford. It found:

  • “1 in 4 underestimated their buying potential by $150k or more”
  • “1 in 4 underestimated the increase in value by $100k or more”
  • “47% don’t know what a good interest rate is”

Because they feel uncertain, many young homebuyers have given up on their search, or worse, they’ve decided homebuying isn’t for them and never started on their journey to begin with.

If you’re interested in buying but aren’t sure where to begin, here are three key concepts about homeownership you should understand before you get started.

1. What You Need To Know About Down Payments

Saving for a down payment is sometimes viewed as one of the biggest obstacles for homebuyers, but that doesn’t have to be the case. As Freddie Mac ...

Housing Market Setting Records, In Spite of Pandemic
Posted by Dave Kowal on Wednesday, August 26, 2020 at 9:22 AM By Dave Kowal / August 26, 2020 Comment

Haverhill home

In spite of the pandemic, home sales are booming both nationally and here in Worcester County.

Sales increased by a record 24.7% from June to July, according to the National Association of Realtors, which said the gain is the strongest since the NAR began its monthly survey in 1968.

With the economy beginning to reopen and Realtors adjusting to doing more of their work online, it’s no surprise that July sales showed a significant increase from June. However, sales were also up 8.7% from July 2019 — before the pandemic.

Sales were driven not only by the re-opening economy, but by record-low mortgage rates. Unfortunately for buyers, low rates and a shortage of inventory boosted the price of homes sold by 8.5% from a year earlier to $304,100. Even when adjusted for inflation, the price is 3.4% higher than the price during the 2006 bubble.

We expect the current seller’s market to continue until inventory increases. Downsizing baby boomers will help add to inventory, but an increase in new construction is also needed. New housing was being constructed in July at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,496,000 homes. That’s 22.6% higher than the June estimate of 1,220,000 homes and is 23.4% higher than the July 2019 rate of 1,212,000 homes.

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3 Questions to Ask Before Buying Your Dream Home
Posted by Brian Hurley on Thursday, March 23, 2017 at 12:53 PM By Brian Hurley / March 23, 2017 Comment

3 Questions to Ask Before Buying Your Dream Home

If you are debating purchasing a home right now, you are probably getting a lot of advice. Though your friends and family will have your best interest at heart, they may not be fully aware of your needs and what is currently happening in the real estate market.

Ask yourself the following 3 questions to help determine if now is actually a good time for you to buy in today’s market.

1. Why am I buying a home in the first place?

This truly is the most important question to answer. Forget the finances for a minute. Why did you even begin to consider purchasing a home? For most, the reason has nothing to do with money.

For example, a recent survey by Braun showed that over 75% of parents say “their child’s education is an important part of the search for a new home.”

This survey supports a study by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University which revealed that the four major reasons people buy a home have nothing to do with money. They are:

  • A good place to raise children and for them to get a good education
  • A place where you and your family feel safe
  • More space for you and your family
  • Control of that space
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