Spring Housing Market Part One

I think it's officially time for a deep dive on the spring housing market.

Joining us this weekend is Maria Fregosi, the Chief Investment Officer at Homepoint Financial.

Where is the housing market going next? Despite the fact that we are coming to the end of the pandemic with accelerated vaccinations, many companies have announced that employees working from home may continue to do so permanently. 

That may allow some to seek out more affordable areas like Austin, Charlotte, Miami, and Nashville. 

Some smaller cities have launched cash initiatives, home buying allowances, tax credits and money toward local goods and services to induce pandemic movers to relocate there. 

If you are in the market to buy, you will need to run the basic numbers, including mortgage principal and interest, homeowners' insurance, and taxes. Add a line item for upkeep and maintenance, depending on the age of the house and its condition, factor in 1-3 percent of the purchase price annually. 

And for the transaction itself, don’t forget about closing costs, which averaged more than $6,000 last year. It’s easy to gloss over things like mortgage loan application and appraisal fees, the title search and insurance, as well as legal and recording fees, because they seem to be built into the legal process, but you should ask for discounts along the way to see if you can push them down.

Finally, even if the numbers appear to work, consider whether buying could preclude you from addressing other important financial issues in your life, like paying down student loans or saving for retirement. Just because a lender will fork over the dough, doesn't mean you should take it.

Have a money question? Email me here.

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"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.