2021 homebuyer resolutions | David Morris Group

We can all admit that 2020 has been an unexpected year, and many are wondering what 2021 will hold. It’s been a question that many real estate professionals are fielding from their clients, and as your trusty real estate advisors, we’re here to offer some predictions on trends for purchasing a home in 2021.

Even Lower Mortgage Rates

2020 brought some of the lowest mortgage rates we’ve seen, but Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the National Association of REALTORS® are all predicting that those rates will fall again or stay flat in 2021. If you thought you missed out on getting a great 30-year fixed mortgage rate, you may be wrong!

Prices of Homes Will Increase

This year has marked a remarkable increase in home prices, and we’re likely to see more of the same in 2021, but at a slightly lower rate than that of 2020. Freddie Mac and the National Association of REALTORS® showed that prices increased by 5.8% in 2020, and they are likely to rise by 2.7% in 2021.

Making Compromises Will Be Necessary

Because of the bidding wars that are happening, it’s likely that you will need to closely look at the loan you’re pre-approved for and look at homes below that budget to account for higher deposits, full-price offers, multiple offer situations, and those waiving appraisals and inspections altogether. Take a hard look at what you need and what you want, then crunch the numbers on the down payment, lender’s fees, and property taxes you will face for the homes that meet your budget and the items on your needs list.

Inventory Will Remain Low

Unless buyers leave the market or new construction home builds increase exponentially, we will continue to see low monthly inventory. This is what will contribute to the increase in home prices that we talked about earlier. Low mortgage rates are incentivizing many to purchase a home now, but there’s a supply shortage of homes for buyers entering the market.

If you’re interested in learning more about the predictions we have on trends for purchasing a home in 2021, contact the David Morris Group at 775-828-3292. Our years of experience have made us experts on the Reno-Sparks real estate market, and we’re always happy to share our insights with you.

With the new year almost here, now is the perfect time to start setting goals and creating plans for how to achieve those goals. 2021 could be your year to become a homeowner, and we have some resolutions that will help first-time homebuyers purchase a home in the new year.

Set a monthly savings goal and a down payment goal

Start off by looking at what you already have saved and how much money you would like to have that goes towards a down payment for your home. Then begin to look at your expenses each month, current wages, and calculate how much you can reasonably save each month to meet your goal. This can also help you see if you may need to find a side hustle or cut expenses to help you increase the savings you’re setting aside each month to meet your goal.

Avoid big purchases

Every penny you have should go towards paying for the things you need and saving for purchasing a home. Even if you’ve met your down payment goal, you’ll want to have money set aside to cover closing costs, home inspection fees, moving costs, home repair projects, HOA fees, home insurance costs, etc. The latest iPhone will still be there when you’re a homeowner. Sacrificing a big purchase now will pay off in the long run!

Begin reaching out and making connections with real estate professionals

You want to build relationships with people who can help you achieve your goal of purchasing a home. Create a list of potential real estate professionals you’d like to work with and interviewing them to see which one will be a good fit for you.

Begin meeting with lenders to talk about what kind of loan you qualify for

Meeting with lenders is a very important part of the homebuying process. You need to know how much house you can afford to buy as well as the interest rate to pay back the loan. If the interest rate is too high, it may have something to do with your debt-to-income ratio, and your lender may be able to give you advice on how to pay down your debt while saving for a home to score you a better deal on your mortgage!

Get your credit score checked and contest anything that’s wrong

Your credit score can also have an impact on the mortgage rates you’re offered, so be sure to get a detailed report and contest anything that is wrong or fraudulent to have it removed from your credit history.

2021 is your year to become a homeowner, but you’ll have to work hard to stick to your resolutions to make it happen. If you need more tips on how to become a homeowner in the new year, contact the David Morris Group at 775-828-3292!

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The Reality of Real Estate: Predictions on Trends for Purchasing a Home in 2021