Struggling to decide whether it’s better to buy a home now or wait? There’s a lot to think about, from current market trends to your evolving needs. However, trying to perfectly time the market often isn’t practical – too many unpredictable factors make it nearly impossible.

That’s why experts often emphasize that time in the market is more valuable than timing the market.

In simpler terms, if you’re ready to buy a home and can comfortably afford it, moving forward sooner rather than later is usually a smart move. As Bankrate explains:

“No matter which way the real estate market is leaning, buying now means you can start building equity immediately.”

To put this into perspective, here’s some data to illustrate the benefits of buying now versus waiting. Each quarter, Fannie Mae publishes the Home Price Expectations Survey, which gathers insights from over 100 economists, real estate professionals, and market strategists about their home price predictions for the next five years. In the latest release, experts are projecting home prices will continue to rise through at least 2029 – just at a slower, more normal pace than they did over the past few years (see the graph below):

What does this mean for you? The graph below uses a typical home value to illustrate how it could appreciate over the next few years based on HPES projections. This shows the equity you could start building by purchasing a home in early 2025.

Imagine buying a $400,000 home this January. Based on HPES forecasts, you could build over $83,000 in wealth within five years—a significant amount. Renting means missing out on this equity growth.

While today’s market has its challenges, buying is a worthwhile long-term investment. Don’t give up—there are options like exploring more affordable areas, condos, or down payment assistance programs to help make it happen.

IN REALITY

Waiting to perfectly time the market could cost you this opportunity. Remember, time in the market matters most. Let’s connect and explore how you can start the process today.