Interest Rates and Homebuying: What You Need to Know

One of the most common pieces of advice homebuyers are given is to wait for interest rates to come down before beginning their search. While it may seem like sage advice, in reality, this couldn't be further from the truth. If you're waiting for rates to drop before buying a home, you could be waiting a long time—and missing out on some great opportunities in the meantime. Here's what you need to know about interest rates and homebuying.

Interest Rates and Your Mortgage Payment

One of the biggest factors in determining your monthly mortgage payment is interest rates. The lower the interest rate, the lower your monthly payment will be. That's why many homebuyers believe that they should wait for rates to drop before beginning their search—if they can get a lower rate, they'll save money each month on their mortgage payment. However, while lower interest rates mean a lower monthly payment, they also mean higher competition among buyers. So even if rates do drop, you may find yourself in a bidding war with other buyers who are also looking to take advantage of the lower rates—and you could end up paying more than you would have if you'd bought when rates were higher.

The bottom line is this: if you're thinking about buying a home, you don't necessarily need to wait for interest rates to drop. Instead, work with a trusted lender to get pre-approved for a loan at today's rates. That way, you'll know exactly how much house you can afford—and you won't miss out on your dream home if rates happen to rise before you find it.

If you're curious if right now is a good time for you to purchase a home, shoot me a message and we’ll have a free discovery call.