Past Experiences Can Color Your View

For many area home buyers, the Pittsburgh real estate market conjures many emotions. They range from dreaded fear to pure exhilaration. Having helped many, many families buy their first Pittsburgh home and more experienced buyers purchase “move-up” properties, I can honestly say the way buyers approach their purchase is often “colored” by previous financial experiences. If you have been juggling your 401K lately and your account has been “smacked” by less than favorable fund buying decisions, you might be inclined to have a more pessimistic view of the prospect of buying a home. Those with more positive past experiences often see the current Pittsburgh real estate market “glass” as half full with opportunity to get a great deal on a home! Either way, don’t let your emotions keep you paralyzed.

Your Emotions are Real

Younger, less market-savvy first time buyers often question if buying a home in today’s market is the smart move. These feelings are both natural and legitimate. Your concerns need to be addressed head on. It is recommended you fully evaluate your job security and prospects for near-term career advancements and pay increases. If your job is on shaky ground, the very last thing you should do is buy a home. Remember this - if your job future is much brighter and secure, even with today’s more restrictive lending qualification guidelines, often even first-time buyers can “qualify” for more home than they should risk buying.

Let the Facts Guide Your Decisions - Not Your Emotions!

Before you allow your emotions to get the best of you, I encourage you to become really familiar with your finances and the local Pittsburgh real estate market. If you have the financial ability to buy a home (good credit scores, ample down payment and closing cost funds), why not check with a couple of lending experts who can guide you to what price range is best for your specific financial situation. By the way, our team can provide several references for a professional mortgage experts in our area.

Is it the Best Time to Buy a Pittsburgh Home? It Depends…

Naturally, you would expect every Pittsburgh Realtor in the area to jump on the “BUY NOW!” bandwagon. Frankly, making that type of broad statement for everyone really isn’t prudent. There are individuals and families who need to wait for a more opportune time to purchase a home. And then again there are those who are fully capable of buying a Pittsburgh home and remain “parked” on the sidelines paralyzed by the fear I spoke about earlier. There really is only one way to know for sure if “NOW” is the best time to buy and that is through a careful examination of the “facts” based on your finances and your job situation.

Take a moment and tell us your opinion on this matter. By the way, we will never rent, share or sale your contact information.

Helping you make smarter Pittsburgh home buying decisions and as always Treating You Like Family,

Jim

Your Pittsburgh real estate agent