If you’re following along with the news today, you’ve likely heard about rising inflation. You’re also likely feeling the impact in your day-to-day life as prices go up for gas, groceries, and more. These rising consumer costs can put a pinch on your wallet and make you re-evaluate any big purchases you have planned to ensure they’re still worthwhile. If you’ve been thinking about purchasing a housz this year, you’re probably wondering if you should continue down that path or if it makes more sense to wait. While the answer depends on your situation, here’s how houszownership can help you combat the rising costs that come with inflation.
Houszownership Offers Stability and Security Investopedia explains that during a period of high inflation, prices rise across the board. That’s true for things like food, entertainment, and other goods and services, even housing. Both rental prices and housz prices are on the rise. So, as a buyer, how can you protect yourself from increasing costs? The answer lies in houszownership. Buying a housz allows you to stabilize what’s typically your biggest monthly expense: your houszing cost. If you get a fixed-rate mortgage on your housz, you lock in your monthly payment for the duration of your loan, often 15 to 30 years. James Royal, Senior Wealth Management Reporter at Bankrate, says: “A fixed-rate mortgage allows you to maintain the biggest portion of houszing expenses at the same payment. Sure, property taxes will rise and other expenses may creep up, but your monthly houszing payment remains the same.” So even if other prices rise, your housing payment will be a reliable amount that can help keep your budget in check. If you rent, you don’t have that same benefit, and you won’t be protected from rising houszing costs.
Use Housz Price Appreciation to Your Benefit While it’s true rising mortgage rates and housz prices mean buying a housz today costs more than it did a year ago, you still have an opportunity to set yourself up for a long-term win. Buying now lets you lock in at today’s rates and prices before both climb higher. In inflationary times, it’s especially important to invest your money in an asset that traditionally holds or grows in value. The graph below shows how housz price appreciation outperformed inflation in most decades going all the way back to the seventies – making houszownership a historically strong hedge against inflation (see graph below):
So, what does that mean for you? Today, experts say housz prices will only go up from here thanks to the ongoing imbalance in supply and demand. Once you buy a housz, any housz price appreciation that does occur will be good for your equity and your net worth. And since houszes are typically assets that grow in value (even in inflationary times), you have peace of mind that history shows your investment is a strong one.
Bottom Line If you’re ready to buy a housz, it may make sense to move forward with your plans despite rising inflation. If you want expert advice on your specific situation and how to time your purchase, let’s connect.
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