If you’re thinking about buying a home soon, higher mortgage rates, rising home prices, and ongoing affordability concerns may make you wonder if buying a home right now makes sense. While those market factors are important, there’s more to consider. You should think about the long-term benefits of homeownership, too.
Think about this: if you know people who bought a home 5, 10, or even 30 years ago, you’ll probably have difficulty finding someone who regrets their decision. Why is that? The reason is tied to how home values grow with time and how, by extension, that increases your wealth. That may be why, in a recent Fannie Mae survey, 76% of respondents say buying a home is a safe investment.
Here’s how the home price appreciation piece can add up over the years.
Home Price Growth over Time
The map below uses data from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to show noteworthy price gains over the last five years. And, since home prices vary by area, the map is broken out regionally to help convey more significant market trends:
If you look at the percent change in home prices, home prices grew on average by just over 57% nationwide over five years.
Some regions are slightly above or below that average, but home prices quickly gained solid ground. And if you expand that time frame even more, the benefit of homeownership and the drastic gains homeowners made over the years become even clearer (see map below):
The second map shows nationwide home prices appreciated by an average of over 297% over a roughly 30-year span.
This nationwide average tells you the typical homeowner who bought a house 30 years ago saw their home almost triple in value. That’s a critical factor in why so many homeowners who bought their homes years ago are still happy with their decision.
And while you may have heard talk throughout the year that home prices would crash, it hasn’t happened. Experts project home prices will continue to rise for years to come.
Key Takeaway
If you’re wondering if it still makes sense to buy a home today, focusing on the long-term advantages of homeownership is essential. When you’re ready to start your homebuying journey, let’s chat.
Other educational articles about the market and your home search are under Karen’s Blog. Additionally, explore the search bar for other topics of interest.
