St Nick shows up for REALTORS in Seattle

Opportunity Knocks

It seems that there may be a little something extra in my stocking this year, as the good news starts to show. Last Sunday's Seattle Times started my Christmas cheer by declaring that, "Opportunity Knocks!" With plenty of inventory and mortgage rates low Ron Lieber summates "Five or ten years from now.....we will look in the rearview mirror and realize that we missed a golden age for first time home buyers." The sugar plums are dancing in my head! I have always felt that buying a home shouldn't be attached to market ups and downs. The buying process is one that is about the home, not the investment potential.

However, with all that is happened this year, the Seattle area real estate future looks great. This was echoed in Forbes.com recent article titled "America's Best Long-Term Real Estate Bets". It discusses how more stringent building restrictions and better growth management plans prevents the market for overbuilding in boom times. I am not a betting man, and I like the term "long-term". I believe it is important for buyers to have a plan, save for a down payment, and don't buy a home that will stretch your budget. In addition, In Rhonda recent post at the MortgagePorter.com Rhonda outlines the feds actions and how they will effect long term interest rates. Right now we are seeing 4.875% rates on 30 year fixed! Ho Ho Ho!