[Normal]

Originally Posted by thelegges

Money goes a long way in today’s market. So buy now, hold on to current home, rent low to offset costs, then when market has an upturn sell. Under contract a home can be more desirable

I would rent right now and wait for the home prices to come down further. We are at the end of the big selling season with less than lackluster data. Renting is cheaper now, and it makes you more portable when you do decide to pull the trigger.

[Dakotaboy]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

Real estate values are always driven by supply and demand. Supply is being added very rapidly, buts that’s nothing new in the Villages. Demand for homes has slowed, increasing inventories. My take on slower demand includes the following:

Inflation - This is a very real and significant problem, cutting significantly into people’s disposal income and willingness to purchase a second home (which represents a significant percentage of Villages homes).

Decrease in home values up north - This makes it much more difficult, and risky, for those looking to flip their northern home into a Villages residence.

Floridas outrageously high property and casualty insurance (both homeowners and auto), property taxes, and the bond that comes with many Villages homes - It’s not just the price of homes that buyers must be able to afford, it’s the total package.

Economic uncertainties - These always exist, but seem unusually elevated these days, with new tariff driven inflation and recession fears and a very volatile (not in a good way) stock market. Not an environment conducive to making a significant investment in a home. I suspect many retirees equity in their investment portfolios have a high correlation to their willingness to purchase property.

Investor owned properties- The demand from this segment has slowed for several reasons, which all make a speculative real estate investment more risky than in prior years.

Hurricane burnout - it’s easy to forget about this factor this time of the year, but come mid October it’s fresh in people’s minds. This also effects the homeowners insurance market, which is a previously mentioned problem.

Reduced demand from those outside the USA - Many of these folks appear to be disenchanted and generally pi$$ed off with the USA these days.

Mortgage rates no longer at rock bottom like they were for many years - I suppose this is a deterrent to the segment of buyers not paying cash for their homes.

Just some random thoughts.

Excellent Article!!

[thelegges]

Originally Posted by Normal

I would rent right now and wait for the home prices to come down further. We are at the end of the big selling season with less than lackluster data. Renting is cheaper now, and it makes you more portable when you do decide to pull the trigger.

If there was a home I really wanted in location, and design, I would make an offer now.

Then rent our current home long term unfurnished. 3 years after we sold one of our investment homes. Our average inquiries every year was 20-34.

The rental site has been removed since selling, but I still get 10-15 emails a year inquiring if home is available long term.

[Vernon Hud]

I have heard through the grapevine, that the Villages developer has their people sitting on used property, and only trying to sell new homes.

[Nana2Teddy]

Originally Posted by Bridget Staunton

Not near as high as we used to pay years ago I remember paying 10% and I was glad to pay, just save a little more

Our first home purchase in Sept 1979 in SoCal we had a 13% rate on a $50K home with 20% down. Seemed like a fortune at the time because I’d just become a full time mom, so we were down to one income.