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Homeownership and Inflation

How Homeownership Can Help Shield You from Inflation

How Homeownership Can Help Shield You from Inflation | MyKCM

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 home 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 homeownership can help you combat the rising costs that come with inflation.

Homeownership 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 home prices are on the rise. So, as a buyer, how can you protect yourself from increasing costs? The answer lies in homeownership.

Buying a home allows you to stabilize what’s typically your biggest monthly expense: your housing cost. If you get a fixed-rate mortgage on your home, 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 housing expenses at the same payment. Sure, property taxes will rise and other expenses may creep up, but your monthly housing 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 housing costs.

Use Home Price Appreciation to Your Benefit

While it’s true rising mortgage rates and home prices mean buying a house 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 home price appreciation outperformed inflation in most decades going all the way back to the seventies – making homeownership a historically strong hedge against inflation (see graph below):

How Homeownership Can Help Shield You from Inflation | MyKCM

So, what does that mean for you? Today, experts say home prices will only go up from here thanks to the ongoing imbalance in supply and demand. Once you buy a house, any home price appreciation that does occur will be good for your equity and your net worth. And since homes 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 home, 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.

Source: https://www.mykcm.com/2022/04/26/how-homeownership-can-help-shield-you-from-inflation/

Benefits of Recuded Debt

Benefits of Reduced Debt

If you’ve set a goal to pay down your debt this year, you’re not alone. Strategically reducing or paying off debt benefits your finances tremendously, but can positively impact other areas of your life as well.

Reduce stress.

According to a recent study, more than 85% of Americans intermittently feel stressed by their finances and 30% feel stressed constanly.*  By making a commitment to pay off your debt, you’re also making a commitment to your overall health and well-being by minimizing a large cause of your stress.

Improve your credit score.

Although credit cards and lines of credit may help establish your score, maintaining low balances positively impacts it overall. Additionally, if you plan to finance large purchases, such as a car or home, keeping your outstanding balances low may classify you as a lower credit risk and qualify you for reduced rates.

Easily pay an unexpected bill.

If your debts are low, you’ll be able to save more in an emergency fund to handle financial surprises, such as an unexpected home repair bill.

Increase your disposable income.

Many Americans live paycheck-to-paycheck; their hard-earned money is already earmarked to pay off debts and bills before it’s even deposited in a bank account. However, the less debt you are in, the more disposable income you will have available to enjoy now or save for later.

Boost your retirement income.

If you want to maintain your lifestyle long after retirement, the time to save is now. Unfortunately, one of the biggest impediments to building a retirement nest egg is existing debt. The good news is, when you pay down or pay off your debt, you can choose to contribute additional funds to existing retirement accounts for enjoyment of your golden years.

Model good financial habits for others.

If you want others to cultivate good financial habits, be the example they can follow. People, especially children, mimic the behaviors they see. Explain how to cultivate good financial habits and why it is important to do so. Additionally, provide reasons why it is best to avoid unnecessary debt.

Become more generous. 

The less debt we have, the more generous we may feel with our money. Whether it’s tithing more, donating to a local school or sports programs or giving money to a cause dear to us, we may feel like we can give more.

 

Harness the benefits of compound interest

Whether you’re paying down debt or are debt-free, transfer a percentage of your earnings each paycheck to an interest-bearing account. The intent is to make a portion of your earnings work for you.

“Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it…he who doesn’t…pays it.”                                                                                                              -Albert Einstein

 

 

3 Ways to earn extra money

Looking for ways to earn more money? Whether you want to pay down debt, build emergency savings or invest, consider these options.

  1. Get side hustle. Do you have a hobby or skill that could net more money on the side? Whether it’s photography, web design or crafting, consider sharing your skills to earn extra cash.
  2. If you have extra room in your home or an in-law apartment, consider renting it through Airbnb. Be sure to check the regulations in your area to ensure you’re in compliance with municipal codes or homeowner’s association rules.
  3. Clear the clutter. Sort through your stuff and set aside items that you don’t use, are in good condition and others would enjoy. Consider selling them online, at a consignment shop or in a garage sale.

 

Sources: *CNBC, March 20, 2018; Buffini & Company

Waiting to Buy a Home?

Waiting to Buy a Home?

You May Miss out on Low Interest Rates

In December, the Federal Reserve raised the key interest rate by a quarter-point to range of 0.25% to 0.5%, the first rate increase in nearly a decade. While some experts expect the Fed to raise rates gradually this year, some economists expect rates to increase three or four more times this year.Increases are anticipated to amount to a quarter-point each time, and when they do occur are subject to impact mortgage rates.2 What’s a homebuyer to do?

NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY!

While a quarter-point increase in interest  rates doesn’t seem like much, it could mean the difference of hundreds of dollars a month in your mortgage payment. This will depend on the price of your home, your interest rate, how much you are borrowing and the size of your down payment. This is money you could use to renovate, go on vacation or save for retirement.

 

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO NOW?

  • Get pre-qualified for a mortgage if you haven’t done so already. Getting pre-qualified means you can spring into action when you find the home you want to buy. We work with great lenders in our area. If you’re looking for a lender you can trust, let us know and we’ll be happy to connect you with someone from our network.
  • Narrow down your search criteria. What neighborhoods do you have your eye on? Do you want three or four bedrroms? Do you want a big yard or no yard at all? The list goes on and on. While buying a home is a process of selection, the more you know what you want, the better prepared you are to make the right decision.
  • Get hunting. If you’ve been passively house hunting online, now is the time to ramp up your search. Let us know what you are looking for and we’ll work with you to find a great home that meets your criteria.

 

 

 

Sources:
Buffini & Company
1. CNN Money, December 16, 2015
2. The Guardian,  January  6, 2016
3. Bankrate Mortgage Payment Calculator