Despite the turmoil in mortgage lending, if you have good credit, a job and steady income, you will find there is still plenty of mortgage credit to be had at good rates. For well-qualified buyers, rates are running at near historical lows.
Homeownership's Real Value
Here are a few examples of why, dollar for dollar, homeownership is a solid stepping stone to a future of financial security and the single largest creator of wealth for many Americans.Over the long-term real estate has consistently appreciated, even through periodic adjustments in local markets in response to economic conditions. On a national level, home appreciation has historically increased 5-6 percent annually, report economists at the National Association of Home Builders.
Five percent may not seem much at first, but here's an example that will put it into perspective: Say you put 10 percent down on a $200,000 house, for an investment of $20,000. At a 5 percent annual appreciation rate, that $200,000 home would increase in value $10,000 during the first year. Earning $10,000 on an investment of $20,000 is an extraordinary 50 percent annual return.
In contrast, putting that $20,000 down payment into the stock market and getting a 5 percent gain would only yield a $1,000 profit.
Compared to Stocks
Looking at it another way, over a longer period of time, if someone put $10,000 into the stock market in 1997, the average annual S&P return would make that investment worth $21,500 today - an increase of $11,500. The median home price in 1997 was $140,000.Today, that same home would have gained nearly $100,000 in value.
Don't miss out on the benefits of homeownership. For more information, contact www.MySuperiorHome.com
