There’s a reason so many home buyers have been frustrated with the housing market lately. Home prices are through the roof, and there’s no indication they’re about to come down.
In March, home prices rose 20.6% on a national level, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index. That’s the most recent month of data the index has made available. And it also accounts for rising mortgage rates, which were already up substantially in March compared to where they sat at the start of 2022.
All told, if you attempt to purchase a home today, there’s a good chance you’ll end up overpaying for one. In fact, these days, it’s really, really hard to find a bargain when it comes to a home purchase. This isn’t to say it absolutely can’t be done – but the stars really need to align for that to happen.
Mortgages: Why it may be worth it to put off buying a home for the time being
Why you’re unlikely to find a bargain today
Today’s housing market sorely lacks inventory. This doesn’t just apply in select cities. Rather, it’s a problem that exists across the country.
Because there aren’t enough homes to meet buyer demand, sellers really get a lot of leeway when it comes to charging more for their homes. Plus, when homes hit the market, they tend to have multiple offers on them, which commonly drives their price up. And until inventory increases in a meaningful way, it’s going to be very difficult to snag a good deal on a home.
Compounding the problem is that it’s getting more…
