Are You a Homebuyer Worried About Climate Risks?
The increasing effects of natural disasters are leading to new obstacles in residential real estate. As a recent article from CoreLogic explains: “As the specter of climate change looms large, the world braces for unprecedented challenges. In the world of real estate, one of those challenges will be the effects of natural catastrophes on property portfolios, homeowners, and communities.” That may be why, according to Zillow, more and more Americans now consider how climate risks and natural disasters can impact their homeownership plans (see below): This study goes on to explain that climate risks affect where many people look for a home. That’s because homebuyers are interested in finding out if the house they want will be exposed to things like floods, extreme heat, and wildfires. If you’re in the same situation and are thinking about what to do next, here’s some important information to consider as you start looking for a home. Expert Advice for Homebuyers To Reduce Climate Risks The first thing to do is understand how to go about buying a home while thinking about climate risks. With the right help and resources, you can simplify the process. The Mortgage Reports provides these tips for buying your next home: Evaluate climate risks: Before buying a home, it's important to check if it's in a flood-prone area using the FEMA website, review the seller's property disclosure for any past damage, and get an inspection for issues like cracks and mold to make sure it's a safe investment.Consider future preventative maintenance costs: For areas that get tropical storms, you may need to purchase hurricane shutters and sandbags to protect the home. In wildfire-prone areas, you may want to clear plants five feet from the house, consider rooftop sprinklers, or possibly buy gutter guards to prevent fire hazards. Factor these future expenses in when touring homes that may need them.Take steps to avoid losing your assets: Getting the right insurance for a home in a high-risk climate area is crucial. You should shop around and talk to multiple insurance agents to compare prices and options before deciding to bid on a home. Above all else, your most valuable resource during this process is a trusted real estate expert. They'll always focus on your goals while keeping your concerns top of mind. Even if they don't have all the answers about how your home can handle natural disasters, they can connect you with the right experts and information.Bottom LineIf you want to buy a home, but you're also thinking about climate risks, you're not alone. Your home is a big investment, and if anything can impact that, you want to know. Connect with a real estate professional so you have someone you can trust to guide you as you find your next home.
Understanding the Benefits of Owning Your First Home
Are you considering buying your first home? If so, it can be helpful to know what led other people to make that decision. According to a recent survey of first-time homebuyers by PulteGroup:“When asked why they purchased their first home recently, the answer was simple: because they wanted to. Either the desire to stop renting or recognition that homeownership is a smart financial investment was the main motivator for 72% of respondents.”While that survey looked specifically at first-time homebuyers buying newly built homes, the same sentiment is true for just about anyone buying their first home. Here’s a bit more information to help you think about those two benefits of homeownership to see if they’re a key factor for you too.When You Buy a Home, You Have More Stability than When You Rent You might want to stop renting because rents keep going up. If you’re a renter, that means there’s a chance your payment will increase each time you sign a new rental agreement or renew your current one.On the other hand, when you buy your home with a fixed-rate mortgage, your monthly housing payment is predictable over the length of that loan. This stability can give you a peace of mind that renting just can’t provide. Jeff Ostrowski, real estate journalist, breaks it down:“With a fixed-rate mortgage, your monthly principal and interest payment is set for as long as you keep the loan. Sign a rental lease, however, and you could see your rent rise the following year, the year after that and so on.”When You Buy a Home, You Grow Your Wealth as Home Values ClimbBeyond that, owning a home can also be a great long-term investment. While renting may be the more affordable option right now, it doesn’t provide an avenue for you to grow your wealth over time. Mark Fleming, Chief Economist at First American, explains that’s an important distinction to consider:“Given current dynamics, more young households may choose to rent in the near term as the cost to own, excluding house price appreciation, has unequivocally increased. Yet, accounting for house price appreciation in that cost of homeownership, whether to rent or buy will depend on where, and if, a home is likely to cost more or less in the near future.”Basically, renting doesn’t allow you to build equity. In contrast, homeownership can help you grow your net worth as your home’s value appreciates. That’s a significant perk you can’t get if you keep renting.When you take that into account, it may make better financial sense to buy. Most experts project home prices will continue to appreciate over the next few years at a pace that’s more normal for the market. That means when you buy a home, not only are you investing in a place to live, but you’re also investing in your financial future. Bottom LineIf you're ready, it can be a smart move to buy your first home instead of renting. Connect with a real estate professional so you can stabilize your housing payment and start building wealth for your future.
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