Is it a good time to buy a house now? in woodbridge va, if not when..?
537344
The city of Woodbridge offers an array of housing opportunities. All kinds of options are available including apartment living, condos, townhouses and single-family homes. A 3 bedroom, 2-bathroom home with over 1,300 square feet of living space would start around $113,000. A 3 bedroom, 1.5-bathroom ranch style home, on about a quarter acre lot, would start around $205,000. If you prefer the maintenance free condominium lifestyle, plan on spending around $130,000 for a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 976 square foot condo.
180976
The 30yr mortgage rate will probably not move until the end of April.At that time it looks like it will go up .05% . The sooner you lock in the better.
696624
You have out of sight housing prices over there too? The market here(US) is finally cooling off. Now maybe regular people just might be able to think about buying a house again.
567839
Hi 90802!\nNow that the housing market is finally looking up, it's the perfect time to seek out a new place to live. This summer you need to shake off that "lucky I even have my folks to live with" mentality, polish up your shoes, and explore your living quarters options! There are fun, flexible, fantastic places out there just waiting for someone like you!\nNow, get out there and pound the pavement. Beat on some doors until you latch onto that incredible tree house or fort you always wanted!\n(I heard the LongBeach area is a great place to find a cardboard box near a dumpster behind the pizza joint?)\n-Kenny
91765
Whether you should rent or buy really depends on a lot of factors.  If you only need a place to live for a short term, you should rent.  If you want a place to build equity over the long term, buy.  However, if you buy now, don’t expect to see the massive increases in property values we’ve seen over the past few years.  The housing market is cooling some, so prices are leveling off.   That in mind, the housing market has historically performed very well as an investment.  I wish you all the luck in your venture.
11257
Your question asks if the state of the housing market is one extreme (bubble) or the other (media hype), but I think the answer lies somewhere in between and also depends on your personal circumstances.\nThe general market appears to moderating and by "moderating" I mean the rate of housing price growth is slowing.  This doesn't mean that prices are falling.  The media often misses this subtle, yet important distinction.  Slowing price increases are a good thing because it means that the market is starting to act more rationally.  We all know that prices can't continue to increase at the same rate they have for the past 3-5 years (+10 to +30% a year).  So, the moderation of these increases are not a sign of trouble.  They're a sign of a return to rationality.\nWhat would be a sign of trouble?  A few things come to mind:\n- A substantial increase in job losses and unemployment on a national and, more importantly, a local level.  Think about how business is doing in the L.A. area and where it is likely to go in the future.\n- A substantial increase in the long-term interest rates would be worrisome because fewer people will be able to afford to buy your house for a high price.  Notice I said "substantial".  Everyone knows that rates will go up slightly over the next year or two.  But that's natural as our financial markets try to get to a normal interest rate level.  Our current rates are abnormally low and returning to 7% ish isn't such a bad thing.\n- We restrict immigration substantially.  Immigration trends are driving the demand for first-time home buyers in the U.S.  If we restrict the number of people who can enter our country, become productive citizens and eventually buy a home, we'll lower demand for housing.  Especially in Los Angeles!\nI don't trust the media to give me a balanced view of the housing (or any other) market because that's not their objective.  Media's goal is to get you to watch and they wouldn't get very many viewers if they said that the market would likely just moderate going forward with only slight increases for the future.  They get much more attention when they find data that will allow them to make dire predictions and predict doom and gloom.\nCurrently, the prices of houses are being driven by people's ability to afford the monthly payment and the supply of people looking to purchase houses.  I think that increasing rates will lower the prices a little bit, but I don't think prices will fall significantly causing many people to lose many and file bankruptcy.  I personally don't know anyone who is overleveraged and would be devastated by a decline in housing prices.  They would just continue paying their mortgages and living in the house.  However, when I talk to people about the market, they all think there is a significant population of people who are going bankrupt.  I'm not sure there is much real data to support this paranoia, however.\nNow, to address the second part of my answer -- your personal situation.  If you buy a house for the right personal reasons, then you won't have to worry about future housing prices as much.  If you're committed to staying the local area and you have professional job stability, then you will have more security to ride out any short-term price fluctuations.  Additionally, you should consider the value of owning versus renting along other lines than pure investments.  What is the value of owning your own residence and being able to upgrade various amenities when and how you please?  (Hey - new jet tub! Granite countertops!)  What is the value of being able to demonstrate security to your family and friends?  (Honey, I really am committed to building a family!)  What is the value of not having to deal with landlords and other renting hassles?\nI'm not saying there are concrete answers to those questions, but you should consider them and if they have high value to you, then
1164368
Some new developments offer purchasing opportunity for low-income people.  They offer the houses at below-market rates.  Check your local area for new developments and see if they have such a program.  I think they're called VMR.
205893
With interest rates still at historically low levels, yes, it's a good time to build.\n\nTo stick to a budget, I suggest you develop a file of examples / a wish list of features you'd like in your house, and then contact perhaps two or three builders to discuss your project. Review the ideas you have with them. You should be able to get a feeling of whether you are comfortable with them. Choose someone you can work with. This is a long project. Ideally you will end it with a good relationship.\n\nDevelop a detailed itemization of exactly what will go into the house under your contract. Don't expect to add extras without paying more. The more you have throught the project through ahead of time, the better start you will have for staying on budget.\n\nHughes Home Builders does design-build projects like you are anticipating. Joan Hughes can work with you to develop the house you want within a budget you can afford. She will likely have other ideas, too. They built our home over 20 years ago and will be doing an addition for us in the near future. You can reach her at 508-693-3987.\n\nBest wishes for a successful venture and a great new home.
5579
I think that if given the choice between rent and buy in this market, I would buy if not worried about the "bubble" bursting and rent if I was.  The real estate values are inflated right now which is why it's called the "housing bubble."  If you buy a 650k house today, when the "bubble" bursts and the value declines largely, you will be paying a 650k mortgage on a 400k house.  The rates being low is an advantage to home owning right now, but the interest payments are always "write-off-able" for your taxes.  If you are not worried about the bubble bursting within your 5 year stay at the house, then I would buy.  You would be able to build equity and not have to worry about rent increases.
520904
100%... wait!!  I just sold my home in Nor Cal.  I'm moving to AZ.  Both have been hot markets, and prices are declining.  I'm going to rent for 6-12 months, and hopefully save 50-100K.\n\nSo if you have no need to buy yet... hold on as long as you can.  Real Estate Cycles are sometimes 15 years, so the decline that is just starting might go for 3-4 years.\n\nPlus, interest rates have already bumped up 16 times.  At most, we might see 3-4 more bumps.  Hopefully only 1 or 2 more.\n\nWait, and save your money!
69526
I would suggest the New Bern area.  Housing prices are now going up, but the people are friendly and the area is beautiful.
925821
First, get out of that ARM!!!!\nYou can get fixed 30 yrs at or below 6.75% right now.  Yes, that's higher than what you're paying right now, but lower than what you'll re-fi at in two years when you really will be hurting.\n\nIf you're in San Antonio, then you've noticed that we had a wave of investors come in.  This did two things.  1 - Drove prices of newer homes up pretty quickly.  2 - Drove prices of rentals down quickly.\n\nYour mortgage is $1,400 and it could rent for $1,000.  You're probably correct.  This price range is for buying and living in, not for owning as an investment.\n\n"Money makers" more often than not, come in neighborhoods that you'd rather not put your family into.
89847
not sure how anyone could advise you to buy based upon an online description. without seeing the property that is downright silly. the real estate market is currently at or near a top based upon all available data. read the newspapers, mortgage rates are going higher, sales are down, builders are offering big incentives to buy... that is usually the sign of a major slowdown.\n\ndon't know where you are located, but i would proceed with caution. the buildings across the street could overshadow your intended purchase and make your property worth less to a potential buyer down the road. i would never buy across the street from unknown construction. what happens if they don't finish the project and leave a shell across the street that scares people away. what if they build something that is ugly, or creates traffic problems. \n\ndid you check out how many town house units are owner occupied or rented to others? that is a major factor. renters don't treat the property the way an owner does.\n\nyou have much homework to do. good luck
808498
There won't be a crash, too many people want property as its the only real investment these days.  You should get on the ladder now before prices go up again.
274362
Check with your local realty office. It all depends in where you live. Where I am house prices have gone through the roof.
151015
Here is a comprehensive report, "Housing in the Nation's Capital", primarily focusing on DC proper (rather than the Maryland and Virginia suburbs):\n\nhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/daily/nov05/FMFhousing.pdf\n\n"Last year, we reported on surging home sales prices in the Washington region and noted that homes affordable to lower- and moderate-income buyers mostly were limited to neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River in the District, Prince George’s County, and the Far Suburbs. The same patterns persist this year, with sales prices continuing to climb at stunningly rapid rates.\n\n...\nRenting becomes a more attractive option relative to the very high price of buying. The monthly cost of renting in 2001 was 82 percent of buying, but in 2004 it dropped\nto only 59 percent.\n\nIf you are considering buying, this link has maps of the whole region (DC, MD and VA), with average prices by zip code:\n\nhttp://www.metrorealestatepro.com/Nav.aspx/Page=%2fPageManager%2fDefault.aspx%2fPageID%3d1445270\n\nHousing market cooling:\nhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/10/AR2005111002241.html
794210
yes. housing is off now. winter is a good time to buy as they are cheaper.