There is not a day that goes by that I don't hear the following:

Hey Paul~

How the market?

Is it a good time to buy?

Will I double my money in 5 year?

I just doubled my money!

 Is it a good neighborhood?

 What is my home worth?

 Can I get the same sale price as 2007? Uh, NO!

 Is it busy?

 Is it slow?

 Where do you think the market is headed?

 Are interest rates at bottom?

Do they buy a home in a neighborhood that they think will gentrify? Maybe?

Every quarter we get data about new housing starts, inventory levels, number of transactions in a specific region.

How many days the average house, co-op, condo, townhouse was on the market.

What was the average rate where people negotiated from properly priced real estate to contract price?

But if you ask the majority of people why they buy a piece of property it falls into none of these categories.

These are the categories it falls in:

Downsizing

Need more space

Job transfer

"They needed a place to live!"

Our house in the middle of the street......

Yes, all of the data that we receive is unbelievably important to us to help our customers buy and sell in this market or any other market.....

But the real reason to buy is for shelter, a happy place you can call your home!There are many reasons it is advantageous to own your home, from tax deductions on your interest and forced savings.

I would much rather give my hard earned money every month towards a Note that is forced savings, than give it to a rental. Because when that rental lease ends, you walk away with less money than you did when you moved in.

I am not saying that you should buy real estate at any level- it takes data, a tenacious agent who can negotiate and the willingness to pull the trigger........

But don't forget- you are buying a place to live!

We are owners...YAY!

Home sweet home!