Feels a bit like floating
Hello!
As we end this week a few thoughts come to mind. I have been working with clients over the last several months and everyone seems to have the same feeling. This market feels a bit like a small boat drifting at sea. Floating. No real storms on the horizon, no rain not even a breeze to catch the sails every once in a while. Just stillness and the occasional ripple in the water, pushing the boat up just slightly, then back down again. For those of you who know me well, I love a good analogy. Creating an image of something as dull as interest rates (Sorry Joe), can often put a new perspective on how people are feeling. This market feels like floating.
This week, mortgage rates decreased for the second consecutive week. Given the news that inflation eased slightly, the 10-year Treasury yield dipped, leading to lower mortgage rates. Although they may feel like another ripple in the water, the decrease in rates may provide a bit more wiggle room in the budgets of prospective homebuyers.
As we continue to sit in this boat, floating…waiting for something big to happen. A storm that could roll the ship. Or a wind that could grab the sales and finally move us forward… I have slowly come to realize that our opportunities may be the small ripples and even the calm itself.
We live in a society that is constantly looking forward. What is going to happen tomorrow, next month, next year? The fact that we face, as we sit in this boat, is that we have absolutely no idea when the next storm will come or when the wind will allow us to move at a more desirable clip. But, we do know what is going to happen today. It’s calm…not exciting.
2 years ago, the market was a storm. People have very selective memories when it comes to remembering the days of low interest rates. Yes, interest rates were unreasonably low for a while, but for the majority of buyers, this also meant prices were too high and finding a home with all of their wants and needs was close to impossible. Yes the storm brought on the wind and rain that we all loved to talk about, but finding any sort of shelter came at a cost.
As I wrap up this long winded boat analogy, I ask you this… What are we actually waiting for? Chances are we will see another storm, but no storm is the same and they always bring a different set of challenges. If you are able to take a step back, consider what would you like to happen right now? If you are comfortable with floating, then by all means, take a break and enjoy the calm. If you are unsettled, tired of waiting for the tides to change or simply need to make a change, I say do it. Life will continue to require change even when the market is still. I know, crazy! There are other tools we can utilize. Tools that will get you to your destination, without having to wait for the wind to pick up, the tides to turn or the perfect storm to brew.
If you suffer from FOMO, a type of real estate sea sickness, don’t worry. If the rates drop sometime in the future, I know a guy who will help you refinance. But, that’s for another day.
Don’t let the calm paralyze your life’s trajectory. There is always an alternative way to get you where you need to go. I have been in this business long enough to remember the calm and the storm. I prefer the calm. It’s easier to see the horizon.
If you have questions about the market, or tools we are using to get moving through still waters, reach out. Happy sailing!
