2024 Home Prices & Mortgage Rates: What’s Next for Buyers and Sellers?

The Expert Podcast

Current Trends in the Housing Market

• Interest rates hitting around 8% mark, as predicted.
• Predictions for mortgage rates reaching 10% are becoming a reality.
• The housing market faces a "perfect storm" for homebuyers.

How the Market is Different Now vs. 2000

• In 2000, a home cost $120,000 with an average mortgage of $1,200/month.
• Today, the average home costs $420,000 - $440,000, leading to a monthly mortgage of nearly $4,000 at 8.5% interest.
• Incomes have increased but not enough to match the rising home prices.

Home Sales Despite High Mortgage Rates

• New home sales have increased, signaling that many still believe it’s a good time to buy.
• Factors like potential home price increases and stable mortgage rates are encouraging homebuyers.

Should You Wait for Mortgage Rates to Drop?

• Financial expert Dave Ramsey advises against waiting for mortgage rates to go down.
• Renting can be more stressful than owning a home, as rents increase and leases may not be renewed.

Why Home Prices Are Likely to Keep Rising

• There's a shortage of homes being built to meet market demand.
• Construction efforts face delays from permit issues, high material costs, and labor shortages.

Interest Rates Hit 8% for the First Time Since 2000

• Rates recently hit 8.2%, with some quotes going as high as 8.6%.
• While rates seem high compared to the past few years, they were artificially low, creating a home price bubble.
• This bubble won’t burst like before; high home prices are becoming the new normal.

The New Normal in Housing

• Expect mortgage payments to range from $4,000 to $5,000 a month for most homes.
• Renting a home will likely cost around $3,000 to $3,500/month.
• The new normal: higher interest rates, higher home prices, and higher monthly payments.

Looking Ahead

• Projecting that this new normal will be established in the next couple of years.
• No imminent housing crash or significant drop in mortgage rates.

Conclusion

• Share your thoughts in the comments below.
• Let’s revisit this in two years to see how the market evolves.