By Nancy Perry

        Buying a home has been part of the American Dream for many decades.  Who doesn’t want the white picket fence and a safe place for our children to play?  So, what’s stopping you?  Ahhhh, that ol’ problem?  Money.  It is true that depending on what part of the country you live in, you will either need a $1,000 or tens of thousands of dollars to start out.  But before we get into the nitty gritty, let’s discover why owning a home is such a smart move.

        When I purchased my first house I was 38 years old.  I’d wanted to buy a house since my daughter was born 10 years previously, but didn’t think I could.  At the time I would occasionally go into Open Houses and talk with Realtors, who often said things like, “You know, you probably can qualify for a home, I have a lender who can help you.”  But I didn’t really believe them.  Not that I thought they were lying, I just thought they didn’t really know what my finances were like.  So, we waited.  Finally, after purchasing a home…..that was when I “got it”.  After we lived in our house for 3 years, my house was worth $19,000 more than when I purchased it!!  I could NEVER have saved $19,000 in three years otherwise!  Now, the area where I live has seen some great appreciation in their homes, where you live may not appreciate the same.   Even before the year 2005 madness our (Arizona) homes were appreciating on average 6% a year.  What does that mean exactly?  Well, let’s look at numbers:

       When we purchased our home, we’ll say it cost $100,000. After 1 year, that home was worth $106,000.  (100,000 X 6% = $106,000)  The next year that 6% appreciation made our house worth $112,360.00. (106,000 X 6% = $112,360)  The next year my house was worth $19,000 more.  Now it’s important to note that not every area appreciates like where I live AND right now even in my area… it’s not appreciating like that now.  But it will again soon and if you were thinking about buying a home… now could be the best time to do it, while the prices are low.  There are also big tax advantages for owning a home, but we will get into that at a later date.

        If you are “wondering” whether you can buy a home, there is no better way to find out than to speak with a lender.  There are loan programs out there built for just about everybody.  If you’d like to ask me questions I’d love to help out.  I became a Realtor after I realized just how important home ownership is, so I could help people achieve that elusive American Dream.

 About Author:
As a successful Realtor, assembling a team of professionals to help with all of the details that a home purchase or sale requires, is vital to our success. As a former General Manager in the hospitality industry, there is an understanding that not everybody's schedule is as flexible as mine.  I work on your schedule. As a wife and mother of two teenagers, I know that time is precious, so I won't waste yours. As a listing agent in Maricopa county, my extensive marketing plan gives a homeowner the opportunity to get the maximum value for his/her property.

Nancy Perry, ABR,ARECI,GRI,MRE
Remax 2000
480-326-6702
Fax (866) 587-6840
1-800-91 REMAX
nancyperry9@aol.com
www.nancysellsaz.com