Wilted Bride (Outtake)

Originally uploaded by Special

According to the Joint Center for Housing, there are reasons why single women buy real estate at more than twice the rate of men:

1. Incomes are growing
2. Financial independence
3. More women are graduating from college
4. Women are living longer than men
5. Women are marrying later in life — if at all
6. Availability of mortgages
7. Women seek a sense a permanence and security through their home and still want to ‘nest’ married or not.

What’s your reason?

She bought.   Or rather, she put in a contract which, after some negotiation, was accepted by the Sellers.  She’s getting the property she wants — neighborhood, size and amenities — for a fantastic deal.  Plus interest rates are so low that it’s well within her budget.

Are you sitting on the sidelines?  If so, what are you waiting for?

House in Phoenix

My friend, Janet, who lives in Phoenix is planning to buy a house for herself.  Her last two purchases have been investment properties.  This one she’s going to live in.  Janet is very practical, but

“I feel very emotional about this,” she says.

Right.  Is IS emotional. But as long as you throw in some common sense, the decision to buy could be right for you.

Janet is doing it right. She:

1. Already owns her current home outright.
2. Has her emergency fund.
3. Is buying within her financial comfort level.
4. Is planning to live in the house for many years.

She’s working her plan.  It is scary though.  We’re talking about Phoenix –  property values have gone down tremendously in the past year.  There is a possibility values may continue go down in the next year. It won’t matter to her because she’ll still be in the house when they rise.

If you are thinking about buying, are you working your plan?  Are you keeping your wits about you, while at the same time realizing it is emotional?