By Ron Schildknecht, Association Executive, Greater Texoma Association of REALTORS®
I was visiting with some of my Texoma Realtor® friends the other day, and the topic of the slow national economy came up. In our discussion, we talked about why some people find it so difficult to make the decision to buy a home when we have good inventories of very nice homes for sale in every community in Texas. And, the interest rates on home mortgages are at historic lows. As I write this, the interest rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage is about 4.25 percent and even lower on 15-year loans.
It seems that there are all kinds of excuses to avoid making a buying decision. People rationalize almost any reason to keep living in rental houses or houses that they have outgrown. If you are considering buying a home and really can’t make yourself pick up the telephone and call a Realtor®, I thought maybe I could help with some ready-made excuses to justify your inaction. Here is my:
Top Ten List of “Year-Round” Reasons NOT to Buy a Home:
1. Texas has had the hottest summer in over 50 years. It is simply TOO HOT to look at houses. (Note
to self: It gets hot every summer in Texas.)
2. Gee, it has been really cold lately. It is simply TOO COLD to look at houses. (Note to self: Even people in Texas can wear coats and all cars and houses have heaters.)
3. It’s been so dry for this time of year, I have to water my yard and garden, so I couldn’t possibly look at houses this month. (Note to self: Plants do not know if you are home or not and don’t hold grudges, so it IS possible to sneak away for a while to shop for a house.)
… It’s TOO HOT to look at houses …
4. Wow, it has been raining a lot lately. It is simply TOO RAINY to look at houses. (Note to self: No one has melted from a Texas rain … yet.)
5. School is just starting, and I have to get the kids ready.
You know, back-to-school shopping and all. It’s more important for my kids to look good than have a place to call home. (Note to self: School starts every year in Texas.)
6. School is getting out soon for the summer. I’m just TOO BUSY to look at houses. (Note to self: If you have children, when aren’t you busy?)
7. The Holidays are just around the corner. I can’t possibly look at houses because of all the shopping I still have to finish. (Note to self: When was the last time you cancelled the Holidays because you did not finish shopping?)
8. The Holidays just passed, and I am simply TOO FAR BEHIND IN EVERYTHING to have time. I cannot possibly look at houses NOW. (Note to self: What better time to find your next home than before school lets out, it rains, it gets too cold, or it gets too hot?)
9. The interest rates are at record lows. If I wait long enough, the rates will be at record, record lows. Maybe I will be lucky and catch the interest-rate roller coaster at the absolute bottom of a long slide. (Note to self: Does anyone ever get that lucky?)
10. I hate to tell anyone, but I had a bankruptcy several years ago and couldn’t possibly qualify for a home loan. (Note to self: Talk to a lender, there are loan programs that may work for you.)
… It’s TOO COLD to look at houses …
I could go on and on with excuses, but the point is that we all have priorities in our lives, and diversions arise everyday to prevent us from achieving our goals. If one of your goals is to buy a home, without a commitment to buy a home, you will never run out of excuses. People have always lived in some type of home, and most likely, always will. It really doesn’t matter if inventories are high or low, if interest rates are high or low, if home prices are high or low, if the weather is hot or cold, or if school is in session or out, people buy and sell houses every day. Why not set a goal and eliminate the excuses? Contact a Texoma Realtor® and find the home of your dreams today!
For more information on buying or selling a home, without the excuses, contact a member of the Greater Texoma Association of REALTORS® or visit our website at: www.TexomaRealtor.com
Ron Schildknecht, Association Executive, Greater Texoma Association of REALTORS®
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