Is now the Right TIme

People often ask me one of the simplest—and most difficult—questions in real estate:

Is now the right time to buy or sell?

My honest answer...

It depends.

I know that isn't the simple answer most people are hoping for, but it's the honest one.

Real estate isn't one-size-fits-all. The right decision depends on your finances, your goals, your timeline, your family, and what you're trying to accomplish.

The same market can create an incredible opportunity for one person while making it the wrong time for someone else.

That's why I spend more time asking questions than giving quick answers.

The Market Doesn't Tell You What to Do

The market provides information.

It doesn't make decisions.

People often ask whether we're in a buyer's market or a seller's market. The truth is that every market creates opportunities—it just depends on who you are and what you're trying to accomplish.

Today's market is different than it was just a few years ago.

• Homes are generally taking longer to sell.
• Interest rates are higher.
• Buyers have more negotiating power.
• Seller concessions have become common again.

Those changes may sound challenging, but challenges often create opportunities.

If You're Thinking About Buying

Many buyers have been waiting for interest rates to come down. That's understandable because monthly payments matter.

But there's another side to today's market.

Many buyers now have opportunities they didn't have during the highly competitive market of 2020 through 2022.

• You may have time to think before making an offer.
• You may be able to negotiate repairs.
• You may receive seller concessions to help with closing costs.
• You may even be able to negotiate an interest rate buydown.

Just a few years ago, buyers were competing against multiple offers, waiving inspections, and paying above asking price simply to have a chance.

Today's market often gives buyers something incredibly valuable:

Time.

Time to think.

Time to negotiate.

Time to make good decisions.

If You're Thinking About Selling

Many homeowners ask me if they've “missed the market.”

I don't usually think that's the right question.

Instead, I ask:

• What are you trying to accomplish?
• Are you relocating?
• Downsizing?
• Moving closer to family?
• Buying another home?
• Selling an inherited property?

Every seller has a different goal.

Sometimes maximizing the sales price is the right strategy.

Other times, selling a little sooner, reducing stress, or coordinating your move is actually the better financial decision.

Success isn't just measured by the highest sales price. Success is accomplishing your goal.

My Philosophy on Homeownership

I don't believe everyone should buy a home.

Renting is the right decision for some people.

Waiting is the right decision for some people.

Buying is the right decision for others.

However, I do believe that when you can comfortably afford a home and buying fits your life and long-term goals, homeownership has historically been one of the strongest ways to build financial stability.

Not because home values increase every year.

They don't.

Markets rise.

Markets fall.

Life happens.

But over long periods of time, homeowners have generally benefited from building equity while enjoying the stability of owning a place to call home.

For many families, their home becomes the cornerstone of their financial future.

Don't Let Headlines Make Your Decision

Every day, someone predicts what's about to happen.

• Interest rates are going up.
• Interest rates are coming down.
• Prices are crashing.
• Prices are soaring.

The reality is that no one knows exactly what tomorrow will bring.

If they did, we'd all make perfect financial decisions.

Instead of trying to predict the future, I encourage my clients to focus on what they can control.

Ask yourself:

• Can you comfortably afford the payment?
• Will buying improve your quality of life?
• Do you expect to stay long enough for homeownership to make financial sense?

If those answers are yes, today's market may already be the right market for you.

So... Is Now the Right Time?

Maybe.

Maybe not.

The answer isn't determined by the calendar.

It's determined by your circumstances.

That's why I don't begin our conversations with market statistics.

I begin by listening.

Once I understand your goals, your concerns, and your options, we can decide together whether now is the right time—or whether waiting is the smarter choice.

Either answer is perfectly okay.

Let's Talk

You don't need to have everything figured out before reaching out.

Whether you're thinking about buying, selling, or simply wondering what your options are, I'm happy to have a conversation.

No pressure.

No sales pitch.

Just honest advice based on your situation and your goals.

My job isn't to convince you to buy.

My job isn't to convince you to sell.

My job is to help you understand your options so you can make a decision you'll still feel good about years from now.

Jesse Lapham
Realty Executives Arizona Territory

Because the best real estate decisions aren't made by following the market—they're made by understanding your options.