Time in the Market Beats Timing the Market

Published on

February 12, 2025

Suburban Street in residential neighborhood

Trying to decide whether it makes more sense to buy a home now or wait? There’s a lot to consider, from what’s happening in the market to your changing needs. But generally speaking, trying to time the market isn’t a great strategy, there are too many unpredictable factors at play to make it possible.

That’s why real estate experts often say, time in the market is better than timing the market.

As trusted local lenders at Lend Mortgage Solutions, a local mortgage brokerage, we work with homebuyers every day who are wondering if now is the right time to buy. Here’s why making your move sooner rather than later could be a smart financial decision.

If you’re in a position to buy and can make the numbers work, purchasing a home now could be a powerful financial move. Bankrate explains why:

“No matter which way the real estate market is leaning, though, buying now means you can start building equity immediately.”

And that’s key: building equity is one of the biggest benefits of homeownership. Instead of paying rent and building your landlord’s wealth, you’ll be investing in your own future.

Here’s some data to break this down so you can really see the benefit of buying now versus later – if you’re able to.

Each quarter, Fannie Mae releases the Home Price Expectations Survey. (HPES), which gathers insights from over 100 economists, real estate experts, and market strategists. Their latest projections show that home prices will continue to rise through at least 2029—though at a more normal, steady pace compared to the last few years.

(see the graph below):

Graph showing estimated home price performance from 2024 estimated to 2029

What does that mean for you?

Let’s break it down with a real-world example. If you purchase a $400,000 home in early 2025, here’s how much you could gain in home equity over the next five years based on expert forecasts:

Potential Home Equity Growth by 2030:

$83,000+ in household wealth

Graph showing potential home price app appreciation from 2025 to 2030Ready to Move Forward?
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