May 13, 2022
Property Management Tips
RYPM
If you’re following along with the news today, you’ve likely heard about rising inflation. You’re also likely
feeling the impact in your day-to-day life as prices go up for gas, groceries, and more. These rising
consumer costs can put a pinch on your wallet and make you re-evaluate any big purchases you have
planned to ensure they’re still worthwhile.
If you’ve been thinking about purchasing a home this year, you’re probably wondering if you should
continue down that path or if it makes more sense to wait. While the answer depends on your situation,
here’s how homeownership can help you combat the rising costs that come with inflation.
Homeownership Offers Stability and Security
Investopedia explains that during a period of high inflation, prices rise across the board. That’s true for
things like food, entertainment, and other goods and services, even housing. Both rental prices and
home prices are on the rise. So, as a buyer, how can you protect yourself from increasing costs? The
answer lies in homeownership.
Buying a home allows you to stabilize what’s typically your biggest monthly expense: your housing cost.
If you get a fixed-rate mortgage on your home, you lock in your monthly payment for the duration of
your loan, often 15 to 30 years. James Royal, Senior Wealth Management Reporter at Bankrate, says:
“A fixed-rate mortgage allows you to maintain the biggest portion of housing expenses at the same
payment. Sure, property taxes will rise and other expenses may creep up, but your monthly housing
payment remains the same.”
So even if other prices rise, your housing payment will be a reliable amount that can help keep your
budget in check. If you rent, you don’t have that same benefit, and you won’t be protected from rising
housing costs.
Use Home Price Appreciation to Your Benefit
While it’s true rising mortgage rates and home prices mean buying a house today costs more than it did
a year ago, you still have an opportunity to set yourself up for a long-term win. Buying now lets you lock
in at today’s rates and prices before both climb higher.
In inflationary times, it’s especially important to invest your money in an asset that traditionally holds or
grows in value. The graph below shows how home price appreciation outperformed inflation in most
decades going all the way back to the seventies – making homeownership a historically strong hedge
against inflation (see graph below):
How Homeownership Can Help Shield You from Inflation | Keeping Current Matters
So, what does that mean for you? Today, experts say home prices will only go up from here thanks to the
ongoing imbalance in supply and demand. Once you buy a house, any home price appreciation that does
occur will be good for your equity and your net worth. And since homes are typically assets that grow in
value (even in inflationary times), you have peace of mind that history shows your investment is a strong
one.
Bottom Line
If you’re ready to buy a home, it may make sense to move forward with your plans despite rising
inflation. If you want expert advice on your specific situation and how to time your purchase, a trusted
real estate advisor can help.