Part 2 - Why NOW is the Time to Buy!

Let's not forget, the house you buy is a home first and an investment second. After surviving the past couple years and the economic recession, Americans' priorities are shifting. Where years before we may have looked at our home as a status symbol, today many Americans are grateful for having a roof over their head. It's back to basics for many people, where having a job, steady income and the safety net of your house is enough. The net worth of American households droped $14 trillion dollars during this recession. That's not a typo, that's a "t" for TRILLION. This will have a long lasting effect on us for years to come, long after we recover.

With at times over 10% of the population unemployed, millions of homes being foreclosed on, the credit crunch and fear of the unknown, many individuals and families have moved back toward more intrinsic values and wanting to find meaning in our lives. Many people have found comfort and compatibility in family and friends gathering around the home instead of traveling on vacation or going out for meals.

Home is our comfort zone and while it is an important investment, the focus should not be entirely on the cost of the house, the tax benefits or building equity. It also needs to be balanced with all of the the fulfilling experiences that come with owning your own home.