The High Cost of Waiting To Buy a Home

By Scott Ostrode

Scott has been a licensed Realtor since 1998. In 2003 he joined Keller Williams Realty and in 2007 he formed Team Ostrode Properties. Scott grew up in Sacramento and has raised his family in the area as well. Scott’s dedication and exceptional service to his clients has led to being awarded Favorite Realtor by Style Magazine 5 times. He has been recognized as the Top Realtor by the NSBIA 3 times.

If you’ve been keeping an eye on the housing market, you know how expensive homes have become. It’s no secret that mortgage payments can feel overwhelming. I hear it all the time: “I’ll just wait for prices to drop.” The truth is, waiting could end up costing you more. Home values have been steadily increasing, and there’s no indication that this will change anytime soon. The longer you wait, the more you’ll pay—and the more opportunities for building wealth you’ll miss.

Renters, in particular, are missing out. The average renter in the United States has a net worth of just $10,000, while the average homeowner’s net worth is a staggering $415,000. That’s a major gap, and it highlights one of the best ways to grow your wealth—owning a home. Every year you delay buying is a year you aren’t building equity. The sooner you take the step toward homeownership, the better positioned you’ll be to secure your financial future.

I understand that the current prices might give you sticker shock. Many buyers look back at past markets and wish they had bought sooner. But it’s important to realize that every delay makes the dream of homeownership harder to achieve. Buying now means locking in a home at today’s prices and starting to build equity immediately. Sure, the initial cost may feel high, but in the long run, it pays off. Owning a home isn’t just about buying property—it’s about creating stability, building equity, and setting yourself up for financial growth.

If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines, unsure if now is the right time to jump in, it’s time to take that first step. The path to homeownership may seem daunting, but with the right guidance, it’s entirely achievable. Don’t wait for prices to drop, because they likely won’t. Instead, take action now, start building your wealth, and secure your future.

If you’d like to discuss how to make homeownership work for you, feel free to call me at (916) 900 1880 or send me an email at scott@teamostrode.com.