Should You Wait or Buy Now? A Realistic Look at the 2025 Housing Market
With mortgage rates fluctuating, home prices shifting, and economic uncertainty in the air, it’s no surprise that many potential buyers are asking the same question: Should I wait or buy now?
As a mortgage loan officer working in Central Texas, I hear this question daily—and while there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, there are several key factors to consider when deciding what’s best for you in 2025.
Let’s take a look at the current housing market trends and the pros and cons of buying now versus waiting.
1. Mortgage Rates in 2025: Where Are They Now? After rising significantly in 2023 and 2024, mortgage rates have begun to stabilize in early 2025. The average rate over the past three weeks has roughly been between 6.6% and 6.9%. While still higher than the historically low rates seen during the pandemic, current rates are no longer climbing at the pace they once were.
What This Means for Buyers:
Rates may not drop dramatically in the short term, however policy shifts could cause rates to lower.
Waiting could mean missing out on today’s stability if inflation or policy shifts cause rates to rise again.
2. Home Prices: Cooling, But Not Crashing Home prices in Texas and across the country have started to level off. In many areas, including parts of Central Texas, price growth has slowed, giving buyers more negotiation power than they had in recent years.
What This Means for Buyers:
Buying now could mean getting into a home before prices trend upward again.
More inventory means more options and less competition.
3. Rent Prices Are Still Rising If you're currently renting, the cost of waiting could mean continuing to pay more in rent without building equity. In most areas, rent is increasing faster than mortgage payments.
What This Means for Buyers:
Buying a home now can help you lock in a monthly payment and start building wealth through equity.
4. Market Conditions Favor Prepared Buyers Sellers are more open to negotiations in 2025. We're seeing more seller-paid closing costs, fewer bidding wars, and even price reductions in some markets.
What This Means for Buyers:
If you’re financially ready, now is a strong time to negotiate better terms.
You may be able to buy with less upfront cash or reduced closing costs.
5. Reasons You Might Wait There are valid reasons why waiting may be the right move for some:
If your credit score or savings needs improvement
If you expect a better job opportunity or income increase soon
If you’re not planning to stay in one place for at least 3–5 years
In these cases, waiting strategically and preparing now can set you up for success later.
The Right Time to Buy Depends on You There’s no perfect moment to buy a home—only the right moment for your financial situation, goals, and timeline. If you’re ready to settle down, lock in housing costs, and start building equity, the 2025 market is offering more flexibility and opportunity than we’ve seen in years.
📞 Not sure what makes sense for you? Schedule a free 30-minute consultation with me and let’s walk through your options together. You can secure your spot HERE!
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Bryan Scott
P: 512-864-4866
E: bscott@gfmortgages.com