Homeownership has long been seen as a big part of achieving the American dream. And that hasn’t changed, according to recent data from the National Association of Realtors. An analysis of their Housing Opportunities and Market Experience survey found that 87 percent of non-homeowners said they want to one day own a home of their own and 80 percent of all respondents said homeownership was part of their American dream.
So what are some of the concerns that keep people from pursing their dream of homeownership? Well the number one answer was affordability, followed by people who need the flexibility of renting. But there are also Americans that have postponed buying a home because of misconceptions they have about the buying process and what is required financially. For example, nearly 9 out of 10 survey participants said a down payment of 10 percent or more was required to buy a house which is untrue. In fact, the median down payment for first-time buyers has been 6 percent for the past three years, while repeat buyers put down closer to 14 percent.
Current non-owners may be closer to fulfilling their homeownership dreams than they think. There are lots of mortgage options with smaller down payments available for buyers with good credit and manageable levels of debt. First time buyers should contact a professional Realtor to learn about their options.
This advertisement is provided by Jennifer Bixby, the broker for Don Peterson and Associates Real Estate, 100 E. 6th St. Jennifer can be reached at 402-721-9700 for answers to questions regarding real estate.