While walking around my neighborhood this morning, it occurred to me that I commonly think to myself (albeit selfishly) things like, “Ha, I paid less than you,” or “Our house has more square footage at the same price,” maybe even “You totally should have picked the larger lanai, can’t just pour that from bags at Home Depot!” I know, a bit vain, but more about making myself feel better for the choices I made, as opposed to the ones my neighbors may or may not have made.
Now I see houses still being constructed and all I can think is “Wow, my rate must be 2% less than theirs (we closed at the end of December 2021); no way I would want to close on a new purchase now!” A stark contrast from size, options, lots, bags of cement, etc. Now it is more about rates, affordability and thinking
Two years of pandemic time, a purchase market that resembled a 1980’s Van Damme movie (looking at you Bloodsport), rates so low that starter homes were now priced like move-up homes, and lest we forget the rise of QR codes…QR codes! Most people didn’t even know what those were two years ago. Expectations have changed. Access, experience, data when I want it and instant action, all in an easily digestible, friendly format are now the essentials. No longer is it a game of minimums, now it is about essentials, experience, and retention.