Is Now a Good Time to Buy a Home in Central Oregon?

I'm Holli Cobb, a REALTOR® with REAL Broker in Redmond, and "is now a good time to buy" is close to the most common question I get. My honest answer: trying to perfectly time the market is a losing game for almost everyone. A more useful question is whether now is a good time for you, given your actual finances and your actual plans.

It's tempting to sit out and wait for rates to come down. But if rates do drop meaningfully, more buyers tend to come off the sidelines at the same time, which can mean more competition for the same homes. There's no guarantee waiting nets you a better outcome, and there's a real cost to waiting: you can't undo months of rent or a price that moved up while you waited. If rates do drop after you buy, refinancing later is a real option, though it comes with its own costs worth understanding at the time.

Buying now tends to make sense if you plan to stay in the home for several years (real estate works best over time, not as a short-term bet), you've found a home that genuinely fits what you need, and you're comfortable with the monthly payment, not just approved for it. Those three things matter more than trying to guess where rates or prices go next.

Waiting is the right call if your job situation is uncertain, you're not financially ready, or you know you're likely to move again soon. This isn't just a market decision, it's a life decision, and there's no shame in saying you're not there yet.

Rather than guessing at what the market will do, I'd rather look at your specific situation, what you're comfortable spending, what's actually available right now, and help you decide from there. Get in touch and we'll talk through where you stand, or start with how I help you buy a home.