Is Waiting Really Saving You Money? Insights from Dave & Travis + Mortgage Perspective from Tracy Ottinger

Before we get into real estate, I had a pretty great excuse to step away for a few days.
I headed down to Seattle for some much-needed grandkid time, and we celebrated my 67th birthday with a Boz Scaggs concert. Yep…67! Not sure how that happened so fast, but I’ll take grandkids, good music, and another trip around the sun any day.

 

Now, back to Alaska real estate.
One question Travis and I continue to hear is:
“Should I buy now, or should I wait for interest rates to come down?”

It’s a fair question, and there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. So this week, we asked Tracy Ottinger to share some thoughts from the mortgage side.

 

One of the biggest questions buyers are asking right now is whether they should wait for rates to come down. While rates have recently moved back near 7%, inventory is also up, new listings are increasing, and sellers are much more willing to negotiate than they were a year ago.

That means buyers today often have more leverage when it comes to price, closing costs, repairs, and seller concessions.

The challenge with waiting is that lower rates don’t just help you they help every buyer currently sitting on the sidelines.

If rates improve, competition could increase, and some of the negotiating power buyers have today may disappear.

For example, a buyer purchasing now may be able to negotiate a price reduction or seller credit worth thousands of dollars. If rates fall later, refinancing may be an option. But if home prices continue to rise or competition increases, it can be much harder to go back and recapture the leverage available today.

If you’re considering waiting, compare the actual numbers first.

Tracy’s Cost of Waiting Calculator can help show how changes in rates, home prices, and timing could affect your long-term cost.

 

 

 

This is where the conversation gets interesting.
Travis and I currently have properties available from $59,000 all the way up to $875,000, across Palmer, Wasilla, Big Lake, and Anchorage.

That variety matters because the decision to buy isn’t just about trying to perfectly time an interest rate.

It’s also about what’s available, what a seller may be willing to negotiate, and whether the right property makes sense for you today.

• 1165 W Mike Street, Palmer — $419,000 | MLS# 26-11265
• 357 N Knapp Drive, Big Lake — $150,000 | MLS# 26-10156
• 17205 E Idle Drive, Palmer — $545,000 | MLS# 26-9808
• 8967 E Wolf Creek Road, Wasilla — $875,000 | MLS# 25-11641
• 640 E Primrose Circle #6A, Palmer — $599,900 | MLS# 26-10860
• 9710 Vanguard Drive #86, Anchorage — $155,900 | MLS# 26-9426
• 3700 S Krisun Drive, Wasilla — $88,000 | MLS# 26-287
• 9111 W Sammie Circle, Wasilla — $59,000 | MLS# 25-13680

For some buyers, waiting may absolutely make sense.
For others, the opportunity could be right now, especially if a seller is willing to help with closing costs, make a price adjustment, or contribute toward an interest-rate buydown.
That’s why we don’t like giving people a blanket answer.

Run the numbers. Look at the homes. See what can be negotiated. Then make the decision based on your situation not just a headline about mortgage rates.

If you’re thinking about buying, selling, or just wondering what the numbers would look like for you, reach out. Travis and I are always happy to talk it through.

 

If selling is even a possibility in the coming months, Travis and I are offering complimentary professional exterior and drone photos to homeowners who may be considering a move.

Why do it now?

Because right now we can still capture the parts of your property that become much harder to showcase once the snow arrives:

• Yard and landscaping
• Driveways and parking areas
• Decks, shops, sheds, and outbuildings
• Acreage and property layout
• Mountain or territorial views

The overall exterior of your home before everything is covered in snow And in just a few weeks, we’ll start seeing even more of those fall colors around Southcentral Alaska.

There’s no cost and no obligation to list your home.

If you decide to sell this winter or in the months ahead, we’ll already have professional exterior photos ready to go. And if your plans change? That’s completely fine too.

Schedule Your Complimentary Photo Session

GET MY FREE EXTERIOR + DRONE PHOTOS

Or simply reply to this email and let us know you’re interested.

Whether you're thinking about moving out of Alaska, buying another home locally, or you're simply not sure what your next step looks like yet, give us a call. We’re always happy to talk through the options.

 

Enjoy these last weeks of summer. Around here, we all know how quickly they go.