{"id":21330,"date":"2025-10-17T18:52:36","date_gmt":"2025-10-17T22:52:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/2025\/10\/17\/finding-a-house-now\/"},"modified":"2025-10-17T18:52:37","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T22:52:37","slug":"finding-a-house-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/2025\/10\/17\/finding-a-house-now\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding a house now"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction to the Current Housing Market<\/h2>\n

By the numbers, things are looking better for home buyers this fall. Active listings are up. Mortgage rates are down. October mortgage rates may drop, too, thanks to a widely expected cut to the federal funds rate at this month\u2019s Federal Reserve meeting. In fact, the economists at Realtor.com say Oct. 12-18 will be the best week to buy a house all year, pointing to friendlier trends in inventory, competition and seasonal price cuts.<\/p>\n

Challenges in the Housing Market<\/h2>\n

Still, that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s easy out there. Despite recent growth, inventory is still 13% below pre-pandemic levels. As the market improves, what\u2019s still standing in the way of today\u2019s buyers? When hopes are high and your budget is tight, how do you know when to compromise? <\/p>\n

Real-Life Examples of Home Buyers<\/h2>\n

I asked a couple of active house hunters to find out. <\/p>\n

Jessica: \u201cWhen am I being too particular?\u201d<\/h3>\n

Jessica Galvanek, 32, has been searching for a home in Pittsburgh for about a year and a half. She recently left her job as a mail carrier to work for her partner\u2019s family business, an auto repair shop.
\nThe couple is house-hunting together with a maximum budget of $350,000. The median listing price in Pittsburgh is $269,000, according to Realtor.com.
\nGalvanek\u2019s dream home is a prewar charmer from the 1930s (or earlier), with original woodwork, pastel tile and her one absolute must-have: radiators.
\nBut that\u2019s been harder to find than the pair expected. Their price range is overrun with cheap, graywashed flips that strip any remaining character from older homes. Then there\u2019s the corporate investors.
\n\u201cThey don\u2019t even live here, or they\u2019re not even relevant to the local community,\u201d Galvanek says.
\nA 2024 University of Pittsburgh report found that national real estate firms have rapidly expanded their holdings in Allegheny County. Three companies bought more than 900 homes there since 2019, which made up a large portion of acquisitions in many Pittsburgh area communities.
\nCorporate real estate firms seek out properties at an entry-level price point, outbidding local buyers or paying cash. Then, they turn would-be starter homes into single-family rentals instead, squeezing out first-time home buyers like Galvanek.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t feel like these people who have \u2026 infinite amounts of money should be able to come in and just tear apart all of the \u2018affordable\u2019 homes just so they could make some extra money,\u201d she says.
\nLast month, the couple lost a bidding war. They don\u2019t know who won yet, but that\u2019s the way it goes. Until then, their search continues.
\n\u201cWhat happens if we\u2019re looking for a home for like three, four, five, 10 years?\u201d she asks. \u201cLike, when am I being too particular?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hannah: \u201cA place where everyone can congregate.\u201d<\/h3>\n

Hannah Kinney, 33, was on the move for a few years, but now she\u2019s ready to put roots down near her core friend group in Des Moines. With relatives hours away, they\u2019ve become each other\u2019s chosen family.
\nKinney\u2019s budget is about $250,000, slightly above Des Moines\u2019 median listing price of $235,000, according to Realtor.com.
\nHer dream home: A mid-century modern with good bones and plenty of space for hosting.
\n\u201cWith grandparents and those older generations starting to pass away, I\u2019m really trying to have a place where everyone can congregate,\u201d she says.
\nKinney owned a home before, but she sold it after a breakup during the COVID-19 pandemic. With today\u2019s higher prices and mortgage rates, she can tell her money isn\u2019t stretching as far as it did when she bought her first house. So, Kinney earns extra income wherever she can. For starters, she dog-sits regularly.
\n\u201cI picked up that side hustle through word of mouth from my main 9-to-5 job,\u201d she says. \u201cAnd, trying to do other things, like donating plasma to be able to cover my grocery expenses.\u201d
\nSo far, Kinney has had one offer accepted, but the home inspection came back with issues top to bottom: a bat infestation in the attic and foundation issues in the basement. It was devastating to walk away.
\n\u201cI could see myself entertaining there, and I kind of let my feelings run wild,\u201d she says.
\nAt the advice of a friend, Kinney says she now treats her house hunt like a job interview \u2014 envisioning her future there, but remaining emotionally detached.<\/p>\n

Advice from Home Buyers<\/h2>\n

Their Advice: Don\u2019t Settle<\/h3>\n

Despite the heartbreak, the buyers I interviewed haven\u2019t lost hope. They\u2019d rather hunker down through a grueling search than settle for a house that doesn\u2019t feel like the right fit.
\n\u201cI can\u2019t fathom spending, like, hundreds of thousands of dollars on something that I don\u2019t even want,\u201d Galvanek says.
\nAnother thing you shouldn\u2019t compromise on is finding the right buyer\u2019s agent. The best ones have market expertise to close a good deal, and the patience to keep you grounded when you don\u2019t.
\nGalvanek said she and her partner parted ways with their original agent, who didn\u2019t share their passion for preserving older homes.<\/p>\n

My Advice: Listen to Your Gut<\/h3>\n

I\u2019m a real estate writer, and as of last year, a first-time homeowner. So I\u2019ve both given and received this advice: A \u201cgood enough\u201d house still gets your foot in the door.
\nThat saying is easily misunderstood, though. It\u2019s not about settling \u2014 it\u2019s a prompt to understand your values. What does \u201cgood enough\u201d mean to you?
\nTo find a place near friends, would you be willing to look at townhomes or condos instead of single-family homes? If you want an older home with character, are you willing to put work into a fixer-upper?
\nIf the answer is \u201cno,\u201d then how long are you willing to keep house hunting?
\nThose are questions only you can answer. Once you do, when the right place comes along, you\u2019ll feel it in your gut.
\nAs of press time, Galvanek and Kinney are still looking.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

The journey to finding a home can be long and arduous, filled with setbacks and disappointments. However, with persistence, the right mindset, and a clear understanding of what you’re looking for, you can find a home that truly feels like yours.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n