What’s Your House Worth Now? The Answer May Surprise You
Let’s talk about something you might not check nearly as often as your bank account – and that’s how much your home is worth. But when it comes to your financial situation, it’s an important thing to remember. When’s the last time you had a professional show you the value of your home?
Think about it. For most people, your house is probably the biggest asset you have. And if you’ve owned your home for a few years (or longer), chances are it’s been quietly building wealth for you in the background. And honestly? You might be surprised by just how much.
What Is Home Equity?
This wealth you may not even realize you have comes in the form of home equity. Home equity is the difference between what your house is worth and what you still owe on your mortgage. It grows over time as home values rise and as you pay down your mortgage each month. Here’s an example to help you really understand how this works.
Let’s say your house is now worth $500,000, and you have $200,000 left to pay off on your loan. That means you have $300,000 in equity. And most homeowners are sitting on some pretty significant equity right now.
According to Cotality (formerly CoreLogic), the average homeowner with a mortgage has about $311,000 in equity.
Why You Probably Have More Than You Think
If you’ve been holding off on selling your h
Here are the two main reasons homeowners like you have record amounts of equity right now:
1. Significant Home Price Growth. According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), home prices have jumped by more than 57% nationwide over the last five years (see map below):
ouse because you think buyers aren’t out there, let this reassure you – there are still buyers looking to buy.
每天都有成千上万的人需要买房。因此，尽管较高的房价和抵押贷款利率使市场放缓，并迫使一些买家观望，但这并不意味着市场不活跃。许多购房者仍然急于出手，因为生活不会等待完美的市场条件。
当其他犹豫不决的房主还在因为担心买家需求消失而暂停他们的计划时，有合适的代理在您身边，您就可以将您的房子展现在这些买家面前。让我们帮您把房子卖出去。
And if you purchased your home a few years ago (or more), this means your house is likely worth much more now than when you first bought it, thanks to how much prices have climbed lately.
2. People Are Living in Their Homes Longer. Data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), shows the average homeowner stays in their home for about 10 years now (see graph below):
That’s longer than it used to be. And over that decade? You’ve built equity just by making your mortgage payments and riding the wave of rising home values.
So, if you’re one of those people who’s been in their home for that long, here’s how much the behind-the-scenes price growth has helped you out. According to NAR:
“Over the past decade, the typical homeowner has accumulated $201,600 in wealth solely from price appreciation.”
What Could You Actually Do with That Equity?
Remember, your house might be your biggest financial asset – and, if you’re smart about how you leverage your equity, it could open up some exciting opportunities for your future.
- Use it to help buy your next home. Your equity could help you cover the down payment on your next home. In some cases, it might even mean you can buy your next house in all cash.
- Renovate your current house to better suit your life now. And, if you’re strategic about your projects, they could add even more value to your home if you do sell later on.
- Start the business you’ve always dreamed of. Your equity could be exactly what you need for startup costs, equipment, or marketing. And that could help increase your earning potential, so you’re getting yet another financial boost.
底线
Chances are, your house is worth a lot more than you realize. Whether you’re thinking about selling, upgrading, or simply want to understand your options, your equity isn’t just a number. It’s a tool.
If you sold your house and had significant equity to work with, what would you do with it? Let’s figure out how to turn your home’s value into your next big move.