Buy Now or Wait? How to Evaluate Timing in the Sacramento Market
- Don Stocker
- Nov 13
- 3 min read
I’ve written about this topic before — more than once, actually — and there’s a reason I keep coming back to it.
Homeownership isn’t just a financial decision to me. It’s a life decision. It’s stability. It’s belonging. It’s the quiet confidence that you are building something for yourself, step by step, year by year.
And if you’ve followed my writing for any length of time, you already know this:
I genuinely believe that if a buyer can afford to buy now, they should at least seriously consider it.
Not out of pressure.
Not out of fear of missing out.
But because opportunities come in cycles — and this cycle, right now, is giving buyers something rare: space.
Space to think.
Space to choose.
Space to negotiate.
Space to make a decision from a grounded, empowered place.
That’s not something every market offers.
Let’s talk about what’s actually happening.
Sacramento’s market has shifted into a calmer, more balanced rhythm. The frenzy is gone, and in its place is something more honest, more human, more buyer-friendly.
More inventory that actually gives you options.
Longer days on market so you’re not forced into snap decisions.
More negotiation room — credits, repairs, buy-downs — all returning to the conversation.
Less competition in many price bands.
This kind of market doesn’t stick around forever.
When the next rate drop happens — and it will — the doors will swing open and everyone will try to push through at the same time again.
Today isn’t that.
Today is the opposite.
Today is your moment of clarity.
So… buy now or wait?
Here’s the truth I give my own clients, my friends, and my neighbors:
Buying now makes sense if:
You can comfortably afford the payment
You want the freedom to negotiate better terms
You want more homes to choose from instead of fighting for one
You’re building your life here for the next few years
You value the stability that comes with planting roots
I’ve watched so many people who “waited for the perfect time” get priced out, pushed out, or stressed out when the market shifted faster than they expected.
I don’t want that for you.
If you can afford it — if the numbers work and the timing in your life works — I will always be an advocate for ownership.
Not because I’m in real estate.
But because I’ve seen, again and again, how life-changing it becomes for people.
Waiting makes sense if:
You’re unsure about the area or lifestyle you want
You’re still aligning your financial picture
You’re buying from a place of pressure, not readiness
Homeownership shouldn’t be rushed.
But it also shouldn’t be postponed out of fear, especially in a moment of opportunity.
About interest rates…
People get anxious about rates — and I get it. But here’s the truth I’ve written about before and still believe:
You date the rate. You marry the home.
Rates shift. Markets shift. Life shifts.
But the right home — the one that fits your lifestyle, your peace, your future — that’s the part that stays with you.
Buy the right home now.
Refinance when the timing makes sense.
Build stability while the rest of the market waits to make a move.
Meanwhile, competition stays low — until the next rate drop, when everyone else jumps in again.
So the real question becomes: how do YOU want to live?
Do you want a Midtown morning walk to your favorite café?
Do you want a Land Park backyard where your dog can run?
Do you want the comfort of knowing your payment isn’t going to rise with rent?
Do you want to personalize your space without asking permission?
Sacramento isn’t just a market to me.
It’s home.
It’s neighborhoods with character, people with heart, and homes waiting for their next story.
And I believe that if you’re ready — truly ready — there is no better time than right now to step into that story.
If you’re unsure, let’s explore — no pressure, no timeline.
Here’s what we can do together:
Walk neighborhoods you’re curious about
Talk through the numbers in a simple, clear way
Look at homes without expectation
Map out what “ready” feels like for you
I’m not here to push you.
I’m here to guide you — at your pace — toward a decision that feels aligned with your life, your goals, and your future.
If buying now makes sense, we’ll walk that path.
If waiting is better, I’ll tell you honestly.
Either way, you’ll leave the conversation with clarity.
Whenever you’re ready, I’m here.
916-203-2882
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