When Is the Right Time to Buy a House?
Waiting for interest rates to drop before buying a home? Here’s why that strategy is costing you equity and limiting your options in Madison’s real estate market. I hear it almost every day: “I’m waiting for interest rates to hit <insert %> before I buy.” I get it. Nobody wants to overpay, and interest rates feel like this big scary number that controls everything. But here’s the hard truth - waiting for the “perfect” interest rate is probably costing you way more money than you think.
You’re not buying an interest rate, you’re buying a home. Let’s talk about what’s actually happening while you sit on the sidelines waiting for rates to drop.
Home prices are going up. Home prices in Madison, WI, have significantly increased since 2020, with the average single-family home value jumping from around $315,000 in 2020 to approximately $481,000 by 2024/2025, representing roughly a 52% rise in average values, Every month you wait, that dream home gets more expensive. You can’t refinance the purchase price.
You’re building someone else’s equity.
Every rent check you write is money you’ll never see again. Meanwhile, homeowners are building equity with every payment—even at higher interest rates. Inventory is disappearing. The homes available today might not be available tomorrow. I’ve watched buyers lose out on perfect properties because they were waiting for some magical rate that may never come.
Your life is happening now.
Whether it’s starting a family, getting a dog, having space to work from home, or just feeling settled—these moments matter. The memories you make in your home aren’t contingent on your interest rate.
But What About Refinancing?
Here’s the part people forget: you can refinance your rate, but you can’t refinance your purchase price.
Let’s say rates drop in two years. Great! You refinance and lower your payment. But if you waited those two years to buy, you paid $40,000 more for the same house, you threw away $30,000 in rent, and you missed out on two years of equity building. The math doesn’t work in your favor.
So When IS the Right Time to Buy?
The right time to buy a house is when you are READY, WILLING AND ABLE.
Ready: You’re emotionally and mentally prepared for homeownership.
Willing: You want the stability, the investment, the space.
Able: You have the financial means, the down payment saved, and your credit in order
That’s it. Not when rates hit some arbitrary number. Not when your friend tells you it’s a good time. When YOU are ready.
What About Madison’s Market Right Now?
Madison home prices continue rising modestly, with the median price at $479,475 in November 2025, up 2% from the previous year Madison Real Estate. The average home value is around $413,037, up 2.2% over the past year Zillow, and homes are selling for a median of $422K Redfin depending on the data source.
2026 Forcast - Local experts predict:
Home supply will increase by 10%, with condo supply growing by 20% Madison Real Estate
Mortgage rates will trend in the low to mid 6% range Madison Real Estate
Home prices will increase 3-5%, while condo prices will rise 2-4% Madison Real Estate
Home and condo sales will increase 5-10% Madison Real Estate
Madison remains a strong market supported by stable employment from major employers like UW-Madison, Epic Systems, and state government. The market is transitioning to more sustainable, moderate growth after years of rapid appreciation.
The Bottom Line
In five years, you won’t remember if you bought at 6% or 6.5%. But you will remember the moment you got your keys. You’ll remember your first night in your own home. You’ll remember building something that’s yours. Interest rates are just one piece of the puzzle—and not even the most important piece.
Ready to stop waiting and start looking?
I’d love to help you figure out what you can afford, what’s available in the Madison area, and whether now is the right time for YOUR situation—not what some headline says.
Contact me for a free buyer consultation → Click Here
Redefine Success
It All Begins Here
Confidence doesn’t always arrive with a bold entrance. Sometimes, it builds quietly, step by step, as we show up for ourselves day after day. It grows when we choose to try, even when we’re unsure of the outcome. Every time you take action despite self-doubt, you reinforce the belief that you’re capable. Confidence isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about trusting that you can figure it out along the way.
The key to making things happen isn’t waiting for the perfect moment; it’s starting with what you have, where you are. Big goals can feel overwhelming when viewed all at once, but momentum builds through small, consistent action. Whether you’re working toward a personal milestone or a professional dream, progress comes from showing up — not perfectly, but persistently. Action creates clarity, and over time, those steps forward add up to something real.
You don’t need to be fearless to reach your goals, you just need to be willing. Willing to try, willing to learn, and willing to believe that you’re capable of more than you know. The road may not always be smooth, but growth rarely is. What matters most is that you keep going, keep learning, and keep believing in the version of yourself you’re becoming.
Small Steps Create Big Shifts
It All Begins Here
Confidence doesn’t always arrive with a bold entrance. Sometimes, it builds quietly, step by step, as we show up for ourselves day after day. It grows when we choose to try, even when we’re unsure of the outcome. Every time you take action despite self-doubt, you reinforce the belief that you’re capable. Confidence isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about trusting that you can figure it out along the way.
The key to making things happen isn’t waiting for the perfect moment; it’s starting with what you have, where you are. Big goals can feel overwhelming when viewed all at once, but momentum builds through small, consistent action. Whether you’re working toward a personal milestone or a professional dream, progress comes from showing up — not perfectly, but persistently. Action creates clarity, and over time, those steps forward add up to something real.
You don’t need to be fearless to reach your goals, you just need to be willing. Willing to try, willing to learn, and willing to believe that you’re capable of more than you know. The road may not always be smooth, but growth rarely is. What matters most is that you keep going, keep learning, and keep believing in the version of yourself you’re becoming.
Turn Intention Into Action
It All Begins Here
Confidence doesn’t always arrive with a bold entrance. Sometimes, it builds quietly, step by step, as we show up for ourselves day after day. It grows when we choose to try, even when we’re unsure of the outcome. Every time you take action despite self-doubt, you reinforce the belief that you’re capable. Confidence isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about trusting that you can figure it out along the way.
The key to making things happen isn’t waiting for the perfect moment; it’s starting with what you have, where you are. Big goals can feel overwhelming when viewed all at once, but momentum builds through small, consistent action. Whether you’re working toward a personal milestone or a professional dream, progress comes from showing up — not perfectly, but persistently. Action creates clarity, and over time, those steps forward add up to something real.
You don’t need to be fearless to reach your goals, you just need to be willing. Willing to try, willing to learn, and willing to believe that you’re capable of more than you know. The road may not always be smooth, but growth rarely is. What matters most is that you keep going, keep learning, and keep believing in the version of yourself you’re becoming.
Make Room for Growth
It All Begins Here
Confidence doesn’t always arrive with a bold entrance. Sometimes, it builds quietly, step by step, as we show up for ourselves day after day. It grows when we choose to try, even when we’re unsure of the outcome. Every time you take action despite self-doubt, you reinforce the belief that you’re capable. Confidence isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about trusting that you can figure it out along the way.
The key to making things happen isn’t waiting for the perfect moment; it’s starting with what you have, where you are. Big goals can feel overwhelming when viewed all at once, but momentum builds through small, consistent action. Whether you’re working toward a personal milestone or a professional dream, progress comes from showing up — not perfectly, but persistently. Action creates clarity, and over time, those steps forward add up to something real.
You don’t need to be fearless to reach your goals, you just need to be willing. Willing to try, willing to learn, and willing to believe that you’re capable of more than you know. The road may not always be smooth, but growth rarely is. What matters most is that you keep going, keep learning, and keep believing in the version of yourself you’re becoming.