I wish I had a crystal ball to answer this question that every buyer in Fort Mill, Waxhaw, and the Charlotte metro area asks me. The truth is, nobody knows for sure what's going to happen withprices or rates in the short term, despite what you might read in headlines. Here's what we do know about our local Charlotte metro market: we have strong population growth, limited land for development, and good job growth. These fundamentals support continued demand for housing in areas like Ballantyne, Indian Land, and Weddington

Even if price growth slows down, significant price drops are unlikely unless we see major economic problemsor people start leaving our area in large numbers. Interest rates are influenced by federal policy, inflation, and global economic conditions – factors way beyond our local market. The Federal Reserve has been trying to control inflation, which has pushed rates higher. They could come down if inflation moderates, but predicting the timing is impossible. Even mortgage professionals who do this for a living get rate predictions wrong regularly

Here's my practical advice: don't try to time the market. If you're financially ready to buy and plan to stay in the area for several years, focus on finding the right home in places like Marvin or Pineville rather than trying to predict market timing. If you wait for rates to drop, prices might go up due to increased demand. If you wait for prices to drop, you might miss out on years of building equity and be priced out if your income doesn't keep pace. The "right time" to buy is when you're financially prepared, have stable income, and found a home you love in an area where you want to live

Whether that's in Fort Mill today or Waxhaw next year, focus on your personal situation rather than trying to outsmart the market. The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, but the second-best time is today.