picture of home in utah

When I look at the headlines these days—whether it’s about the housing crisis, predictions for 2025, or how people are holding onto their homes longer than ever—I’m reminded of my own journey into real estate. I still remember the nerves I felt when I purchased my first home. It seemed like I was paying an astronomical price, and I kept thinking, “What if I made a huge mistake?” Then came my first rental property. I was paralyzed with fear, constantly wondering, “What if the market crashes? What if property values drop?”

But as they say, hindsight is 20/20. I often find myself wishing I could go back in time and purchase not just one home, but ten. Of course, that wasn’t realistic at the time, but looking back, I truly regret not buying more properties—and buying them sooner. The properties I did purchase have been by far the best investments I’ve ever made.

Don’t get me wrong—I’m not saying you should put all your money into real estate and ignore stocks or bonds. I still believe in the importance of a diverse portfolio. Stocks, bonds, and mutual funds can be great investments, too. But when it comes to steady growth, real estate has a track record that’s hard to beat. I’ve owned a few stocks over the years that are now worth zero, but every piece of real estate I’ve owned has only gone up in value. Even when the market has fluctuated, the values have always rebounded.

I hear a lot of people say they’re waiting for home prices to come down, or hoping that interest rates will drop. It’s understandable, but here’s the thing: if you wait too long, you might miss out on the opportunity altogether. Take my nephew, for example. A few years ago, he was thinking about building a home. The cost of construction had risen sharply, and I suggested that he wait for prices to drop. Thankfully, he didn’t follow my advice. The costs didn’t come down—in fact, they went up even more. If he had waited for the prices to go back to what they were before, he’d still be waiting today.

This experience taught me an important lesson: don’t wait for the “perfect time.” If you’re thinking about getting into the real estate market, whether it’s buying your first home, your second home, or adding investment properties to your portfolio, 2025 might be the perfect time to jump in. Waiting for lower interest rates or hoping for a drop in building costs might leave you waiting for years. The reality is, real estate has historically been one of the best long-term investments you can make—and this year is no exception.

It’s easy to get caught up in the headlines and the uncertainty of the market, but the truth is, real estate tends to go up over time. Sure, there may be some bumps along the way, but over the long haul, it has consistently proven to be a strong investment. I’m glad I didn’t let my initial fears or doubts hold me back when I made my first purchase. If you’re in a position to buy, my advice is simple: go for it. Don’t wait for the “perfect” moment. If you’ve been thinking about making a move—whether it’s for your first home or your next investment property—2025 is a great time to make it happen.

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