Believe it or not, mortgage rates may actually go down next year - but will that really make homes more affordable? David reveals the builders' "magic number" that had buyers flocking to purchase inventory.You'll also learn why becoming a homeowner sooner rather than later has huge financial benefits long-term. And get this - institutional investors are slowing down, leaving more opportunities for regular folks like us.If you want insider info on how to navigate the crazy market, listen to the final episode of David's forecast series now. The housing revolution starts with your next move - will you join in?Here are some key topics from today’s conversation:Mortgage rate predictions for 2024Builders' "magic number" for selling inventoryLong-term impacts of owning a home on paymentsEpisode Highlights:[11:57] The Magic Mortgage RateThe home builders figured out the perfect mortgage rate to get people off the fence and into their empty homes. By slowly dropping the rates a little at a time, they noticed things didn't really move until they dipped below 6%. But once they hit 5.99%, buyers came out of the woodwork! In no time at all, the builders' unsold homes were scooped up as people jumped to snag those ultra-low interest rates. This showed the builders exactly how sensitive home shoppers are to that interest rate - even a small tweak could be the difference between moving or not moving those houses.[21:29] The Forced Savings of Home EquityYour mortgage is like a hidden savings account! With each monthly payment, you're slowly paying down the loan principal and building up equity in your home. Over 30 years, this adds up - you could end up with hundreds of grand in value just from making your regular payments. And best of all, you can use that equity later on however you want. Need cash for a new car or kitchen reno? Just tap into your home savings. Ready to upgrade to a bigger place? Your equity can cover most or all of the down payment. Talk about a sweet deal![25:05] Who's Paying the Realtor Fees? There are currently hundreds of lawsuits working their way through the courts that could impact who pays realtor fees when buying a home. Currently in most areas, sellers cover at least part of the buyer's agent commission.But if these lawsuits are successful, that standard may change. Plaintiffs want to pass the full cost of the buyer's realtor onto home purchasers rather than having sellers foot the bill. This could mean buyers having to come up with an extra 2-3% on top of other closing costs, a significant amount on high-priced properties.This podcast was started for YOU, to demystify things for first time home buyers, and help crush the confusion. After helping first timers for over 13 years, I knew there wasn’t t a lot of clear, tangible, useable information out there on the internet, so I started this podcast. Help me spread the word to other people just like you, dying for answers. Tell your friends, family, and perhaps that random neighbor you REALLY want to move out about How to Buy a Home! A really easy way is to hit the share button and text it to your friends. Go for it, help someone out. And if you’re not already a regular listener, subscribe and get constant updates on the market. If you are a regular and learned something, help me help others – give the show a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts, or write a review on Spotify. Let’s change the way the real estate industry treats you first time buyers, one buyer at a time, starting with you – and make sure your favorite people don’t get screwed by going into this HUGE step blind and confused. Viva la Unicorn Revolution! Instagram @DavidSidoniTik Tok @howtobuyahome