Is Now a Good Time to Buy a Home in the North Willamette Valley?

If you’ve been watching interest rates and headlines, you’ve probably asked yourself some version of, “Is now even a good time to buy?” The honest answer: it depends more on you than on the latest national headline. Let’s unpack what that means for buyers in places like Canby, Oregon City, Woodburn, Molalla, and Wilsonville.

Look at your life timing, not just market timing

Markets will move up, down, and sideways over the years. The more useful question is:

• Does buying now support your life for the next 5–7 years or so?

Consider:

• Job stability and likely changes

• Family or household needs (more space, less space, closer to certain activities)

• How renting versus owning fits the season you’re in

If your life is screaming “I need a different home,” that matters as much as any chart.

Check your financial readiness

Regardless of where interest rates sit this month, buying tends to work best when:

• You have a clear, sustainable budget

• You’ve talked with a lender and understand what different price points mean for your monthly payment

• You have some cushion for inevitable homeowner surprises

Sometimes the answer after that conversation is “we’re ready now.” Sometimes it’s “we need 6–12 months to get things in better shape”—and that’s a win too, because now you have a plan.

Reminder: This isn’t financial advice. Decisions about buying, borrowing, or waiting should be made with a licensed lender and, when appropriate, a financial or tax professional. If you’d like names of people local buyers have trusted, I’m happy to share options.

Understand what’s actually happening locally

Headlines talk about “the housing market,” but real estate is intensely local.

A few examples of what matters in our area:

• Some price ranges and neighborhoods see multiple offers, while others move more slowly

• New construction, existing homes, and rural properties can all behave differently

• Inventory levels in your specific price bracket matter more than the state average

Rather than guessing from national news, look at what’s happening specifically around the type of home you want in the area you care about.

Keeping it real (estate): Winning in a competitive Oregon City pocket

In one Oregon City neighborhood, buyers were constantly running into multiple‑offer situations. A couple I worked with knew they wanted to be in that specific pocket, so we focused first on preparation: a fully underwritten preapproval, clear budget guardrails, and a strategy for how aggressive they were comfortable being. When the right home hit the market, they weren’t scrambling—they were ready. Their offer rose to the top in a competitive field not because it was reckless, but because it was clean, timely, and backed by strong financial readiness.

That’s the kind of “market timing” that actually matters: being ready to act when a good fit appears.

If you wait, what are you waiting for?

Sometimes waiting is the right call. The key is to define what you’re waiting for:

• A certain amount saved for closing costs or a larger emergency fund

• More clarity on job or location changes

• Time to improve credit or pay down debt

If you can name the thing you’re waiting on, you can set up a concrete plan and timeline instead of drifting in “someday.”

So…is now a good time for you?

The best way to answer that isn’t a yes/no from the internet. It’s a conversation that combines:

• Your life stage and goals

• Your current finances and comfort level

• The reality of what’s available locally in your price range

Sometimes that conversation leads to “yes, let’s start now.” Sometimes it leads to “not yet, but here’s exactly what to do over the next few months to be ready.”

Want a no‑pressure gut check on your timing?

If you’d like a calm, honest look at whether buying now (or soon) makes sense for you in the North Willamette Valley, schedule a 30‑minute intro call or connect with me here.

We’ll keep it real (estate) and focus on what fits you, not just the market buzz.