If you're shopping for a house this year, there's likely a reason you've decided now's the right time for you to buy. Maybe it's because you no longer like the neighborhood you're in or you need more space because your family's grown since your last move. Whatever the reason, the list of things you want in your next home is mostly tied to the things you want and need right now.
But, based on a new analysis of homeownership tenure from ATTOM Data Solutions, you might want to also think about your future needs. That's because, the length of time the average homeowner lives in a house has been growing in recent years. In fact, in the early 2000s, homeowners typically stayed in a house just under four-and-a-half years. These days, it's almost double that. At the end of last year, for example, the average homeowner had owned their home over eight years. And while it's fallen slightly this year, it's still climbing in some places – especially, the Midwest and South.
In other words, the house you buy today might be your home for most of the next decade. Which means, you should probably give some thought to – not just what you need right now – but also what you might need over the next several years.
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