Home Price vs Home Cost

You’re not just buying a home—you’re buying a decision that could cost you $80K.

Yep, you read that right.
In this eye-opener of an episode, Kevin Martini explains the quiet math that most buyers miss. And spoiler: it’s not about the sticker price.

If you’ve been staring at Zillow listings, obsessing over whether now is the right time to buy… you need this episode. Because price is the number that looks good on paper. Cost is the number that changes your future.

This one’s for anyone stuck on the fence, waiting for mortgage rates to calm down or hoping for a magical price drop that never comes.

🎧 Press play to uncover:

• Why waiting rarely makes homes cheaper (and usually just more painful)

• How rent quietly steals your future wealth

• The simple math behind the $80K cost of hesitation

• What smart buyers know that others miss completely

💥 Share this one with a friend who's "thinking about buying"—before they overthink themselves into a corner.

Kevin Martini | NMLS 143962 | Certified Mortgage Advisor | Martini Mortgage Group at Gold Star Mortgage Financial Group, Corporation | NMLS # 3446 | 507 N Blount St, Raleigh, NC 27604 | [phone] | www.MartiniMortgageGroup.com | [e-mail] | Equal Housing Lender

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Let me ask you something. Would you rather say $5,000 now or miss out on $80,000 in the next

(00:09):
five years? Because that's exactly the silent math playing out behind every "oh wait"
in today's market. It's easy to get caught up in the price of a home. But what if I told
you this? Price isn't what really matters. The real game changer, the thing that most people overlook is

(00:32):
cost. And the difference between price and cost, well that's where wealth is either built in real
estate or where wealth is lost in real estate. Seriously, if you're a first time home buyer or
a repeat home buyer, you shouldn't obsess over the price tag. Let me share why. The price of a home

(00:58):
is what's on the listing. The cost? That's your monthly payment, your interest rate, your taxes,
your time in the market, your opportunity cost, and your long-term equity gain or loss. When sellers
focus on price, that makes 100% sense. They're exiting the game. But if you're buying, you're playing

(01:22):
the long game. And if you're only looking at the sticker prices like you're at a used car lot,
well, you missed the plot. Let's talk about the home buyer equation. Nobody talks about it. Let's
say a home is $400,000 today. Experts project home values to rise 3 to 4% per year through 2030.

(01:49):
That same $400,000 home today could be worth over $480,000 in five years. That's $80,000 in future
appreciation. This is not wishful thinking, just basic math. When you buy today, that appreciation

(02:12):
belongs to you. When you wait, it belongs to the next buyer. That's the cost of waiting. And it's
way more expensive than the price on paper. You so you think you should, but you didn't know,

(02:33):
well, waiting for a better time just didn't backfire on you. Let's talk timing, because waiting feels
safe, right? The truth. Waiting rarely makes homes cheaper. It just makes the starting point higher.
And mortgage rates? They're a moving target. Yes, they go up. Yes, they go down. But you can't

(03:02):
refinance a missed opportunity. You can always refinance your rate. You can never go back in time and
buy a house at last year's price. Now I get it. Rent feels easy. One payment. No maintenance. No
commitment. However, rent is the most expensive bill you'll ever pay. But let me tell you something

(03:29):
like this, that simple rent check, it rises year after year. And it gives you exactly a zero.
Return. Meanwhile, the average homeowners network is 40 times higher than that of a renter

(03:50):
according to the federal reserve. That's not luck, folks. That's leverage. Home ownership isn't
just a place to live. It's a financial power move. Here's the golden opportunity most buyers miss.
You're not just buying a place. You're locking in your costs at today's level. Even if a rate

(04:13):
still higher now, that cost is still offer lower than what you will face in a few years when home
prices are even higher. And here's the kicker. If rates drop, you can refinance. If prices rise,
that's in your pocket. This isn't about time in the market perfectly. It's about entering the

(04:36):
market strategically. Ignore the fear driven headlines. Stop waiting for the perfect conditions
and keep your focus on the math. Perfect conditions are a myth. What's real? Long term cost.
Wealth building. Ownership. When you buy strategically today, you gain a home you're going to love.

(05:03):
A monthly cost you can control and equity state in a long term of appreciating asset
and the ability to refinance and improve your terms later. And that's how you win in the real estate
world. If you're serious about buying a home in 2025 but want to do it in the right way,

(05:32):
don't just scroll, get the clarity, confidence and control you need with a strategy session
because this isn't about pressure. It's about power and power comes from knowing your numbers,
knowing your options and having a plan. And I'm here to help you map it out a smart

(05:56):
home ownership plan that's built around your life, not the news cycle.