According to people who study the stock market, there is a common theme, "buy the rumor, sell the news." What does this mean? As people look at market trends and when to invest, there are certain signs that can get you ahead of the curve. When an anticipated event happens in the market, prices are affected. Waiting for the event to come and then act, will cause you to lose money as people who decided to go ahead and jump, are selling as they had already made lots of money.

The same thing can happen in the housing market. As we prepare to see rate cuts, what will happen? When interest rates drop, homes prices will increase. Additionally, buyers will flood the market looking to take advantage of lower interest rates. Competition for homes will increase, giving sellers the chance to increase their prices. As a buyer, you're less likely to get the terms you want, you may pay more for a house than it's actual value, and you may lose some of the offers that would have won.

Buy now, refinance later (if that makes sense for you). This will get you the investment at the price you're looking for, while gaining appreciation in a hot market caused by migration and lower prices compared to the rest of the country (Greenville, SC).