You’ve heard it all, and so have I. Interest rates are high. Prices aren’t softening enough. There aren’t enough homes for sale.

It’s tough out there. And anyone you hear shouting “Now’s a great time to buy!” from the rooftops is someone to be avoided.

Still, if you want to live somewhere you can truly call home, it can be done. But the calculation is deeply personal. Here are some things to think about to determine whether or not it’s a good time to buy for you:

1. Start with monthly payment. If you look at buying through the lens of what you can afford for a monthly payment first, rather than home prices, you will have a more approachable starting point for thinking about homeownership. It will also force you to think through your monthly budget. Things will get more real more quickly.

2. Weigh how much you really want it. Go ahead, paint it Orange. Get the second dog. There are things you just can’t do as a renter. Home ownership is a profoundly rewarding experience. It’s not all about dollars and cents. So weigh your emotions. Do you really value the feeling of homeownership? Or do you view it through an investment/financial lens?

3. Get real about your time horizon. Time dilutes risk, and makes certain questions less important. Will home prices go up over the next year? Will mortgage rates go down? If you think you can buy a home you can live in for 30 years, these questions aren’t as heavy. If you’re thinking it’s maybe 5 years until you’ll want to move, you need to think hard about these things.

If this sounds like buying a home requires a lot of reflection, well, that’s because it’s the truth. This is a big life decision. If you’ve done your thinking, and want to talk with someone who can guide you through the first steps of the journey, I am here. When the time is right for you.