Inside the real estate bubble of yore, buyers could act as impulsively as they wanted, reports The New York Times: if buyers changed their mind, they could always sell at a profit. But in today’s market, “buying a home is more psychologically demanding, fraught with conflict and confusion.” For buyers, especially those without much capital to burn, deciding on a home can be extremely stressful, since it involves a long-term commitment. And for sellers, some of them refuse to sell now, even if it’s a good idea for them, because they don’t want to feel regret or shame at having bought at the height of the bubble. Kathleen Gurney, the chief executive of the Financial Psychology Corporation in Miami, told the Times, People will do anything to not regret how they feel,” including extending their losses so as not to feel stupid. The article also explores the differences in the market and people’s perception of the market. Even if this is a good time for some to buy or some to sell, we are pack animals, and when the pack is afraid of dealing in real estate, so is the individual. As Dr. Gurney said, potential buyers and sellers would rather “be a part of a crowd, even a crowd of losers, than stand out.
In the Grip of Indecision [NY Times]
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