Is Your Home Worth What You Paid For?

By Rachel Mooney

Rachel has built a reputation for making the complex process of buying and selling homes not only enjoyable but also financially rewarding. Her deep understanding of the local market, combined with her genuine passion for helping families transition through different stages of life, has allowed her to serve hundreds of clients with exceptional care and professionalism.

If you bought your home in the last three years and now you need to sell, it’s normal to feel unsure about the numbers. Some homeowners need to move fast because life changed, a forbearance happened, or the situation feels tight, and the big question becomes simple: “Do we actually have equity, or are we stuck?”

Why are some recent buyers running into this problem? A lot of this comes down to when you bought. In mid-2022, the market was still a strong seller’s market. Inventory was low, buyers were competing hard, and many offers came in over the asking price. Some buyers also removed contingencies and appraisal protections to win, which made it easier to get a home, but it also increased the chance of paying more than the home would support later.

If you bought during that kind of market, the price you paid may have been driven by competition, not by long-term value.

What changed starting in late 2022? After the peak, pricing started to level out. By October 2022, many areas began shifting toward more realistic pricing. That shift matters if you bought over asking in an inflated market, because it can limit how much the home appreciates in the short term.

For some homeowners, the result is frustrating but clear: three years later, the home is worth about the same as what they paid.

Why is this showing up more often right now? More homeowners from that period are trying to sell and realizing they don’t have the equity they expected. Some people bought during that market and focused on getting a property, not the price, because everything felt urgent. Now they’re seeing what happens when the market settles, and the home value doesn’t rise the way they hoped.

Why your value might not match someone else’s? Not every homeowner will have the same outcome, because real estate is local. Your community matters, and so do the smaller factors that shape value inside your area. School districts can shift demand. The county you’re in can change trends. What you’ve done to the home since buying also matters, because updates, upkeep, and condition can affect whether a home appreciates, stays flat, or even declines.

That’s why broad market headlines don’t tell you what your home is worth. Your address does.

The time-horizon question that can protect you. One of the most useful ways to think about this is the five-to-seven-year question: Did you plan to stay long-term? If you expect to be in the home for five to seven years, market swings are easier to manage because you have time. If you bought with a shorter timeline, you’re more exposed when prices level out, and you need to sell sooner than expected.

What to do if you need to move and equity is tight? Start by getting clarity on today’s value, because guessing can push you into the wrong decision. If you find that equity is thin, you still have paths to consider, but each one comes with tradeoffs.

If you need a quick sale, an investor purchase can be an option, but speed usually comes at a lower price than what a normal market sale might bring. That option may fit some situations and not others, which is why it helps to look at all the numbers before choosing a direction.

Selling your home shouldn’t feel confusing or stressful, even if you bought recently and you’re unsure about equity. With a clear look at your current value and a realistic plan for your timeline, you can understand your options and choose the path that makes the most sense. If you’re thinking about selling and you have questions, feel free to call or text me at 678-804-4733 or email me at rachel@rachelmooney.com. I can help you figure out what your home is worth today and what next steps fit your situation.