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Man, I do.  That thrill of opening your front door for the first time after you sign the closing papers and realizing that everything you see is YOURS.  It’s an incredibly liberating—and a little mind-blowing.

You’d think that with all of the doom and gloom in the news, no one would ever get to have that experience again.  But according to a recent USA Today article, Stephanie Armour reports that first-time homebuyers are driving existing home sales.    And that’s good news in many ways.

Second, as mentioned in Armour’s article, many homebuyers are choosing to purchase “distressed” houses—homes that have been foreclosed.  Anyone who has driven by foreclosed property knows them instantly: the overgrown lawns, an obvious lack of maintenance, that feeling of abandonment.  As distressed homes welcome their new owners, appearances improve—and neighborhoods become more desirable.  And again, more people are willing to invest their time and money there.

Third, when a first-time homebuyer begins to invest in the home by remodeling or other efforts, it spurs other industries.  In areas where home building and remodeling has slowed, this is a crucial factor in overall recovery.  Every time a homebuyer makes the decision to install new flooring, change out a bathroom or repair drywall damaged by their home’s previous occupant, money starts flowing into the local economy.  And that is a very, very good thing.

Today interest rates are at historic lows and there are credits for first-time homebuyers that we’ve never seen before.  In short, there’s never been a better time for potential buyers to take that leap and make a home their own.