A record number of Americans think it’s a bad time to buy a house, and with housing costs near an all-time high, it's hard to blame them.

Mortgage rates are higher than they've been in decades, and the sales price of the typical American home — $394,300 — has shot up about 40% in the last four years.

For many would-be homebuyers, this is a uniquely difficult time to get into the real estate game. But for some people, experts say, it's actually opportune.

With so many people spooked out of the market, there's a lot less competition (and a lot more negotiating power) for those willing to tough it out.

And while navigating a house hunt under the current conditions certainly isn't for everyone, buyers with good credit and enough cash to make a sizeable down payment can shield themselves from some of the pain of high interest rates — or rely on a well-padded savings account until they can eventually refinance.

If you're determined — and financially ready — to buy a house right now, here are four reasons the odds could be in your favor:

1.The housing market isn't so crowded

During the pandemic, mortgage rates were near historic lows, which drove up demand and led to bidding wars that pushed home prices well above asking…..