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What To Know About The 2-1 Buydown Program

February 14, 2023 by Coleen TeBockhorst

What To Know About The 2-1 Buydown Program You are probably excited to close on your home, but you may have also seen that your interest rate might be a bit higher. If you are looking for a way to save money, particularly if you have a lot of work to do on the home, you might be looking for a way to reduce your interest rate during the first couple of years. One option is to perform a 2-1 buydown. What do you need to know about this option, and how do you know if it is right for you?

How A 2-1 Buydown Works

This is a special type of program that can help you slightly alter the financing on your home loan. Specifically, it has been designed to reduce the interest rate during the first two years of your mortgage. During the first year of your mortgage, your interest rate is reduced by 2 percent. Then, it is reduced by 1 percent during the second year. By the third year, the interest rate goes back to normal.

The Benefits And Drawbacks Of 2 – 1 Buydowns

Like any financing option, there are some benefits and drawbacks to consider. The biggest benefit is that you can save money during the first two years of your mortgage. This can provide you with extra money to complete renovation projects and home repairs. On the other hand, the drawback is that your monthly payments will go up during the first few years. If you don’t have the income to match your monthly payments during the third year, you might find yourself in some financial difficulty.

Should You Do a 2 – 1 Buydown?

You may also be interested in this type of financing option if you plan on selling the house in the near future. For example, if you think you won’t be there for very long, you may not care what the interest rate is going to do in the future. On the other hand, if you really plan on selling the house quickly, you may want to talk to a professional about other financing options that could be even better for your specific situation. That way, you don’t end up paying more money than you have to.

Filed Under: Mortgage Tagged With: 2-1 Buy down, Mortgage

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – February 13, 2023

February 13, 2023 by Coleen TeBockhorst

What's Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week - February 13, 2023Last week’s economic reporting included coverage of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech to the Economic Club of Washington and the University of Michigan’s data on consumer sentiment. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also published.

 

Federal Reserve: Chairman Jerome Powell Says the “Disinflationary Process” is Ongoing


Fed Chair Jerome Powell said in remarks made to the Economic Club of Washington that the “disinflationary process” has started, but he also indicated that January’s unexpectedly strong jobs report indicated that further interest rate hikes are necessary: “We think we need to do further rate increases and we think we’ll need to hold policy at a restrictive level for a period of time.” 

 

Several other senior Fed officials said that further interest rate hikes would be required to keep inflation in check; as 517,000 jobs were added last week after analysts predicted declining job growth as compared to the expected reading of 187,000 jobs added. The national unemployment rate fell to a 54-year low of 3.4 percent.

 

Analysts cautioned that the Fed would likely continue to raise rates to control inflation but Chairman Powell said that the Fed would likely raise rates only “a couple more times.”

 

Mortgage Rates, Jobless Claims Rise


Freddie Mac reported higher mortgage rates last week; the average rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages was three basis points higher at 6.12 percent. The average rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages rose by 11 basis points to 5.25 percent. 

 

Jobless claims also rose last week with 196,000 new claims filed as compared to the previous week’s reading of 183,000 initial claims filed. 1.69 million continuing jobless claims were filed as compared to the prior week’s reading of 1.65 million ongoing claims.

 

The University of Michigan reported that its initial consumer sentiment reading for February rose to an index reading of 66.4 as compared to the expected reading of 65.1 and last month’s index reading of 64.9. Consumer sentiment readings over 50 indicate most survey respondents were positive about current economic conditions. 

 

The University also released monthly readings on year-over-year inflationary predictions. February’s early reading predicts 4.2 percent year-over-year inflation as compared to January’s reading of 3.9 percent year-over-year inflation.
 


What’s Ahead


This week’s scheduled economic reports include readings on home prices, inflation, retail sales, and data on building permits issued and housing starts. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims will also be released.

Filed Under: Financial Reports Tagged With: Financial Report, Jobless Claims, Mortgage Rates

3 Reasons Why Buying an Investment Property Is the Best Way to Build Your Net Worth

February 10, 2023 by Coleen TeBockhorst

3 Reasons Why Buying an Investment Property Is the Best Way to Build Your Net WorthWhether you have recently graduated from college or are getting close to retirement, it’s likely that you have given some thought as to how you can grow your net worth. You might have invested in stocks, picked up a few bonds or have a 401(k) plan set up to help fund your retirement. But have you considered buying real estate as part of your portfolio?

In today’s blog post we’ll have a look at three reasons why real estate investing is one of the most effective ways to grow your overall net worth.

Reason #1: It Generates Passive Income

One of the best reasons to hold real estate as part of your investment portfolio is that it can generate passive income in the form of rent. Whether you buy a single-family home or an apartment block, you can almost certainly find interested tenants who will live there. Part of the rent you receive each month will cover the costs of owning and operating the property. The rest of it is income which will continue to build over time.

Reason #2: It Increases In Value Over Time

Another great reason to invest in real estate is that in most cases, it increases in value over time. As long as you are maintaining the property and investing in its upkeep you have a decent shot at it being worth more in the coming years, should you decide to sell. Keep in mind that real estate is cyclical and that it’s not always going to be the right time to sell and realize your gains.

Reason #3: You Can Leverage Equity To Buy More Properties

Finally, our third reason that real estate is the best way to build your worth is your ability to use it as leverage to buy more real estate. For example, say you decide to purchase a house valued at $100,000 as an investment property. Once the mortgage on that home is paid off, you have an asset valued at $100,000 that you can then borrow against. So you can go out and acquire another $100,000 home without having to sell the first. As you can see, this can scale quite nicely over time.

If you are interested in learning more about real estate investing, give us a call. We are happy to share our insight and expertise as well as advise you on the best local investment properties currently available.

Filed Under: Home Mortgage Tips Tagged With: Home Mortgage Tips, Mortgage, Real Estate Investing

What Is an Assumable Mortgage Loan: What You Need To Know

February 9, 2023 by Coleen TeBockhorst

What Is an Assumable Mortgage Loan: What You Need To KnowEverything has its benefits and drawbacks, and that includes mortgage loans. There are plenty of options available, and you need to find the best one to meet your needs. You have probably heard about conventional mortgages, FHA loans, and even VA loans. On the other hand, have you heard about assumable mortgages? What do you need to know about this option, and how do you know if it is right for you? 

An Overview Of An Assumable Mortgage

So, what is an assumable mortgage loan? This means that the buyer is responsible for taking over the mortgage obligations of the seller. One of the biggest advantages of this is that the buyer can use the seller’s interest rate and terms. For example, if you have noticed that interest rates have gone up significantly between now and when the seller took out his or her mortgage, you might decide to take on the seller’s interest rate instead of getting your own interest rate. 

How An Assumable Home Loan Works

Now, it is time to take a closer look at how this works. Even though you might want the interest rate that the seller has, you still need to compensate the seller for the equity that he or she has built up. For example, the loan may only have a balance of $200,000, but the seller has already put in $100,000 of equity. As a result, you will either have to take out a second mortgage to cover the $100,000, or you will have to pay the seller $100,000 in cash. Even though you might have to take out a second mortgage for the remainder of the balance, the rest of the mortgage will still have the original interest rate, which could be lower. 

Are All Loans Assumable?

Not all loans are assumable; however, there are some examples of loans that are. For example, FHA loans, VA loans, and USDA loans are assumable. If you want to assume a USDA loan, you have to meet the qualifications to take out a USDA loan. VA loans are only available to veterans, but non-veterans are allowed to assume VA loans, which could help them save a significant amount of money.

 

Filed Under: Mortgage Tagged With: Assumable Loans, Mortgage, Mortgage Rates

ITIN Loans: Are These Loans Right For You?

February 8, 2023 by Coleen TeBockhorst

ITIN Loans: Are These Loans Right For You?As you take a look at your mortgage options, you might find that a conventional mortgage presents a few qualification challenges. Fortunately, there are other options available, and you might be able to pursue an ITIN loan. This stands for Individual Tax Identification Number, and Individual Tax Identification Number loans could be beneficial for people cannot get approved for a qualified mortgage. What do you need to know about the process?

What Are The Requirements Of An ITIN Loan?

First, you need to get an Individual Tax Identification Number. While you do not need a Social Security Number, you might need to fill out Form W-7. Then, you need to provide supplemental documents, such as tax returns, that can confirm that you are not a citizen of the United States. They might ask you for other documents, such as your driver’s license or birth certificate.

With your Individual Tax Identification Number, you can apply for a home loan. Like any other mortgage, you should be expected to provide your proof of income, assets, or employment. Then, they will run a credit check before deciding whether to grant you a loan.

What Are The Benefits Of An ITIN Loan?

There are a few benefits of an Individual Tax Identification Number loan. This is a great way to build your credit score, and you can get this type of loan even if you are not a legal resident of the United States. You also do not need to have a Social Security Number to qualify for this type of loan. It opens the door to more flexibility and provides those without citizenship with the opportunity to buy property in the United States.

Consider Getting An ITIN Loan To Help You Buy A House

There are plenty of ways to qualify for homeowners, and an Individual Tax Identification Number loan could be right for you. Remember that there are plenty of loan options out there, and the right option for one buyer might not be the right option for someone else. Consider reaching out to an expert who can help you figure out if an ITIN loan is right for you. 

Filed Under: Mortgage Tagged With: ITIN, Mortgage, Mortgage Loans

Why Your Kitchen Features Matter

February 7, 2023 by Coleen TeBockhorst

Why Your Kitchen Features MatterIf you are interested in purchasing a house in the near future, you need to pay close attention to your kitchen. The kitchen is considered to be the heart of the home, and you need to make sure the kitchen is laid out appropriately. You need the kitchen to match your expectations, but you also need to pick a kitchen that will help you maximize the value of your home if you decide to sell it down the road. What are a few of the most important examples of kitchen features you need to pay attention to?

The Cabinets 

Always take a close look at the cabinets. Look at the inside of the cabinets for signs of water damage, and make sure the cabinets are aligned appropriately. If the cabinet doors do not open and close properly, it can be a significant problem when you are trying to cook in the kitchen. Cabinets are often the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel. 

The Backsplash

You should also pay close attention to the backsplash. You need the backsplash to completely cover the area between the counters and the cabinets. You do not want the backsplash to be too short. Otherwise, you expose the wall to additional stress when you are cooking. 

The Kitchen Island

A kitchen island is often the gold standard when it comes to a kitchen. This additional feature can significantly increase the value of your home, but you need to make sure the island is in the right location. For example, you need the island to be close enough to the workspaces in your kitchen, such as the stove and refrigerator. You also want it to be centered in the kitchen itself.

Think About These Key Kitchen Features

These are just a few of the most important examples of kitchen features that you need to think about when you are interested in purchasing a house. Remember that these features need to match your needs, but you also need to think about how much money you can get for the house if you sell it down the road. Pay close attention to these kitchen features when you are looking for a new house.

 

Filed Under: Mortgage Tagged With: Home Features, Kitchen, Mortgage

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – February 6, 2023

February 6, 2023 by Coleen TeBockhorst

What's Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week - February 6, 2023Last week’s economic reporting included readings on home price growth from S&P Case-Shiller and the Federal Housing Finance Administration. Monthly reports on job growth and unemployment were released by the federal government and ADP. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also released.

S&P Case-Shiller HPI: Home Prices Drop in November

S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Indices revealed that U.S. home prices fell for the fifth consecutive month in November. The National Home Price Index fell by -3.1 percent year over year in November as compared to a positive reading of 2.8 percent home price growth in October. Miami, Florida, Tampa, Florida, and Atlanta, Georgia held the top three places in the 20-City Home Price Index. Detroit, Michigan was the only city to post a positive reading for home price growth in November’s 20-City Home Price Index.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, reported that prices of homes owned or financed by the two government-sponsored enterprises fell by 0.10 percent in November. Analysts expect that home prices will continue to fall in the coming months.

Mortgage Rates and Jobless Claims

Average fixed mortgage rates fell last week. Freddie Mac reported that the rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages fell by four basis points to 6.09 percent. Rates for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages fell by three basis points to 5.14 percent.

183,000 first-time jobless claims were filed as compared to the expected reading of 195,000 new jobless claims and the previous week’s reading of 186,000 first-time jobless claims filed. 1.66 million continuing jobless claims were filed as compared to the previous week’s reading of 1.67 million ongoing jobless claims filed.

Public and Private Sector Job Growth

The federal government’s Non-Farm payrolls report for January posted 517,000 jobs added as compared to the expected reading of 187,000 jobs added and December’s reading of 260,000 jobs added.ADP reported 106,000 private-sector jobs added in January as compared to expectations of 190,000 jobs added and December’s reading of 253,000 private-sector jobs added.

The national unemployment rate for January was 3.4 percent; analysts expected an unemployment rate of 3.6 percent and December’s unemployment rate was 3.5 percent. 

What’s Ahead

This week’s scheduled economic news includes readings on consumer sentiment, inflation, and weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims.

Filed Under: Financial Reports Tagged With: Financial Report, Jobless Claims, Mortgage Rates

3 Tips To Consider When Buying A Home With An FHA Mortgage

February 3, 2023 by Coleen TeBockhorst

Tips to Sidestep Common FHA Loan Problems

FHA loans are becoming increasingly popular these days as potential homeowners may not able to qualify as easily for conventional mortgages.

The FHA insures some higher-risk loans, in turn allowing borrowers with low down payments and less than perfect credit to purchase homes and bolster the housing market.

However, while getting through the loan process with an FHA mortgage loan is not necessarily more difficult than with a conventional or conforming loan, there are some issues that you will want to be aware of.

Property Condition

You can’t buy just any property with a FHA loan, or any other loan for that matter. All lenders are concerned with the condition of a property, especially as it relates to livability and safety. 

Major deficiencies in a home will almost always be noted when the home is seen by the FHA appraiser. The appraiser must deem it to be livable, without any conditions that could jeopardize health or safety. 

Sometimes you can get the seller to make the needed repairs to pass the lender requirements. In other cases, you may want go an alternate route. The FHA 203K streamline loan allows you to borrow up to $35,000 for home repairs to bring the house up to code.

Low Appraisal

The primary role of the appraiser is to estimate it’s market value. These estimates are based on the property’s features and a comparison to similar properties that have sold recently. If the appraisal is low, the loan funding could fall through because the FHA underwriting guidelines (along with almost all conventional guidelines) will not let you borrow more than the home’s appraised value. You can, however, add to the amount you bring in to closing if you prefer to compensate for a low appraised value.

Rather than trying to scrape together a bigger down payment, you may want to take the information to the seller to renegotiate the purchase price. The seller will likely recognize that other buyers would be in the same boat, leading the seller to agree to a lower purchase price.

High Debt-to-Income Ratio

Debt to income ratios are a concern with virtually every type of mortgage loan on the market today. Your FHA loan may encounter a snag in the underwriting process if your total debt payments, including your new mortgage, would be a high percentage of your income.

FHA has an automated underwriting program called TOTAL Scorecard which uses an algorithm to determine a borrower’s qualification. The process is quick, and often you can make up for a high debt-to-income ratio with other compensating factors, like a larger down payment or a cash reserve of several months of mortgage payments.

If you have any questions regarding FHA loans or any other home financing questions, please give us a call!

Filed Under: Mortgage Tagged With: FHA Loans, Mortgages

S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Indices: Home Prices Fall In November

February 2, 2023 by Coleen TeBockhorst

S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Indices: Home Prices Fall In NovemberU.S. home prices continued to fall in November according to S&P Case-Shiller’s month-to-month national and 20-city home price indices, but home price growth rates remained in positive territory year-over-year. The national home price index posted a  7.70 percent year-over-year home price growth rate as of November 2022.

20-city home price index posts 5th consecutive month-to-month decrease in November

The S&P Case-Shiller 20-city home price index for November reported that the top three cities for home price growth were Miami, Florida with a year-over-year home price growth rate of 18.4 percent; Tampa, Florida followed with a  year-over-year home price growth rate of 16.9 percent. Atlanta Georgia reported a  12.7 percent growth rate for year-over-year home prices.

Home prices tracked in the 20-city home price index rose at a 6.8 percent year-over-year- pace in November as compared to year-over-year home price growth of 8.6 percent posted in October 2022. 19 of 20 cities included in the S&P Case-Shiller  20-city home price index reported lower home prices in November; only Detroit Michigan reported a gain in month-to-month home price growth.

FHFA: prices drop for homes owned or financed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

In related news, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees government-sponsored mortgage enterprises  Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, reported that home prices for homes financed or owned by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac dropped by 0.10 percent month-to-month and rose by 8.2 percent year-over-year.

Nataliya Polkovnichenko, Ph.D. and Supervisory Economist in the FHFA’s Division of Research and Statistics, said:  “ U.S. house prices were largely unchanged in the last four months and remained near the peak levels reached over the summer of 2022. While higher mortgage rates have suppressed demand for homes, low inventories of houses for sale have helped maintain relatively flat house prices.”

Changes in seasonally adjusted home price changes ranged across the nine Census Divisions from -1.1 percent in the Pacific Division to +0.5 percent in the West North Central Division.  Year-over-year home price gains ranged from  +2.4 percent in the Pacific Division to +12.0 percent in the South Atlantic Division.”

Data included in the FHFA House Price Index are gathered from reports on single-family home prices ranging from the 1970s to the present and include single-family home transactions in all 50 states and more than 400 U.S. cities.

Filed Under: Financial Reports Tagged With: Case Shiller, Financial Reports, Mortgage Rates

Is It Worth It to Put More Than 20 Percent Down?

February 1, 2023 by Coleen TeBockhorst

Down Payments 101: Is It Worth It to Put More Than 20 Percent Down?Are you thinking of buying a new home this spring or summer? If so, you’re not alone. Many thousands of individuals and families alike will become homeowners this year. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned veteran of the housing market, you probably know there are significant choices to make. One of the big decisions you will have to ponder is how much you want to invest in your down payment.

With that in mind, let’s try to answer the question of whether or not it is worth it to put more than 20 percent of the home’s price in your down payment.

Ask Yourself: How Liquid Are You?

Before you can decide how much to put down, you first need to determine how liquid your finances are. That is, how much cash do you have access to? For example, if you are considering a $300,000 home, a 20 percent down payment is $60,000. If you have more than $60,000, fantastic. However, if you have less than that, you might have to do a bit of work to save up the remainder.

Even if you do have enough available cash now, you won’t have access to it once you take possession of the home. It is important to leave yourself with some cash in case of emergencies or for other uses.

Higher Down Payment, Lower Interest Rate

If you do choose to invest more than 20 percent in your down payment, it’s possible that you will gain access to a lower interest rate for your mortgage. Many lenders look favorably on homebuyers that are investing more of their own money and borrowing less. Be sure to check with your mortgage advisor to find out if you qualify for lower rates.

Lower Monthly Payments Await

Finally, choosing a down payment higher than 20 percent means that you will have lower monthly mortgage payments in the future. You are borrowing less so you will owe less. This can provide a nice boost to your monthly budget moving forward as you will have more free cash flow each month.

Try to keep in mind that there is no perfect answer to the question of how big your down payment should be. Choosing the best course of action means taking a good, long look at your current financial situation and deciding what your goals are. When you’re ready to discuss buying a new home contact us. Our professional mortgage team is happy to share our experience!

Filed Under: Home Buyer Tips Tagged With: Buying a Home, Down Payments, Home Buyer Tips

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