There is no doubt that mortgage credit availability is expanding, meaning it is easier to finance a home today than it was last year. However, the mortgage market is still much tighter than it was prior to the housing boom and bust experienced between 2003 - 2006.The Housing Financing Policy Center at the Urban Institute just released data revealing two reasons for the current exceptionally high credit standards:Additional restrictions lenders put on borrowing because of concerns that they will be forced to … [Read more...]
Mortgage Interest Rates Just Went Up… Should I Wait to Buy?
Mortgage interest rates, as reported by Freddie Mac, have increased over the last several weeks. Along with Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, the Mortgage Bankers Association and the National Association of Realtors are all calling for mortgage rates to continue to rise over the next four quarters.This has caused some purchasers to lament the fact they may no longer be able to get a rate less than 4%. However, we must realize that current rates are still at historic lows.Here is a chart … [Read more...]
5 Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Professional When Buying & Selling!
Whether you are buying or selling a home, it can be quite an adventurous journey; you need an experienced Real Estate Professional to lead you to your ultimate goal. In this world of instant gratification and internet searches, many sellers think that they can For Sale by Owner or FSBO.The 5 Reasons You NEED a Real Estate Professional in your corner haven’t changed, but rather have been strengthened, due to the projections of higher mortgage interest rates & home prices as the market continues to pick up … [Read more...]
Existing Home Sales Surge Forward Through Fall [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights:The National Association of Realtors (NAR) recently released their latest Existing Home Sales Report.First-time homebuyers made up 33% of all sales in October.Homes are selling quickly with 43% of homes on the market for less than a month.A limited supply continues to drive up prices for the 56th consecutive month. … [Read more...]
Why Are Mortgage Interest Rates Increasing?
According to Freddie Mac’s latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage interest rate jumped up to 3.94% last week. Interest rates had been hovering around 3.5% since June, and many are wondering why there has been such a significant increase so quickly. Why did rates go up?Whenever there is a presidential election, there is uncertainty in the markets as to who will win. One way that this is noticeable is through the actions of investors. As we get closer to the first Tuesday of … [Read more...]
From Empty Nest to Full House… Multigenerational Families Are Back!
Multigenerational homes are coming back in a big way! In the 1950s, about 21%, or 32.2 million Americans shared a roof with their grown children or parents. According to a recent Pew Research Center report, the number of multigenerational homes dropped to as low as 12% in 1980 but has shot back up to 19%, roughly 60.6 million people, as recently as 2014.Multigenerational households typically occur when adult children (over the age of 25) either choose to, or need to, remain living in their parent’s home, and … [Read more...]
You Can Never Have TMI about PMI
When it comes to buying a home, whether it is your first time or your fifth, it is always important to know all the facts. With the large number of mortgage programs available that allow buyers to purchase a home with a down payment below 20%, you can never have Too Much Information (TMI) about Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI).What is Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)?Freddie Mac defines PMI as:“An insurance policy that protects the lender if you are unable to pay your mortgage. It's a monthly fee, rolled into … [Read more...]
The Truth About Housing Affordability
From a purely economic perspective, this is one of the best times in American history to buy a home. Black Night Financial Services discusses this in their most recent Monthly Mortgage Monitor.Here are two of the report’s revelations:The average U.S. home value increased by $13,500 from last year, but low interest rates have kept the monthly principal & interest payment needed to purchase a median-priced home almost equal to one year ago.Home affordability still remains favorable compared to long-term … [Read more...]
The Dangers of “Tight Mortgage Credit” Headlines
The availability of mortgage credit is not at the same level that it was during the boom in housing (2005), and that’s good news. However, the constant headlines which talk about “tight credit” are causing some potential home buyers to doubt their ability to purchase. We want to rectify the misconception of what is required for a down payment in order to purchase a home in today’s market.Freddie Mac recently discussed the confusion many first-time homebuyers have about the down payment they … [Read more...]
It’s Not Always Marriage Before Mortgage
There are many people sitting on the sidelines trying to decide if they should purchase a home or sign a rental lease. Some might wonder if it makes sense to purchase a house before they are married and have a family. Others may think they are too young. And still, others might think their current income would never enable them to qualify for a mortgage.We want to share what the typical first-time homebuyer actually looks like based on the National Association of REALTORS most recent Profile of Home Buyers & … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 146
- 147
- 148
- 149
- 150
- …
- 162
- Next Page »
