House hunting? It’s not a buyer’s market everywhere

Some potential home buyers, especially first-time buyers, may be misinformed about today’s market, believing that all sellers are desperate and will accept any offer. However, in many desirable, middle-class neighborhoods, bidding wars are prominent and buyers often have to make offers slightly above the asking price.

• Although California’s median home price – the price point where half of the homes sold for higher and half for lower — was 39 percent lower in March than a year ago, many of the sales taking place are in areas, such as the Central Valley and the Inland Empire (Riverside and San Bernardino counties), which have higher foreclosure rates. These regions offer home buyers better opportunities to purchase homes at extremely low prices.

• The California housing market is often characterized as having three pricing segments: under $500,000, $500,000 to $1 million, and more than $1 million. Homes in the under-$500,000 segment have accounted for the majority of the state’s price declines thus far.

• As real estate is local, a home in one neighborhood with the same square footage and amenities may not sell for the same price as a comparable home in a neighborhood one mile away. By working with a REALTOR® familiar with a specific area, home buyers should be able to submit reasonable offers that are more likely to receive seller approval.

Read this Story

 

The Home Team Girls Realtors® Real Estate Team helping you with Investment properties, Homes For Sale, Relocations, Seller Strategies, Certified Buyer’s Agent, Serving the Military and Veterans, Bank Foreclosure Specialist, Short Sale Specialist. We use the service of a certified  Home Stager on all of our listings. For Roseville and Sacramento Realtor Services call on the Home Team Girls.

Home ownership becoming more appealing than renting

Rent versus own- that is the question…

Declining home prices are helping to close the gap between the costs of renting versus the cost of owning a home, making homeownership more appealing and affordable in many metropolitan markets.

 

·      Historically, after-tax mortgage payments have averaged 26 percent more than rent payments, according to Greet Street Advisors.  At the peak of the current real estate cycle, mortgage payments reached as high as 66 percent more than rent payments.  However, by the end of 2008, mortgage payments averaged just 24 percent more than rent payments, the narrowest gap since 2001.

 

·      In Los Angeles, mortgage payments averaged 60 percent more than rent payments between 1990 and 2008, but have since fallen to only 30 percent more than rent payments.

 

·      Some economists predict mortgage rates could fall to 4.5 percent, which could push mortgage payments to an average of 14 percent more than rent payments, a level last reached in 1998.

 

·      In some markets, well-qualified home buyers are finding that they can pay less for a mortgage payment than they spend on rent.

 

·      Although mortgage payments in some areas may be slightly higher than rent payments, the long-term benefits of homeownership outweigh the costs.  Homeowners can deduct the interest they pay annually on their mortgage.

 

·      Additionally, homeowners can build up equity in their homes over the long term. Historically, homeowners who remain in their homes for at least five years have an average annual rate of return of nearly 12 percent.

 

·      Unlike rent payments, a mortgage can be paid off, enabling the homeowner to live in a house free and clear.

 

To read the full story, please click here

 For more articles:

New Home Buyer Fence Sitters may Lose out to Market

Snag a Deal on a Short Sale

Questions on the 8,000 Federal Tax Credit

 

The Home Team Girls Realtors® Real Estate Team helping you with Investment properties, Homes For Sale, Relocations, Seller Strategies, Certified Buyer’s Agent, Bank Foreclosure Specialist, Short Sale Specialist. We use the service of a certified  Home Stager on all of our listings. For Roseville and Sacramento Realtor Services call on the Home Team Girls.

 

 

 

 

 

Qualifications tightend as mortgage interest rates lower

Mortgage rates are near historic lows, spurring an increase in mortgage applications and applications to refinance.  However, most financial institutions have tightened their loan underwriting standards, making it more difficult for home buyers to qualify for the best rates.  In many cases, borrowers must issue a down payment of at least 20 percent; borrow $729,750 or less; have a credit score of at least 720; carry low debt relative to reliable income; buy in an area where home prices are relatively stable; and use a community bank rather than a national bank, to qualify for the best rates.
 

·      Most of the risky loan packages, such as “stated income” loans, where borrowers were not required to document their income, and option adjustable-rate mortgages, where consumers could choose to pay less than the interest due, are no longer available.  Some financial institutions offer interest-only loans, but they can be quite costly.

 

·      The majority of today’s mortgage loans are through Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).  Combined, the government sector accounts for 87 percent of mortgages.  Purely private financing is rare.

 

·      The government entities purchase and/or guarantee loans up to a certain limit.  In high-cost areas, such as most areas of California, the conforming loan limit is $729,750.  The best interest rates are offered on conforming loans.  Jumbo loans – those that exceed $729,750 – are more expensive and can cost a quarter-point to a full percentage point more.

 

·      Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac also have added a quarter-point “adverse market delivery charge” due to declining home prices.  They also have instituted “risk-based pricing,” which raises fees on borrowers with credit scores of less than 720.  Borrowers purchasing a condominium and putting down less than 15 percent also will pay more for a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac loan.

 

·      Borrowers with a down payment of less than 20 percent also are required to take out private mortgage insurance.  Premiums have increased in most parts of the country, including California.

 

·      Consumers without a 20 percent down payment may be eligible for a mortgage loan through the FHA, which accepts down payments as low as 3.5 percent.  The FHA charges an upfront mortgage insurance premium of 1.75 percent, which can be added to the loan, in addition to a monthly premium.

 

·      Although rare, the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA) and U.S. Dept. of Agriculture offer loans in rural areas with no down payment or mortgage insurance requirements.

 

To read the full story, please click here

The Home Team Girls Realtors® Real Estate Team helping you with Investment properties, Homes For Sale, Relocations, Seller Strategies, Certified Buyer’s Agent, Bank Foreclosure Specialist, Short Sale Specialist. We use the service of a certified  Home Stager on all of our listings. For Roseville and Sacramento Realtor Services call on the Home Team Girls.

 

 

Questions on the $8000 Fed Tax Credit?

Confused about tax credits

Confused about the qualifications for the $8,000 federal tax credit for first-time home buyers?  Need help understanding the differences between the $7,500 tax credit signed into law last year, and the $8,000 tax credit added this year?

 

Well here’s the scoop plain and simple~

 First-time home buyers – those who have not owned a principal residence for three or more years – received two tax credits over the last two years.  One was passed and signed into law in 2008, the other in 2009.

 ·      The 2008 credit is a tax credit for first-time home buyers who purchased a house between April 8 and Dec. 31, 2008.  The home buyer may claim 10 percent of the home’s purchase price, as a credit, capped at $7,500.  Although called a “tax credit,” this homeowner benefit actually is a 15-year interest-free loan, which must be paid back in equal installments over a 15-year period.

 ·      The 2009 credit is for 10 percent of the home’s purchase price, capped at $8,000.  This credit is for first-time home buyers who purchase a house between Jan. 1 and Nov. 30 of this year.  The $8,000 tax credit does not have to be repaid.

 

·      In both cases, the home buyer may choose to claim the tax credit on either the 2008 or 2009 federal tax return.

 

·      The tax credits are offered on a sliding scale, based on income.  Individuals with annual incomes of $75,000 or less may be eligible for the full amount of the tax credit.  Married couples filing jointly must earn less than $150,000 to qualify for the full amount.  Individuals earning between $75,000 and $95,000, and married couples filing jointly who earn between $150,000 and $170,000, may be eligible for a smaller portion of the tax credit, but not the full amount.  The tax credit is not available to individuals who earn more than $95,000 or married couples filing jointing who earn more than $170,000.

 

·      Nonresident aliens, homes outside of the United States, and homes inherited, gifted, or acquired from a relative are exempt from the tax credits.

 

To read the full story, please click here

 

The Home Team Girls Realtors® Real Estate Team helping you with Investment properties, Homes For Sale, Relocations, Seller Strategies, Certified Buyer’s Agent, Bank Foreclosure Specialist, Short Sale Specialist. We use the service of a certified  Home Stager on all of our listings. For Roseville and Sacramento Realtor Services call on the Home Team Girls.

  

Investor limits on financed properties go from 4- 10

Great news for investors!

 

Fannie Mae Announcement 09-02 February 6, 2009

Amends these Guides: Selling Updates to Multiple Mortgages to the Same Borrower Policy, Reserve Requirements, Reserves Definition, and Form 3170

 

 

Fannie Mae is updating its policy that pertains to investors who own multiple properties.

 

Currently the policy limits the number of 1-4 unit financed properties, in which the borrower may have an individual or joint ownership interest to 4 financed properties, when the mortgage being delivered to Fannie Mae is secured by an investment property or second home.  This total applies to the total amount of properties financed not just those financed by Fannie Mae.

 

“Fannie Mae is modifying this policy to allow investor and second home borrowers to own five to ten financed properties if they meet certain eligibility and underwriting and delivery requirements as outlined in this Announcement. Unless otherwise stated, these requirements apply to all mortgage loans whether underwritten manually or through Desktop Underwriter® (DU®)”

 

For more and qualifications click this link.

 

 

https://www.efanniemae.com/sf/guides/ssg/annltrs/pdf/2009/0902.pdf

 

Call your mortgage provider for qualification.

 

When you are ready to buy or sell, think of the Home Team Girls who specialize with buyers and investment properties.

 

The Home Team Girls Realtors® Real Estate Team helping you with Investment properties, Homes For Sale, Relocations, Seller Strategies, Certified Buyer’s Agent, Bank Foreclosure Specialist, Short Sale Specialist. We use the service of a certified  Home Stager on all of our listings. For Roseville and Sacramento Realtor Services call on the Home Team Girls.

 

Snag a deal on a short sale

As more homeowners find themselves underwater — owing more on their mortgage than their home is currently worth — and unable to make the monthly mortgage payments, many are turning to short sales, which allows a homeowner to sell their home for less than owed on the mortgage. With the lender’s approval, home buyers can purchase properties in desirable neighborhoods and at favorable prices.

KEEP THIS IN MIND

 
• According to real estate Web site Zillow.com, 14 percent of homeowners nationwide are currently underwater. In some areas, especially those hardest-hit by foreclosures that have experienced the greatest price declines, more than 50 percent of homeowners would owe more than their home is worth if they sold today.
• Unlike foreclosed properties, which may be run-down and vacant for many months, short-sell properties are likely to be better maintained as many owners may still live in the home.
• In a short sale, the homeowner must receive approval from the lender before the sale of the property can proceed. With many lenders overwhelmed by short-sale transactions, it can take between two and six months to execute.
• Working with a REALTOR® who has experience with short sales can help both sellers and home buyers during the transaction. A seasoned REALTOR® will be able to serve as the mediator between the seller and the lender and lead to a successful transaction, while a buyer’s agent can help with offers, counter offers, home inspections, closing, and more.
• It is important to remember that although the seller may be anxious about selling the property and willing to accept any offer, it is ultimately up to the lender to determine if, and at what price, the property can be sold. Therefore, home buyers should work closely with their REALTOR® to submit a realistic offer.
• According to REALTOR® Loni Parmelly, author of Success in Short Sales, buyers should ask the lender to pay for all closing costs as part of the contract. The contract also should specify that the buyer will not conduct an appraisal or inspection of the property until the offer is approved. This
added guarantee can protect home buyers from spending money on a home they may not purchase.
To read the full story, please click here

For more articles:

A Short Sale May be a Way Out… But Beware

Questions on the 8,000 Federal Tax Credit

 

The Home Team Girls Realtors® Real Estate Team helping you with Homes For Sale, Relocations, Seller Strategies, Certified Buyer’s Agent, Bank Foreclosure Specialist, Short Sale Specialist. We use the service of a certified  Home Stager on all of our listings. For Roseville and Sacramento Realtor Services call on the Home Team Girls.

 

New Home Buyer Fence Sitters may lose out on the market?

Fixed-rate mortgages of Four percent,  zero-down payment requirements, and a 30-40 percent break on the market value of the house appear to be what many “on the fence” home buyers are waiting for before they consider purchasing a home.

WE ARE THERE!

KEEP THIS IN MIND
• According to a study of more than 700 self-described “on-the-fence” buyers, 44 percent responded that they haven’t yet committed to purchasing a home because they are waiting for lower mortgage rates.  (WE AREW THERE NOW) 

The study, conducted by the National Association of Home Builders’ research subsidiary,  found that 41 percent of undecided buyers are unsure if they could qualify for financing.  Another 38 percent reported they expect to see home prices decline further. 

Again people we are there now- my optionion- people are gambleing if they wait longer. The interest rates are good now- even if and when homes will go down- I believe the rates will go up again.

• The study found that concerns about declining property values were most prevalent among home buyers in the Western region, while buyers in the Northeastern and Midwestern states were more concerned with lower mortgage interest rates.

• Of the potential home buyers surveyed, the mortgage rate that seemed most favorable and would be most effective in persuading consumers to buy now is a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage at 3 percent.  Now reate are closer to the mid 4’s.  According to Freddie Mac, interest rates on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages averaged 5.25 percent for the week ending Feb. 5.
• Survey respondents said guarantees by home builders that their loan applications would be accepted with verifiable proof of income and a “fair” credit score ranked six times more effective than standard application procedures.
• Price concessions, such as a 10-percent discount below market value, appeared to be the most compelling option for on-the-fence buyers.
To read the full story, please click here

To put this into perspective- if you plan to stay in your home for awhile- waiting can price you out of the market.   Home prices are already good.   Get in now while interest rates are still low.  They are the lowest they have been in over 30 years.   While people gamble and wait for prices to drop, they may lose the ability to qualify for a loan if rates climb.  Buyers have to live somewhere and paying rent can be the same price as paying on a mortgage.  Have a CPA run Numbers for you on tax savings with owning a home.  At least once you buy, you are gaining equity for the future when prices come back up.

 

More articles:

Snag a Deal on a Short Sale

Questions on the 8,000 Federal Tax Credit

 

The Home Team Girls Realtors® Real Estate Team helping you with Homes For Sale, Re-locations, Seller Strategies, Certified Buyer’s Agent, Bank Foreclosure Specialist, Short Sale Specialist. We use the service of a certified  Home Stager on all of our listings. For Roseville and Sacramento Realtor Services call on the Home Team Girls.

Plunging Home Prices good news for 1st time home buyers

Good news for First Time Home Buyers! There are great deals out there.

We have found that at the under $250,000 price range that there are multiple offers all competing for the best deals. We have found that buyers who shop with a Realtor have a better chance getting a house than those who do not. Most times than others- First Time Home Buyers  don’t see the listing until it is too late. By the time they put in an offer, they are already beat out.

Read the article below on some great stats.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (NAR), the median home price nationwide in December was down 15 percent to $175,400. With current interest rates at or near historic lows, borrowers with a 10 percent down payment could save $254 per month on a median-priced home compared with a year ago.

•  The percentage of First Time Home Onwers that could afford to buy an entry-level home in California stood at 53 percent in the third quarter of 2008, compared with 24 percent for the same period a year ago, according to the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.).

 

• The minimum household income needed to purchase an entry-level home at $287,760 in California in the third quarter of 2008 was $56,100, based on an adjustable interest rate of 5.91 percent and assuming a 10 percent down payment. The monthly payment including taxes and insurance was $1,870 for the third quarter of 2008.

To read the full story, please click here

For more reading:

Snag a Deal on a Short Sale

Home Ownership more appealing than renting

New Home Buyer Fence Sitters may Lose out to Market

Questions on the 8,000 Federal Tax Credit

The Home Team Girls Realtors® Real Estate Team helping you with Homes For Sale, Relocations, Seller Strategies, Certified Buyer’s Agent, Bank Foreclosure Specialist, Short Sale Specialist. We use the service of a certified  Home Stager on all of our listings. For Roseville and Sacramento Realtor Services call on the Home Team Girls.

That house may fit your budget now

With home values in many areas declining, the market is providing an opportunity for many first time home buyers to purchase homes that previously may have been out of reach.  With increased affordability, families can now purchase homes with more square footage, in desirable neighborhoods, and in closer proximity to amenities and public transportation.

 

·      In California, the median price of an existing home declined to $285,680 in November 2008, down 41.8 percent from November 2007 when the median price of an existing, single-family home was $490,511.   

 

·      The average rate for 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages was 5.01 percent for the week ending Jan. 8, according to Freddie Mac. Lower interest rates coupled with lower home prices can lead to more affordable mortgage payments, enabling some homeowners to move up, and first-time home buyers to enter the market.

 

·      To qualify for the record-low interest rates, borrowers will need a down payment of at least 20 percent and a FICO score of 700 or higher.  In California, a 20 percent down payment on a median-priced home would be $57,136.  Additionally, home buyers will need to pay for any closing costs not paid by the seller. There are though still first time home buyers programs that will help a new home buyer to get into a home with little money down. Just call you Lender for more info to see if you qualify.

 ·      The large number of foreclosures on the market also is presenting an opportunity to purchase a home at a favorable price.  However, some foreclosed homes may be in disrepair and may require additional work to make the property livable.  A program offered by the Federal Housing Administration, 203K Streamline, allows home buyers to borrow as much as $35,000 more than the mortgage to pay for certain renovations, such as new paint, carpeting and appliances that a foreclosed home may need.

 

·      To calculate how much house is affordable, consumers should follow the general principle of dedicating no more than 28 percent of their gross monthly income to covering the monthly mortgage payment, including property taxes and homeowners insurance.  All debt payments combined, including mortgage, credit cards, car payments, student loans, etc., should be less than 35 percent of the gross monthly income.

 

·      Using a home-loan calculator also can be helpful to determine how much house is affordable based on a borrower’s income.  Click here for a mortgage home calculator.

 

For related articles for New Home Buyers

Best Place to Buy a Home 

Top Mistakes Buyers Make when Placing Offers

Top 10 Questions Buyers Have

Rent vs Own

 

The Home Team Girls Realtors® Real Estate Team helping you with Homes For Sale, Relocations, Seller Strategies, Certified Buyer’s Agent, Bank Foreclosure Specialist, Short Sale Specialist. We use the service of a certified  Home Stager on all of our listings. For Roseville and Sacramento Realtor Services call on the Home Team Girls.

 

 

 

How to Find out if your Landlord is in Foreclosure

Finding out if your prospective landlord is about to go into foreclosure simply a good idea for any tenant who is contemplating renting. You don’t have to wait until the Sheriff shows up at your door with an eviction notice. You can be notified immediately when a Notice of Default is filed by your landlord’s lender, indicating that a foreclosure process has begun.

Here is how to find out if your landlord is in foreclosure.

• Call a local title company and ask for customer service.
• Give the customer service rep the property address and ask for a free copy of the first  deed of trust to be emailed to you.
• Print the copy of the deed of trust, because you will need to know the document number, book, page, name of beneficiary (the lender) and name of trustor (the landlord).
• Go to http://www.foreclosureforum.com/forms/request_notice.pdf to access a free Copy of Notice of Default.
• On your computer, fill in the blanks with the information above from the deed of trust, and enter your name and address in the space provided.
• Print the Request for Copy of Notice of Default.
• Sign it in front of a notary.
• Attach a check for $11 made payable to the Sacramento County Recorder.
• Mail it to the Sacramento County Recorder, P. O. Box 839, Sacramento, CA 95812-0839.

The Request for Copy of Notice of Default will be recorded upon receipt. Then, if your landlord’s lender files a Notice of Default, you will receive a copy of it in the mail. Foreclosures in California take about 3 1/2 to 4 months to complete. This time period should give you ample opportunity to work out the problem with your landlord. You might also consider asking if your security deposit can be applied to rent because once the foreclosure is complete, your lease is no longer valid, and you might not get your security deposit back.

If you prefer to handle the entire procedure in person, you can go to the Sacramento County Recorder’s office at 600 8th Street (at the corner of 8th and F) and pull a copy of the deed of trust. Take the Request for Copy of Notice of Default with you and fill it out at the Recorder’s office. Get it notarized, pay your eleven bucks, and you’ll go on record that afternoon, providing you arrive before 3 PM. The Sacramento County Recorder’s office is open from 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. Same-day recording hours are from 8 AM to 3 PM.

Tenants in foreclosure should know that California law gives tenants the right to receive a 60-day notice.

The Home Team Girls Realtors® Real Estate Team helping you with Homes For Sale, Seller Strategies, Certified Buyer’s Agent, Bank Foreclosure Specialist, Short Sale Specialist. We use the service of a certified  Home Stager on all of our listings. For Roseville and Sacramento Realtor Services call on the Home Team Girls