End of September Seeing Lowered Rates

The year is coming to an end and we have now seen the second cut in rates in 2019. The Federal Reserve announced that there will be a reduction in the key, short-term federal funds rate by 25 basis points to a top rate of 2%. The cut stems from a set of increases enacted in 2018.

Another big move on the Fed’s part was a reduction in the interest rate it pays on bank reserves. This move came in hopes to improve the ability of the Fed to target the federal funds rate in markets.

Concerns in the future economy has the Fed’s leadership in disagreement and their hold on the interest rate it pays on bank reserves in a weaker state. Fed regional presidents, members of the FOMC, had a disagreement that was the highest number since the year 2014. Three of the Fed regional presidents voted no for the change in in the rate. Two opposing it altogether and one urging a 50 basis point reduction.

Even with a few concerns the Fed’s still believe the labor market is strong and the economy is still rising at a “moderate” rate. This fares the same in the home building industry. Household spending is still going strong.

The action of reversing the high cycles of 2018 has been a positive in the decline in rates this year. This has been a net positive for what the future holds for the housing demand and home construction. This comes off the 10-year low for housing affordability that occurred last Fall.

The National Home Builders Association forecast there will be another cut before year end.

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Tips to Find the Best Loan for A First Time Homebuyer

There are many different kinds of mortgages to choose when purchasing a home. Not every mortgage is right for you. Here are some tips to follow when choosing which mortgage best fits your needs.
Do your homework. You will want to first research special mortgage programs. There are a great number of programs out there which can assist first-time home buyers. Programs can help with down payments, lower your interest rate or help with other expenses you might have such as a student loan. These programs can help you along the way by allowing you to build equity in your home. Professionals can help with finding the best program to suit your needs, check with your lender or Realtor.

Go with a local. Big programs such as federal programs are more well known but there are many programs for first time home buyers through their city or state. Detroit and Baltimore have used first-time home buyer programs to promote revitalization in their downtown areas. Many states have used

programs to urge first-time homebuyers to purchase their first home in rural areas. Always check your city or state government’s websites to see if there are any programs available to assist you. Another resource would be the community development or housing department.

Don’t overlook your mortgage rate. An obvious focal point is the price of your home. This is not the only thing you should focus on. Your mortgage rate is just as important. This number can tell you how much you will pay in interest every month. The lower the rate, the less you will pay. The easiest way to lower your rate is by a good credit score. Not every first-time buyer has a solid 20 % to put down with an excellent credit score. Many lenders allow you to purchase discount points with can lower your interest rate. Purchasing points is prepaying your interest rate which lowers your overall interest rate by approximately .25%. There are positives and negatives to buying down your rate with discount points. Your lender can help you with this decision.

There’s always an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM). This can be a great way to start off your first home buying experience. How an ARM works is simple. You will start off with a set period with a fixed rate which will then adjust after a certain period of time. In other words, if you have a 5/1 ARM, you will have a fixed rate for 5 years and then after the 5 years, your interest rate will adjust every year. The rates will not always rise but can also fall. If the rates have gone down you could end up paying less but if it goes up, you will pay more. This is a great way for a first-time to use the first 5 years to improve credit, lower debt and raise your income in order to get a 15 or 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.

Just like an employer interviews for the right employee, the same goes for the right lender. You need to talk to several lenders about getting a mortgage. Shopping around can give you negotiating power and the lowest mortgage rate. You will want to research average rates for your area.

Have your paperwork in order. When applying for a mortgage, your lender will want your monetary life story. Get all your documents together before meeting with a lender. Many lenders will not lock in a rate and start your application until they have all your documents.

Keep your finances the same. Do not make a huge financial change when you are in the process of obtaining a mortgage. Do not apply for a new credit card, get a new car loan, or change jobs. If you do this, the mortgage lender will have to start your application process all over again. You will need to wait even longer to close on your new home.

Getting a loan for a home can be a daunting task but if you do your due diligence, the process will be a lot less painful in the end.

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What to Negotiate When Purchasing a Home

Buying a home can be an exciting but daunting experience. Getting the right price is just one of the pieces to the negotiation puzzle. Here are eight things you can negotiate other than just the purchase price.

Number one is the closing date. Some buyers are in a hurry to close while others need more time. Many don’t realize that the closing date can be negotiated. Buyers might need to move in quickly because of a new job or might need to push the date back because their kids need to finish up the current school year. As long as the date is good for both the seller and buyer the time table can be flexible.

Second comes the closing cost. There are many factors that play into the closing cost. These include the inspection fees, appraisal fees, loan origination fees, recording fees and the lender title insurance.

The buyer is typically responsible for these one-time fees that are paid on the closing day. The buyer can negotiate for the seller to pay all or some of the closing cost. This has become more common as the home prices have continued to rise.

Third are the contingencies. Contingencies are basically an agreement on things that must be met before the real estate contract becomes binding. Contingencies can be based on financing, the home inspection, repairs, appraisals and more. A common contingency is the sale of a potential buyers old home before they can close on the home under contract.

Inspections are the fourth thing on the list and are an important factor when purchasing a home. No buyer should purchase a home without a professional inspection. If a seller refuses an inspection and wants the buyer to purchase as is, this can be a red flag.

The next thing that can be negotiated is repairs. Home inspections are there for the buyer’s protection. They can potentially reveal problems or defects that need to be resolved. The seller and buyer can negotiate who is responsible for repairs and what needs to be completed before the sale is finalized. Ways in which you can work this out with a seller is for them to make the repairs at their cost or negotiate a lower sales price of the home.

Number six is the appliances. Large appliances are usually included in this negotiation tactic. Make sure to ask what appliances the seller is willing to include in the sale of the home. A buyer should always know exactly what they are purchasing. It can work to both advantages. A seller might be willing to negotiate the washer and dryer into the sale or the buyer might want to make sure the seller does not leave a certain large appliance behind.

Seven is the taxes. When a property changes hands, many states require transfer taxes and fees. The buyer or seller can pay these fees. Before a real estate contract goes through, it should be decided who will pay the cost. In a seller’s market, the buyer usually pays the taxes and in a buyer’s market the buyer insists that the seller pays the taxes. A great way to get a leg up on the competition is to offer to pay the taxes as the buyer.

Last is the furniture. Usually the seller takes all the furniture when they sell their home. If a buyer loves the decor or a piece of furniture they can negotiate it into the sale of the home.
When negotiating on the purchase of a home it is always wise to use a Realtor. A real estate agent always has great bargaining skills and can get you the best deal on a home.

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Tips for Standing Out When Selling in a Crowded Market

A day ago CNBC.com reported that the Fall housing market will shift to a buyer’s market. Good news for those searching for a home to purchase but not quite what a potential seller of a home wants to hear. According to the website, fewer consumers believe now is a good time to purchase a home.

The site reports that appraisals have gotten more stringent and potential buyers are more cautious and are willing to take their time when it comes to purchasing a home.

These factors are contributing to  an increasingly crowded housing market. There is more competition sellers have to face. If you are planning to sell your home in the near future, here are seven tips to follow to help stand out in the crowded market.

Just like the game show title, “The Price Is Right”, price your home out of the market and it will be bypassed by potential buyers. Pricing becomes crucial in a crowded market. It is a fine line for those selling their home who want to get top dollar but want to sell fast. Pricing your home slightly lower (approximately 2% lower) than comps in your area will make your home stand out above similar listed homes in your neighborhood. The slightly lower price will be inciting to buyers when there is an abundance competition.

Always have your home’s “game face” on. If someone comes knocking at your door unexpectedly and wants to see your home, they should be welcomed into a show-ready home. It is always good to deep clean and de-clutter before you list your home. Remember, to always maintain a tidy house throughout your listing. Sellers need to be able to showcase their home at a drop of a hat.

Remember the saying “try to see it through someone else’s eyes”? This also holds true when it comes

to selling your home. Homeowners get used to the clutter or how their home looks after they have lived there for a long time. The cramped closet or clutter in the corner becomes a part of your home that you really do not notice anymore. Walk into your home looking at it from a buyer’s point of view. What should be fixed or de-cluttered? You want to put extra emphasis on features that buyers would like to have in their home.

Now days many buyers look through photos via their Realtor or the internet. The same floorplan can look very different when presented in a photo. It is crucially important to have professional photographs done of your home. A professional photographer knows how to stage and photograph a home to give it an edge over the other homes listed for sale in your neighborhood.

Again the age old saying “keep your friends close and your enemies closer” can come in handy when you and a good many of your neighbors are selling your home at the same time. Do not look at your neighbors as competition, rather look at them as teammates. Get together and work on selling you neighborhood as a great place to live. A great way to do this would be to hold a joint open house.
Highlight your homes best assets. If you renovated or made any upgrades, show them off. Make sure your home’s listing features a list of upgrades or renovations that sets your home apart from the other listings.

Last and most importantly work with a Realtor. Choose a Realtor who has a lot of inside knowledge on your neighborhood. A Realtor is trained to look at real estate trends to determine how best to sell your home and give it a leg up on the competition.

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New Homes Are Popular With Millennials

Many potential home owners have many different preferences when it comes to buying a home. According to the NAHB Economics team, millennials show an increase in interest in new homes built for sale and offered by a builder.

Statistics show that between 2007 and 2018, millennials who desired to purchase a new home, went

from 28% to 41%. Existing homes stayed around 40% in the 11-year time span and custom-built homes fell from 37% to 18% during the same time span.

The data shows that millennials, at 41%, are the first in the running when it comes to wanting a brand new home offered by a builder.  The next generation for this preference was seniors coming in at 31%. The bottom two were baby boomers at 29% and gen x at 28%.

Several factors play into the desire for new homes for millennials. They want to live in the central city, which is opposite for the majority that still want to live in the suburbs. Millennials want a set of

amenities that are not necessarily custom such as trash compactors, wet bars, built-in kitchen seating and an exercise room. Millennials are okay with smaller homes on smaller lots if they are able to get what they want in amenities and finishes.

Other data that was reported in the study looked at existing homes and custom homes built on owned lots. When it came to existing homes, baby boomers were the highest at 48%, gen x at 47%, seniors at 43% and millennials came in last at 41%. Those that desired a home custom built on an owned lot all hovered between 18% to 27%.


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Lower Mortgage Rates Encourages Gains In Existing Home Sales

New home sales are on the rise but the existing home sales are keeping up. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) total existing home sales reported a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.42 million.

The NAR reported that on a year-over-year basis, existing home sales were 0.6% up than a year ago which included single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops. This is the first year-over-year gain in almost a year and a half.

Homes stayed on the market 29 days in July 2019 with 51% of homes on the market selling in less than a month. All-cash sales composed 19% of transactions up from June 2019. Median sale price of

existing homes in July was up 4.3% from a year ago at $280,000 and existing condominium/co-op prices were up 2.5% with a median price of $254,300.

Sales by regions saw an increase, except for the Northeast and West, for existing homes sales in July 2019. Existing home sales in the Midwest grew 0.8% and in the South existing homes rose to 2.7%.
NAR has encouraged the market to add more inventory which is a good sign. The falling mortgage rates, July 2019 at 3.77%, and lower home prices are a big plus.

“We are optimistic that the latter part of this year and the early months of 2020, at least, will see a significant upturn in sales. That, in turn, will boost construction activity in due course,” wrote Ian Shepherdson, founder and chief economist of Pantheon Macroeconomics, in a research note.


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National Mortgage Rates Are at a Near 3-Year Low

According to Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, the lower mortgage rates are getting positive results from home buyers across the nation. Mortgage applications for home purchases are rising steadily and have seen the highest year-over-year change since the fall of 2017.

Here is a look at the national averages with mortgage rates Freddie Mac reported for the week ending July 25, 2019:

The 30-year fixed rate mortgages averaged 3.75% with an average 0.5 point. This was a dip from the week prior which was at an average of 3.81%. July of 2018 reported 30-year rates averaged 4.54%.

The 15-year fixed mortgages reported as the following. They averaged 3.18%, with an average 0.5 point. Again, this was a lower than last week’s which reported 3.23% average. This time last year the 15-year rates averaged 4.02%.

The average 5-year hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages was 3.47%, with an average 0.4 point. Another fall from last week’s 3.48% average. A year ago the 5-year hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) averaged 3.87%

“While the improvement has yet to impact home sales, there’s a clear firming of purchase demand that should translate into higher home sales in the second half of this year,” Khater says.


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