Buying a home isn't cheap. But if you're determined to become a homeowner, the FHA home loan program can help. This loan program, ideal for first-time buyers with low incomes, can help you to build your credit and make home ownership a reality. So why should you consider an FHA loan? Here are just a few ways you'll benefit from these government-backed mortgages. You Can Get Approved With Just 3.5% Down Traditional mortgage lenders typically require you to pay 20% down on your mortgage, or 5% if you have good credit and agree to pay mortgage insurance premiums. But for a lot of younger people … [Read More...]
When delving into the world of real estate and investment property, there are many terms that will come up that require further explanation. Whether you've never heard the phrase 'home equity' before or you have a little familiarity, here are the ins and out of what it means and how this asset can help your financial outlook. All About Home Equity Essentially, home equity refers to your portion of the value of your home, and the amount of this figure is important because it is included among your assets when determining your net worth. If this sounds confusing, think of it this way: if you … [Read More...]
Last week's economic events included S&P Case-Shiller's home price indexes, reports on new and pending home sales and the Fed's FOMC statement. The details: Case-Shiller Reports Fast Paced Home Price Growth According to S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Indexes, U.S. home prices grew at their fastest pace in 16 months in November. Portland, Oregon led the charge with home prices increasing 11.10 percent year-over-year followed by San Francisco, California at 11.0 percent; Denver, Colorado posted a year-over-year gain of 10.90 percent. 14 cities posted home price gains while four cities … [Read More...]
According to statement issued at the conclusion of today's Federal Open Market Committee meeting, committee members decided against raising the target federal funds rate. Mixed economic conditions, slower economic growth in the 4th quarter and low inflation contributed to the decision against raising rates. The target federal funds rate was raised in December to a range of 0.25 to 1.59 percent after remaining at 0.00 to 0.25 percent for several years. While rising fed rates were expected to cause a hike in mortgage rates, mortgage rates fell after December's rate hike. Committee Cites Mixed … [Read More...]
What Is A Counter-Offer? The video puts this in more visual terms, but basically, a seller can respond to a buyer's offer with changes - a "counter" - that improves the terms.You need to put yourself in their shoes and construct a modified offer that you think they might take that meets more of your needs. Then it's their turn - accept, reject, or construct yet another counter.It's an efficient market process, but beware: clauses and costs matter. Your broker should be closely involved in constructing a counter. Successful bargaining is best done with a win/win approach where each side is … [Read More...]
The cooler months of winter often seem like the best time to hibernate into your house and wait for spring to appear, but it can actually be a prime opportunity to start looking for a new home. If you're not interested in waiting until next season, here are a few reasons you may want to get started on your home search a little earlier than expected. Opportunity For A Lower Price With prime moving time occurring during the months of fall and spring, there's a good chance that a home purchase will end up costing you less in winter than it will during other times of the year. Most home sellers … [Read More...]
