GaSandra Carlson of Envoy Mortgage talks about the FHA 203 K Loan. This is a Rehab loan that allows buyers to buy a home that needs some work and borrow enough money to Rehab the home. This loan can also be used a tool to refinance and rehab your home/. After you watch this video. If you have any questions please feel free to contact GaSandra at (503) 967-5099
GaSandra Carlson
Sales Manager
NMLS # 487425
(503) 967-5099 Office
(503) 351-1802 Cell
www.GaSandraCarlson.com
The topic of this interview with Jerry Wilson is buying Investment Property. He shares his insights of what it takes and what to expect in 2017 when it comes to financing residential income property. Jerry Wilson has been a Morgage Professional over 25 years. He has funded nearly 1 Billion dollars in transactions.
Spring is approaching fast and it is usually the busiest time of the year for home buying. After a long and cold winter, many people are ready to enjoy the nicer weather and begin to shop for a new home. Spring is also the perfect time for home buying for families with children because it allows them to move during the summer without interrupting school.
Home buying has costs associated with it other than the mortgage itself. Known as closing costs, these fees are a part of the home buying process and they are due at the time that the mortgage is finalized. Buyers, however, can negotiate these costs and reduce the expense with a little bit of effort and with the help of a good mortgage professional.
If you are thinking of buying a new home in the spring here are three helpful tips to reducing your closing costs.
Compare All of Your Mortgage Options
If you’re using mortgage financing to cover some of the up-front purchase cost of your home you’ll have other closing costs to pay including lender fees, mortgage insurance and more. Be sure to compare all of your options with your trusted mortgage adviser to ensure that you’re getting the best possible deal and paying the least amount in fees and interest.
You may also be able to save a bit on your closing costs by choosing a “no points” mortgage. In this type of mortgage you’ll end up saving on closing costs but you’ll be left paying a higher interest rate. Spend a bit of time doing the math to determine the best course of action.
Third Party Fees
Some of the closing cost fees will be associated with third party vendors that must perform required services. Home appraisals, title searches, and costs for obtaining credit reports are some of the items included in this area. While these may be a little harder to negotiate because the lender uses specific companies to perform these services, it does not hurt to ask if you can use your own appraiser or title search company.
Zero Closing Cost Mortgages
Buyers may also wish to inquire about a no closing cost mortgage. This type of mortgage eliminates all closing costs. The lender covers all of the closing cost fees in exchange or a slightly higher interest rate on the loan. In most cases the increase is less than one-quarter of a percent. This type of loan can be very helpful to buyers. Buyers can then use the money that they saved on closing costs to help with the move.
With a little preparation, you can find the best mortgage product for the up-coming spring season. Be sure to contact your experienced mortgage professional, as they will be able to help you find the right mortgage for your specific needs with the lowest out-of-pocket expenses.
While there are differing schools of thought when it comes to whether or not a person should pay off a mortgage before the loan term ends, there may be some benefits to making payments on a bi-weekly basis as opposed to monthly basis. What are some of the reasons why it may be beneficial to make two payments a month instead of one? Here are three reasons why you should ditch the monthly fees and make payments once every two weeks.
You’ll Make An Extra Payment Per Year
If you’re looking to pay off your mortgage ahead of schedule, making bi-weekly payments means you’ll make an extra payment every year. Instead of making 12 large payments every year, you’ll make 26 small payments. These 26 small payments would be equal to about 13 large payments.
This is the equivalent of an extra payment per year and 10 extra payments over 10 years. If you have a 30-year mortgage, you could pay it off between two and three years early because you will make your last payment 30 months ahead of schedule.
You’ll Provide Yourself With Financial Flexibility
Making extra payments can provide you with financial flexibility that makes it easier to deal with unexpected expenses or a job loss. As you are making a half-payment every two week, you can make your payments in smaller, more manageable chunks.
It may be a good thing if you are self-employed and may not be sure when a client will pay for services rendered. Additionally, you may have your next payment reduced or advanced if you pay more than you owe in a given month.
You’ll Reduce the Amount of Interest Paid on the Loan
Paying off your mortgage faster reduces the amount of interest that you pay on the loan. Even if you only make one extra payment per year, you could still save thousands of dollars in interest by paying your loan several months or years early.
To determine exactly how much you will save, you can use an amortization table or calculator to see how much interest you pay over the full 30 years as opposed to taking only 27 or 28 years to pay for your home. It is also important to note that making extra payments adds to the equity that you have in the home.
Making two payments instead of one each month may help you achieve financial flexibility while building equity in your home. By paying off your mortgage as soon as possible, it may enable you to put more money into a savings or retirement account. Contact a mortgage professional for more information about whether bi-weekly payments are right for you.
Steph Noble
http://stephnoblemortgageblog.com
When a rental property that is occupied by a tenant is sold to a new owner there are many details that require diligent attention. One of these areas is the utility billing and interim billing. Interim billing is one of the first things that you would want to cancel because an Owner doesn’t want to accidently pay for bill that isn’t their responsibility. This ensures proper and accurate billing. As a general rule, the tenant is responsible for all utilities for a single family home. In this case nothing changes if ownership changes and the tenant stays in place. If the house is located in a city where the population is over 100K, the owner is responsible for the garbage service. In this case, the garbage bill is changed to the name of the new Owner.
As a local property management company, we have the garbage bills mailed to our office and we pay it out of the rental income on behalf of the owner. That way the charge will be reflected on the monthly statement. This is important because this expense is a tax write-off for the home owner. If the new Owner is going to move into the property, and the tenant is going to move out, then all utilities will be a prorated amount based upon the move out date of the tenant. If the tenant moves out on the 18th of the month, then they are responsible for 18 days’ worth of electricity, water, sewer, garbage and natural gas. As the property management company for the house, we track this and make sure all these charges are distributed correctly.
We also manage condominiums and often times the owner/investor will pay the Condo Association fees that include water, sewer and garbage. These charges are also a tax write off and can be tracked for the year. Although none of this is difficult to manage, it does need to be watched carefully so all parties involved pay only their share. This careful attention to detail is what we do here at Rappold Property Management.
Rappold Property Management, LLC
1125 SE Madison Street, suite #201
Portland, OR 97214
Phone: 503-232-5990
Fax: 503-232-1462
In business, the slogan “Just Do It!” rings true and will serve you well. In the world of Property Management this is applicable as well. After all, we are trying to grow our business and be successful when we manage your asset wisely and efficiently. However, more often than not our slogan is “Just Do the Right Thing!”
As property managers we work with many vendors who complete work on our properties. We want quick, quality repairs, and at a good price for our clients. Sometimes this requires tough conversations. Navigating this world is our expertise and it is part of why you rely on us. Our fiduciary responsibility is always you, the client.
The other piece of the puzzle we have to navigate is relations with tenants. Our job is to provide clean, safe, well-maintained housing. However, and this might come as a shock, sometimes tenants can have expectations that are out of line. Just because a kitchen counter has a scratch on it doesn’t mean we need to replace the entire counter top with new, beautiful granite from Brazil. Often times a property manager has to say “no” in the most professional and courteous way possible.
Real Estate management is an active, engaging industry. One cannot just buy an investment property and watch it appreciate or mature, like treasury bonds. Having the right management in place is just as important as buying the right property at the right price. We have the expertise and experience to navigate the difficulties and pitfalls for you. Here at Rappold Property Management we take our job very seriously and we manage your property as if it were our own.
As of March 17 2014 there were about 7,821 single family and condo homes listed for sale in Portland Oregon. The median asking price of these homes was approximately $299,000. Since this time last year, the inventory of homes for sale has decreased by 2.2% and the median price has increased by 10.8%.
| March 17, 2014 | Month/Month | Year/Year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Asking Price | $299,000 | +3.3% | +10.8% |
| Home Listings/Inventory | 7,821 | -0.7% | -2.2% |
| Date | Single Family & Condo Inventory |
25th Percentile Asking Price |
Median Asking Price |
75th Percentile Asking Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/17/2014 | 7,821 | $215,000 | $299,000 | $465,000 |
| 03/10/2014 | 7,819 | $214,900 | $297,565 | $460,000 |
| 03/03/2014 | 7,870 | $214,900 | $294,900 | $450,000 |
| 02/24/2014 | 7,818 | $214,500 | $289,900 | $450,000 |
| 02/17/2014 | 7,874 | $213,000 | $289,500 | $449,900 |
The median asking price for homes in Portland peaked in April 2007 at $354,740 and is now $57,585 (16.2%) lower. From a low of $239,125 in February 2011, the median asking price in Portland has increased by $58,030 (24.3%).
Housing inventory in Portland, which is typically highest in the spring/summer and lowest in the fall/winter, peaked at 23,354 in July 2008. The lowest housing inventory level seen was 7,810 in February 2014.
| Date | Single Family & Condo Inventory |
25th Percentile Asking Price |
Median Asking Price |
75th Percentile Asking Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 2014 | 7,837 | $214,933 | $297,155 | $458,333 |
| February 2014 | 7,810 | $211,875 | $288,950 | $449,450 |
| January 2014 | 7,857 | $209,225 | $286,975 | $444,025 |
| December 2013 | 8,570 | $209,920 | $289,144 | $449,520 |
| November 2013 | 9,392 | $210,177 | $289,350 | $449,900 |
| October 2013 | 9,929 | $212,815 | $294,463 | $450,000 |
| September 2013 | 10,167 | $211,790 | $296,780 | $451,980 |
| August 2013 | 10,119 | $210,875 | $297,000 | $450,000 |
| July 2013 | 9,490 | $206,640 | $296,560 | $450,000 |
| June 2013 | 8,858 | $199,688 | $288,694 | $449,975 |
| May 2013 | 8,527 | $194,888 | $281,850 | $446,900 |
| April 2013 | 8,075 | $186,800 | $274,540 | $439,060 |
| March 2013 | 7,969 | $182,923 | $267,425 | $427,213 |
| February 2013 | 7,981 | $179,900 | $262,450 | $419,731 |
| January 2013 | 8,250 | $179,075 | $259,217 | $404,725 |
| December 2012 | 8,627 | $178,900 | $259,720 | $405,750 |
| November 2012 | 9,408 | $179,675 | $260,950 | $408,963 |
| October 2012 | 10,259 | $179,900 | $267,160 | $418,600 |
| September 2012 | 10,828 | $179,900 | $268,975 | $418,450 |
| August 2012 | 11,102 | $179,675 | $268,725 | $418,500 |
| July 2012 | 11,140 | $177,600 | $266,598 | $411,651 |
| June 2012 | 11,362 | $174,825 | $259,675 | $399,950 |
| May 2012 | 11,227 | $169,713 | $252,463 | $399,450 |
| April 2012 | 10,820 | $169,160 | $249,910 | $397,940 |
| March 2012 | 9,683 | $174,450 | $259,450 | $406,225 |
| February 2012 | 10,549 | $169,225 | $248,250 | $388,025 |
| January 2012 | 10,833 | $169,080 | $246,960 | $381,960 |
| December 2011 | 11,461 | $169,925 | $248,375 | $385,675 |
| November 2011 | 12,018 | $174,750 | $250,972 | $397,425 |
| October 2011 | 12,846 | $179,530 | $258,720 | $399,900 |
| September 2011 | 13,509 | $179,939 | $259,900 | $399,900 |
| August 2011 | 14,672 | $179,360 | $256,590 | $395,540 |
| July 2011 | 14,772 | $178,150 | $253,188 | $389,225 |
| June 2011 | 14,762 | $176,475 | $250,970 | $386,970 |
| May 2011 | 14,582 | $173,184 | $249,160 | $375,780 |
| April 2011 | 14,748 | $169,950 | $242,400 | $364,975 |
| March 2011 | 15,458 | $169,800 | $239,675 | $359,575 |
| February 2011 | 15,531 | $169,675 | $239,125 | $354,725 |
| January 2011 | 15,001 | $170,760 | $239,158 | $356,380 |
| December 2010 | 16,118 | $176,200 | $242,700 | $363,363 |
| November 2010 | 17,018 | $180,160 | $249,330 | $373,780 |
| October 2010 | 17,614 | $184,975 | $253,375 | $381,975 |
| September 2010 | 18,282 | $189,100 | $258,925 | $390,950 |
| August 2010 | 18,579 | $190,940 | $261,150 | $397,160 |
| July 2010 | 18,160 | $195,163 | $267,475 | $399,000 |
| June 2010 | 17,488 | $196,853 | $268,875 | $399,800 |
| May 2010 | 17,035 | $198,880 | $269,620 | $399,818 |
| April 2010 | 17,279 | $198,000 | $266,750 | $392,500 |
| March 2010 | 16,495 | $195,600 | $264,460 | $393,960 |
| February 2010 | 15,382 | $194,938 | $264,450 | $395,198 |
| January 2010 | 14,895 | $197,819 | $267,425 | $399,225 |
| December 2009 | 15,329 | $199,897 | $272,038 | $402,212 |
| November 2009 | 15,902 | $202,750 | $277,760 | $417,780 |
| October 2009 | 16,573 | $209,675 | $283,646 | $428,225 |
| September 2009 | 17,165 | $210,000 | $289,475 | $436,100 |
| August 2009 | 17,595 | $211,760 | $292,880 | $444,320 |
| July 2009 | 17,819 | $212,950 | $294,950 | $449,000 |
| June 2009 | 17,870 | $213,460 | $294,920 | $449,100 |
| May 2009 | 17,713 | $211,475 | $293,291 | $445,250 |
| April 2009 | 17,978 | $212,525 | $289,925 | $444,725 |
| March 2009 | 18,506 | $214,153 | $289,930 | $443,360 |
| February 2009 | 18,449 | $216,014 | $293,968 | $448,125 |
| January 2009 | 18,872 | $219,952 | $297,855 | $452,809 |
| December 2008 | 19,842 | $223,220 | $302,773 | $458,508 |
| November 2008 | 20,983 | $226,382 | $307,532 | $464,024 |
| October 2008 | 22,086 | $229,650 | $312,450 | $469,724 |
| September 2008 | 22,973 | $233,730 | $319,580 | $474,990 |
| August 2008 | 23,314 | $235,200 | $322,000 | $475,725 |
| July 2008 | 23,354 | $236,074 | $324,550 | $475,000 |
| June 2008 | 22,657 | $239,150 | $324,920 | $479,459 |
| May 2008 | 21,505 | $239,900 | $325,000 | $480,947 |
| April 2008 | 20,669 | $239,900 | $324,937 | $479,912 |
| March 2008 | 19,381 | $241,300 | $324,860 | $485,960 |
| February 2008 | 18,409 | $240,485 | $324,925 | $479,912 |
| January 2008 | 17,659 | $243,500 | $324,962 | $481,765 |
| December 2007 | 18,584 | $245,120 | $327,975 | $489,355 |
| November 2007 | 19,926 | $248,665 | $330,475 | $486,425 |
| October 2007 | 20,762 | $249,950 | $337,260 | $493,980 |
| September 2007 | 20,656 | $253,425 | $339,900 | $497,749 |
| August 2007 | 19,837 | $257,712 | $342,975 | $499,124 |
| July 2007 | 18,710 | $261,120 | $349,120 | $499,930 |
| June 2007 | 17,670 | $264,282 | $349,950 | $507,949 |
| May 2007 | 16,386 | $264,900 | $350,975 | $512,662 |
| April 2007 | 15,059 | $264,900 | $354,740 | $517,740 |
| March 2007 | 13,897 | $264,450 | $353,850 | $523,425 |
| February 2007 | 13,814 | $258,517 | $349,800 | $516,750 |
| January 2007 | 13,726 | $255,810 | $349,637 | $507,441 |
| December 2006 | 14,746 | $257,149 | $348,246 | $499,949 |
| November 2006 | 15,671 | $258,837 | $348,750 | $499,900 |
| October 2006 | 16,027 | $259,640 | $348,834 | $499,900 |
| September 2006 | 15,239 | $261,098 | $349,675 | $499,937 |
| August 2006 | 14,029 | $264,925 | $350,737 | $518,587 |
| July 2006 | 12,864 | $264,920 | $350,470 | $525,980 |
| June 2006 | 11,261 | $264,925 | $349,975 | $530,937 |
| May 2006 | 9,804 | $262,340 | $350,940 | $532,360 |
| April 2006 | 8,701 | $256,433 | $346,433 | $526,224 |
Data on deptofnumbers.com is for informational purposes only. No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is offered or implied. Contact ben@deptofnumbers.com (or @deptofnumbers on Twitter) if you have any questions, comments or suggestions. Privacy policy.
The ability to smoke in public and at apartment communities has been under attack for years. But what about rental homes? Often times an owner plans to rent their home for only a year or two. Certainly the owner does not want to receive the house back with the smell of cigarette smoke still lingering in the house. Even if the renter was a model tenant in all other respects, cigarette smoke can be very destructive. Smoking turns walls yellow (new paint job $1,200), it destroys carpets ($1,500), and it requires a deeper cleaning, perhaps with a deionizer ($500). The cost of all this stress…priceless.
The best approach? In all of our homes we have a no smoking policy. However, we do allow the renter to smoke outside, perhaps on the porch or deck. However, this issue can be a hard one to enforce. What if it’s cold outside? Who wants to stand outside when it’s only 35 degrees? The renter is easily tempted to stand inside the house or close to an open window and light up. Inevitably, smoke gets in the house and the home owner smells the evidence. A good suggestion is to do an inspection within the first month or two of a new lease if you know the renter smokes. Catch the problem early. Then do another inspection a few months later to make sure. If you detect smoke after the tenant moves out, a landlord can charge the tenant for the remediation of the smell. But this can be a tricky proposition. It is always best to be pro-active and keep this issue from becoming a possible expense. It is less ideal to react and pursue a vacating tenant for money.
You can always call Rappold Property Management with questions about your single family home investment.
Troy Rappold
Rappold Property Management, LLC
1125 SE Madison Street, suite #201
Portland, OR 97214
Phone: 503-232-5990
Fax: 503-232-1462
It’s getting close to that time of year again — time to have a garage sale at your home!
Here are a few tips to help you have your most successful garage sale ever.
Advertise Your Sale In Local Newspapers And Online
Many of the habitual Saturday morning garage sale patrons use the paper to plan their treasure hunts.
They do this to make sure they hit all of the sales in certain neighborhoods.
In the ad, mention your home address, date and time of your garage sale and any big or popular items you’ll be selling.
Open Your Sale Early
It’s best to open early, such as around seven in the morning a sales tend to taper off in the afternoon.
Don’t disappoint early shoppers who are typically your best buyers.
They have a busy schedule and a lot of stops to hit.
Open on time or even a few minutes before the time you advertised.
Make Plenty Of Signs To Guide Customers In
If your yard is difficult to see or is not on a main road, be sure to post signs pointing the way.
If allowed, attach a few balloons to it which will catch the attention of passing motorists.
Have Everything Labeled With Reasonable Prices
You’ll get some customers who try to haggle, but for most customers, not knowing the prices is a quick way to have them moving on to another sale.
Keep in mind that these shoppers are looking for a bargain and price accordingly.
You can individually label each item, or use an easily readable color-coded chart.
For instance, a blue sticker means 25 cents, red stickers mean 50 cents and yellow stickers mean $1.
Offer Specials At Different Points During The Garage Sale
You can offer a 2-for-1 sale or a twenty percent off special.
At the end of the day, you may want to have an unadvertised special such as fill a bag for $1 to get rid of as much as possible.
It’s always a good idea to have a “free box” for items that are already low-priced and don’t move during the first half of the sale.
Donate Leftovers
Make your life easier and do something for others by donating any items that don’t sell.
If you plan carefully, you can schedule a pick up by your local charitable organization at the end of your garage sale.
Garage sales are a great way to get the clutter and unused collection of items out of your house while recycling them at the same time.
Using these tips, you’re well on your way to having your best garage sale ever.
Steph Noble
http://stephnoblemortgageblog.com/
As of April 08 2013 there were about 8,039 single family and condo homes listed for sale in Portland Oregon. The median asking price of these homes was approximately $274,000. Since this time last year, the inventory of homes for sale has decreased by 24.4% and the median price has increased by 9.6%.
| April 08, 2013 | Month/Month | Year/Year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Asking Price | $274,000 | +3.4% | +9.6% |
| Home Listings/Inventory | 8,039 | +0.8% | -24.4% |
| Date | Single Family & Condo Inventory |
25th Percentile Asking Price |
Median Asking Price |
75th Percentile Asking Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/08/2013 | 8,039 | $185,000 | $274,000 | $439,000 |
| 04/01/2013 | 7,836 | $185,000 | $269,900 | $429,900 |
| 03/25/2013 | 7,975 | $184,990 | $269,900 | $429,950 |
| 03/18/2013 | 7,998 | $184,900 | $269,900 | $429,000 |
| 03/11/2013 | 7,979 | $181,900 | $265,000 | $425,000 |
The median asking price for homes in Portland peaked in April 2007 at $354,740 and is now $82,790 (23.3%) lower. From a low of $239,125 in February 2011, the median asking price in Portland has increased by $32,825 (13.7%).
Housing inventory in Portland, which is typically highest in the spring/summer and lowest in the fall/winter, peaked at 23,354 in July 2008. The lowest housing inventory level seen was 7,938 in April 2013.
| Date | Single Family & Condo Inventory |
25th Percentile Asking Price |
Median Asking Price |
75th Percentile Asking Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2013 | 7,938 | $185,000 | $271,950 | $434,450 |
| March 2013 | 7,969 | $182,923 | $267,425 | $427,213 |
| February 2013 | 7,981 | $179,900 | $262,450 | $419,731 |
| January 2013 | 8,250 | $179,075 | $259,217 | $404,725 |
| December 2012 | 8,627 | $178,900 | $259,720 | $405,750 |
| November 2012 | 9,408 | $179,675 | $260,950 | $408,963 |
| October 2012 | 10,259 | $179,900 | $267,160 | $418,600 |
| September 2012 | 10,828 | $179,900 | $268,975 | $418,450 |
| August 2012 | 11,102 | $179,675 | $268,725 | $418,500 |
| July 2012 | 11,140 | $177,600 | $266,598 | $411,651 |
| June 2012 | 11,362 | $174,825 | $259,675 | $399,950 |
| May 2012 | 11,227 | $169,713 | $252,463 | $399,450 |
| April 2012 | 10,820 | $169,160 | $249,910 | $397,940 |
| March 2012 | 9,683 | $174,450 | $259,450 | $406,225 |
| February 2012 | 10,549 | $169,225 | $248,250 | $388,025 |
| January 2012 | 10,833 | $169,080 | $246,960 | $381,960 |
| December 2011 | 11,461 | $169,925 | $248,375 | $385,675 |
| November 2011 | 12,018 | $174,750 | $250,972 | $397,425 |
| October 2011 | 12,846 | $179,530 | $258,720 | $399,900 |
| September 2011 | 13,509 | $179,939 | $259,900 | $399,900 |
| August 2011 | 14,672 | $179,360 | $256,590 | $395,540 |
| July 2011 | 14,772 | $178,150 | $253,188 | $389,225 |
| June 2011 | 14,762 | $176,475 | $250,970 | $386,970 |
| May 2011 | 14,582 | $173,184 | $249,160 | $375,780 |
| April 2011 | 14,748 | $169,950 | $242,400 | $364,975 |
| March 2011 | 15,458 | $169,800 | $239,675 | $359,575 |
| February 2011 | 15,531 | $169,675 | $239,125 | $354,725 |
| January 2011 | 15,001 | $170,760 | $239,158 | $356,380 |
| December 2010 | 16,118 | $176,200 | $242,700 | $363,363 |
| November 2010 | 17,018 | $180,160 | $249,330 | $373,780 |
| October 2010 | 17,614 | $184,975 | $253,375 | $381,975 |
| September 2010 | 18,282 | $189,100 | $258,925 | $390,950 |
| August 2010 | 18,579 | $190,940 | $261,150 | $397,160 |
| July 2010 | 18,160 | $195,163 | $267,475 | $399,000 |
| June 2010 | 17,488 | $196,853 | $268,875 | $399,800 |
| May 2010 | 17,035 | $198,880 | $269,620 | $399,818 |
| April 2010 | 17,279 | $198,000 | $266,750 | $392,500 |
| March 2010 | 16,495 | $195,600 | $264,460 | $393,960 |
| February 2010 | 15,382 | $194,938 | $264,450 | $395,198 |
| January 2010 | 14,895 | $197,819 | $267,425 | $399,225 |
| December 2009 | 15,329 | $199,897 | $272,038 | $402,212 |
| November 2009 | 15,902 | $202,750 | $277,760 | $417,780 |
| October 2009 | 16,573 | $209,675 | $283,646 | $428,225 |
| September 2009 | 17,165 | $210,000 | $289,475 | $436,100 |
| August 2009 | 17,595 | $211,760 | $292,880 | $444,320 |
| July 2009 | 17,819 | $212,950 | $294,950 | $449,000 |
| June 2009 | 17,870 | $213,460 | $294,920 | $449,100 |
| May 2009 | 17,713 | $211,475 | $293,291 | $445,250 |
| April 2009 | 17,978 | $212,525 | $289,925 | $444,725 |
| March 2009 | 18,506 | $214,153 | $289,930 | $443,360 |
| February 2009 | 18,449 | $216,014 | $293,968 | $448,125 |
| January 2009 | 18,872 | $219,952 | $297,855 | $452,809 |
| December 2008 | 19,842 | $223,220 | $302,773 | $458,508 |
| November 2008 | 20,983 | $226,382 | $307,532 | $464,024 |
| October 2008 | 22,086 | $229,650 | $312,450 | $469,724 |
| September 2008 | 22,973 | $233,730 | $319,580 | $474,990 |
| August 2008 | 23,314 | $235,200 | $322,000 | $475,725 |
| July 2008 | 23,354 | $236,074 | $324,550 | $475,000 |
| June 2008 | 22,657 | $239,150 | $324,920 | $479,459 |
| May 2008 | 21,505 | $239,900 | $325,000 | $480,947 |
| April 2008 | 20,669 | $239,900 | $324,937 | $479,912 |
| March 2008 | 19,381 | $241,300 | $324,860 | $485,960 |
| February 2008 | 18,409 | $240,485 | $324,925 | $479,912 |
| January 2008 | 17,659 | $243,500 | $324,962 | $481,765 |
| December 2007 | 18,584 | $245,120 | $327,975 | $489,355 |
| November 2007 | 19,926 | $248,665 | $330,475 | $486,425 |
| October 2007 | 20,762 | $249,950 | $337,260 | $493,980 |
| September 2007 | 20,656 | $253,425 | $339,900 | $497,749 |
| August 2007 | 19,837 | $257,712 | $342,975 | $499,124 |
| July 2007 | 18,710 | $261,120 | $349,120 | $499,930 |
| June 2007 | 17,670 | $264,282 | $349,950 | $507,949 |
| May 2007 | 16,386 | $264,900 | $350,975 | $512,662 |
| April 2007 | 15,059 | $264,900 | $354,740 | $517,740 |
| March 2007 | 13,897 | $264,450 | $353,850 | $523,425 |
| February 2007 | 13,814 | $258,517 | $349,800 | $516,750 |
| January 2007 | 13,726 | $255,810 | $349,637 | $507,441 |
| December 2006 | 14,746 | $257,149 | $348,246 | $499,949 |
| November 2006 | 15,671 | $258,837 | $348,750 | $499,900 |
| October 2006 | 16,027 | $259,640 | $348,834 | $499,900 |
| September 2006 | 15,239 | $261,098 | $349,675 | $499,937 |
| August 2006 | 14,029 | $264,925 | $350,737 | $518,587 |
| July 2006 | 12,864 | $264,920 | $350,470 | $525,980 |
| June 2006 | 11,261 | $264,925 | $349,975 | $530,937 |
| May 2006 | 9,804 | $262,340 | $350,940 | $532,360 |
| April 2006 | 8,701 | $256,433 | $346,433 | $526,224 |
The Department of Numbers contextualizes public data so that individuals can form independent opinions on everyday social and economic matters.
Buying real estate for the first time is a very exciting step in life.
It is likely to be one of the biggest financial commitments that you make, so it’s very important to navigate the purchasing process wisely.
Many first-time home buyers make rookie mistakes that bring on negative consequences and a lot of frustration.
Outlined below are common errors home buyers make, so you can learn from their missteps and avoid them yourself.
1. Buying More Than What You Can Truly Afford
Just because the bank says that you qualify a certain amount for a mortgage doesn’t mean that you have to choose a house at the very top of this price range.
Many people get carried away and buy the most expensive house that they qualify for.
If something unexpected happens, they may find it difficult to keep up with their monthly mortgage payments later on.
Remember that you will also have student loan payments, vehicle costs, credit card bills, health insurance, groceries, retirement savings and other expenses, so make sure that your mortgage payments will comfortably fit within your budget.
2. Failing To Get A Home Inspection
Before buying a house, you should always have a professional inspection done. Not doing so is a big mistake.
You don’t want to get stuck with hidden damage that could saddle you with the expense of ongoing repairs.
Hiring a professional to assess the home’s condition is absolutely essential before making your final decision.
3. Disregarding Your Future
When you are buying real estate, don’t just think about how the home will work for you in the immediate future.
Also consider what your needs will be five, ten or even 20 years from now.
Find out the development plans for the neighborhood.
Look for reputable schools if you intend to start a family.
And consider whether the street’s home values are likely to increase or decline in the future.
Your Next Steps
Don’t let the home-buying process overwhelm you!
Learn from these common first-time home buyers’ mistakes, so you can avoid them.
A great next step toward planning for your first home purchase is to consult with a trusted, licensed mortgage professional who is trained in providing the best advice on how a new home will affect your budget.
Steph Noble
http://stephnoblemortgageblog.com/
Staging is the art of preparing your home for sale before showing it to prospective buyers.
The point of staging is to highlight the house’s strengths, downplay its weaknesses and make it more appealing.
With the right decorating techniques, you can win buyers over the moment they step through the door.
Below are a few staging tips to help make your house irresistible to potential buyers.
Put Everything Away
The first step is to put away anything that is not essential. This will open up the house so that it appears more spacious.
Even if you have to rent a storage unit, finding a new home for all of your family’s projects and collections should clear some space and help buyers imagine their own belongings in your home for sale.
Pay special attention to entryways and narrow hallways to improve your prospective buyer’s sense of spaciousness.
Get Rid Of Clutter
Be sure to clear off the things that gather on kitchen counters and surfaces, such as old magazines and stacks of mail.
Also, emptying out your closets of half of the things inside them will make them look much roomier.
Use this time as an opportunity to thin the number of largely unused items that your family has collected over the years.
And look on the bright side; moving into a new house will be much easier after you have donated your unneeded items to a charity.
Fresh Scents Make Sense
You would be surprised by how much the sense of smell comes into play when buyers are viewing a house.
To avoid turning buyers off with pet or smoke odors, make sure you give each room a deep clean, including the air vents and carpeting.
Just covering up stale odors with air fresheners won’t do the job.
Let In The Light
Buyers are looking for spacious rooms with a lot of natural light, so make sure you open the blinds and turn on all the lights.
If you have rooms that are a bit dark, you can add floor lamps to make them brighter or flowers to suggest sunlight.
Home staging can make a big difference in how potential buyers see your home for sale, so make sure you set the mood to make it as attractive as possible.
http://stephnoblemortgageblog.com
Although the financial markets have tightened lending guidelines and financing requirements over the last few years, the right advice when applying for your loan can make a big difference.
Not all loans are approved. And even when they aren’t approved immediately, it doesn’t have to be the end of your real estate dreams.
There are many reasons why a mortgage loan for the purchase of your real estate could be declined.
Here are a few things to understand and prepare for when applying for a mortgage:
Loan-to-Value Ratio
The loan-to-value ratio (LTV) is the percentage of the appraised value of the real estate that you are trying to finance.
For example, if you are trying to finance a home that costs $100,000, and want to borrow $75,000, your LTV is 75%.
Lenders generally don’t like a high LTV ratio. The higher the ratio, the harder it normally is to qualify for a mortgage.
You can positively affect the LTV by saving for a larger down payment.
Credit-to-Debt Ratio
Your credit score can be affected negatively, which in turn affects your mortgage loan if you have a high credit-to-debt ratio.
The ratio is figured by dividing the amount of credit available to you on a credit card or auto loan, and dividing it by how much you are currently owe.
High debt loads make a borrower less attractive to many lenders.
Try to keep your debt to under 50% of what is available to you. Lenders will appreciate it, and you will be more likely to get approved for a mortgage.
No Credit or Bad Credit
Few things can derail your mortgage loan approval like negative credit issues.
Having no credit record can sometimes present as much difficulty with your loan approval as having negative credit.
With no record of timely loan payments in your credit history, a lender is unable to determine your likelihood to repay the new mortgage.
Some lenders and loan programs may consider other records of payment, like utility bills and rent reports from your landlord.
Talk to your loan officer to determine which of these issues might apply to you, and take the steps to correct them.
Then, you can finance the home of your dreams.
This past week, several reports were released, all of which showed that declining home inventory is affecting sales. This decline is creating a seller’s market in which multiple bids are being made to purchase homes. According to the National Association of Realtors, existing home sales fell 1% in December, but were still at the second highest level since November, 2009. Inventory of homes for sale fell 8.5 from November, the lowest level since January of 2001, and are down 21.6% from December of 2011.
Following that lead, pending home sales dropped 4.34% in December to 101.7 from 106.3 in November, yet was 6.9% higher than December, 2011, according to the National Association of Realtors. The Chief Economist at NAR stated that “supplies of homes costing less than $100,000 are tight in much of the country, especially in the West, so first time buyers have fewer options”. Mortgage ratesare still low, affordability is still there, but the available homes are dwindling. In the meantime, home prices are increasing at a faster pace. According to the latest S&P/Case-Shiller index for November, property values rose 5.5% from November of 2011 which was the highest year over year increase since August of 2006.
The cause of the low inventory can be attributed to several factors. For the week ending January 18th, loan applications increased 7.0% on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the Mortgage Banker’s Association. The Refinance Index rose 8% with refinances representing 82% of all applications. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index rose 3%, the highest level since May, 2010. Many homeowners have chosen a mortgage refinance instead of moving to another home which is one reason that inventory is down. In addition, many underwater homeowners have refinanced through the HARP program which is available for loans that were sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac prior to June 1, 2009. These homeowners may not yet be in a position to sell their homes until they have gained back enough equity. As home prices increase, this will eventually happen. The same can be said for those who refinanced through the FHA streamline program which is offering reduced fees for loans that were endorsed prior to June 1, 2009. Refinancing through these two government programs, both available until the end of 2013, hit all time highs in 2012.
Home builders are busy, but not currently building new homes at the rate that was seen during the housing boom. According to the Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, total new homes sales in 2012 hit the highest level seen since 2009 and were up 19.9% from 2011. There was much progress made in 2012, but sales for new homes fell 7.3% in December.
On the down side, the Census Bureau reported that homeownership fell 0.6% to 65.4% during December, down from 65.5% at the end of October and 66% at the end of 2011. Homeownership reached a peak of 69.2% in 2004 and has been falling since that time. The latest Consumer Confidence index dropped to 58.6 which is the weakest since November of 2011. It was previously at a revised 66.7 in December. This fell more than expected and is due to the higher payroll tax that is taking more out of the pockets of consumers.
The housing market, which is still in recovery, remains fragile. The lack of inventory and the rise of home prices may affect its progress this year. As home prices increase, fewer consumers will be able to qualify for a home loan. Existing homeowners may choose to refinance remain where they are instead of purchasing another home. While jobless claims have fallen, there are still many consumers who are out of work or are working lower paid jobs. The housing market is dependent on jobs, not just for salaries, but for consumer movement from one area to another.
FreeRateUpdate.com surveys more than two dozen wholesale and direct lenders’ rate sheets to determine the most accurate mortgage rates available to well qualified consumers at about a 1 point origination fee.
http://ml-implode.com/viewnews/2013-01-30_DecliningHomeInventoryAffectingSales.html
