Buy HUD Home for $100 Down Payment The HUD incentive program is designed to attract home buyers in the buying market to move excess housing inventory. Do not wait - this incentive program will only run for a short time! If you are looking to purchase a home with minimum cash requirements this program could be the answer! To find a list of the available homes for this program, go to hudhomestore.com, select the State of Maryland and Buyer Type as All. Buy HUD Home for $100 Down payment Requirements: Home buyer must offer the full asking price for the home Home buyer must live in the property for a minimum of 1 year (investors are not qualified for this HUD incentive program) Home buyer should use a FHA loan for the purchase of the home, e.g. (FHA 203b, 203k loans are acceptable) The home must be a HUD owned home The home buyer must use a HUD registered real estate agent or broker to qualify for this incentive … [Read more...]
Interest Rates for 30 year Conventional Fixed Rate
Interest rates for a 30 year conventional fixed rate mortgages are currently at 3.47% according to Freddie Mac's latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey. For the past 16 weeks, rate have remained historically low at or below 3.5%. The interest rate the borrower secures when buying a home not only greatly impacts their monthly housing costs,but also impacts their purchasing power. Purchasing power, simply put, is the amount of home they can afford to buy for the budget they have available to spend. As rates increase, the price of the house they can afford will decrease if they plan to stay within a certain monthly housing budget. The chart below shows what impact rising interest rates would have if they planned to purchase a home within the national median price range and planned to keep the principal and interest payments at or about $1,100 a month. Buyer's Purchasing … [Read more...]
Are you Ready to Make the Leap into Home Ownership?
Are you ready to make the leap into home ownership? Are you still living at home? Renting a home to own? While everyone moves at their own pace now is the time to take advantage of the historically low interest rates. In addition to, local and federal programs available to first time home owners. Here are some a few signs to observe to determine if it is time to own your own home. Let's take a look at some of the reasons you should consider to justify your home buying decision. Are You Sticking Around? If you plan on moving soon for a job transfer. Or, plan on moving in the future for other family reasons - it may be better to rent. However, if you are thinking about living in the same city, town or within the same county for years to come - it is time to put down roots! You will appreciate the stability that comes with home ownership. Home ownership can make you more prepared for a marriage and/or a family if that's the lifestyle you prefer. The stability of … [Read more...]
Grant monies are back
Grant monies are back! The Federal Home Loan Bank replenished their funds for 2016. They are limited though and will go very fast because the grant is very popular and easy to obtain for buyers. Federal Home Loan Bank offers $5,000 to first time home buyers if they contribute a minimum of $1,250 into buying their home. And those monies can actually be gifted as well. Buyers can actually contribute less monies but their grant will be reduced because it is based on a 4:1 ratio. For example, if a buyer wanted to obtain $2,500 of grant monies then they would only have to contribute $625 or half of the $1,250. And the fees they pay upfront can be used to meet their contribution so the earnest money deposit and appraisal fee can be used towards their minimum contribution. Here are some other reasons to consider this grant over the other grant programs if a buyer's income qualifies under it. The grant is forgivable after 5 years entirely. If a buyer vacates … [Read more...]
Homes Sell Faster When Marketed as ‘Coming Soon’ First”
"Homes Sell Faster When Marketed as 'Coming Soon' First" - Research indicates that properties marketed as "coming soon" before being listed on the MLS generally sell faster. Amanda McMillan of Chicago-based @properties says the strategy "creates excitement so that when we do list [on the MLS], we hit with a bigger bang. People are reaching out to us, trying to get in earlier." According to off MLS CEO Bob Safranski, 173 Chicago homes posted first on off MLS and then later on the local MLS spent 28 days on average as "active" in the local MLS before going under contract, compared to an average of 42 days for homes in the same ZIP codes that were not posted on off MLS first. He says the analysis offers "compelling ... evidence of the value of pre-MLS marketing on off MLS." However, agents in Chicago and other markets must obtain written permission from sellers to withhold listings from the local MLS for longer than a certain amount of time after a listing contract is … [Read more...]
Making Home Affordable (MHA) Program
WHAT IS MAKING HOME AFFORDABLE (MHA) ALL ABOUT? Making Home Affordable (MHA) Program is a critical part of the Administration's broad strategy to help homeowners avoid foreclosure and stabilize the nation's housing market. Eligible homeowners can lower their monthly mortgage payments and get into more stable loans at today's low interest rates. And for those homeowners for whom ownership is no longer affordable or desirable, the program can provide a way out that avoids foreclosure. There are also options for unemployed homeowners and homeowners who owe more than their homes are worth. ABOUT SERVICERS HOME AFFORDABLE REFINANCE PROGRAM (HARP) I'm current on my mortgage. Is it possible to refinance my loan under HARP? Yes. Eligible homeowners, who are current on their mortgages but have been unable to take advantage of lower interest rates because their homes have decreased in value, may have the opportunity to refinance. Through HARP, Fannie Mae and … [Read more...]
Ask the Experts – Should we wait to buy a home?
Ask the Experts – Should we wait to buy a home? By all means - No, the time to buy a home is now! With below market interest rates and the below average market inventory today maybe the opportune time for buyers to make the move to a new home. The Federal Reserve has delayed increasing the interest rate for fear of disrupting the future growth of the economy. Mortgage lenders eager of offer a variety of mortgage loan programs to suit your family financial status. In this current market the greatest risk to potential home buyers is to wait to jump into the market to buy a home. Buyers should always be actively looking to buy a home at bargain or below market price. A mortgage lender will determine your buying power by retrieving your credit report, reviewing your credit score and debt ratios compared to gross income. Here are some facts to consider: Home prices in the DMV have risen 3 to 8%. Prices nationwide are projected to appreciate by more than 18 percent by … [Read more...]
Interest – Only Mortgages
Interest - Only mortgages received a lot of bad press during the aftermath of the housing bust, but they have stuck around as a viable mortgage alternative to home buyers who meet rigorous lending guidelines enacted by the federal government in recent years. Interest - Only mortgages can lower monthly mortgage payments by allowing borrowers to delay paying principle on their loan for several years. The down side of this mortgage program is the increase in mortgage payments when interest-only period comes to the end. At that time, borrowers begin to pay a combination of principal and interest until the loan is paid off. The shock of the increase in monthly mortgage payments as a result of higher interest rates on adjustable-rate interest only loan loans have caused many borrowers to default on their loans in the past. This shock in monthly payments is often accompanied with a higher interest rate which results in many borrowers falling behind in their monthly … [Read more...]
Selling a Home
Selling a home seems to be a major undertaking….. Question: We are ready to list our house for sale. We would like a quick sale, want to make a reasonable profit on our investment, and save as much as possible on the commissions. Do you have any advice on how to set a fair asking price to attract buyers? Ask the Experts: Selling a home - Deciding on the right asking price is one of the most important factors when selling your home. A price that’s too high can dissuade potential buyers, while a below-market price will reduce the return on your investment. And, may cause buyers to think something’s wrong with the house. Selling a home can be tricky endeavor – To start the process consult with a real estate professional who will prepare a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) based on your home’s fine features, recent upgrades and location. The CMA will compare your home features with similar homes with similar features that have recently sold in your neighborhood. Usually, within 180 … [Read more...]
First Time Home Buyers with bad credit
First Time Home Buyers with bad credit should know their FICO score early on in the home buying process. This is one of the most important steps when investing in a home. Understanding your FICO score and obtaining a pre-approval letter from a reputable lender will greatly enhance your chances of obtaining loan approval or commitment....Your lender will determine your buying power and maximum loan amount! A mortgage lender will first start with a preliminary credit check. This process could be added to an automated underwriting system to determine any loan conditions prior to determining your buying power. Your estimated loan amount will then be computed based on your credit worthiness. First Time Home Buyers with bad credit - As a first time home buyer should talk to a mortgage lender or search online for your FICO credit score early in the process. A free credit score can be obtained from www.annualcreditreort.com. This site will provide your credit score and a report for a fee. … [Read more...]