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2023 has seen challenges for home buyers, with higher rates and lower inventory. However, as the year closed, current trends suggest a shift that could be beneficial for homebuyers. This change is primarily due to falling mortgage rates and an increase in the number of properties for sale. Decrease in Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac reports that the rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage has fallen to an average of 7.03%. This is a considerable drop from its 23-year peak of just over 8% recorded in early October. Such a reduction in mortgage rates can greatly influence the affordability and appeal of buying a home. Surge in Mortgage Applications: In response to lower mortgage rates, Redfin has observed a 15% increase in mortgage applications since early November, which previously reached a…

A lot of homeowners that are thinking about moving have an option with their home: rent it out or sell it? What to do hinges on various factors, including one's financial situation and local market conditions. Let's explore the key aspects to consider, including the financial implications of both options. Deciding Between Selling and Renting Out Your Home: A home is often the largest financial asset for many people, making the decision of what to do with it a significant one. Selling your home offers a substantial cash windfall, while renting it provides a steady monthly income. Renting also allows you to continue building equity if property values rise. Consider your personal circumstances to determine the best choice. When Selling is the Best Option: Need Cash for Next Home Purchase:…

As we approach the close of 2023, it's an opportune time for a thorough year-end financial checkup. Here's a strategic guide to ensure you enter 2024 on a financially savvy note: Evaluate Your Budget and Savings Strategy Reflect on your year's spending and saving patterns. If your savings didn't align with your plan, prioritize replenishing your emergency fund. Adjust your strategy for 2023 accordingly. Maximize Contributions to Your Retirement Plan For 401(k) participants, seize the opportunity to maximize contributions before the December 31 deadline. Note that Roth contributions have a deadline extension until April. Audit Your Insurance Coverage With housing prices on the rise in many areas, review your insurance coverage to align with current market values. Assess home coverage and consider an umbrella liability policy for comprehensive asset protection…

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has recently made a significant announcement that will impact many homebuyers and homeowners across the United States. As we step into the calendar year 2024, the FHA has updated its loan limits for both Single Family Title II forward and Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) insurance programs. This change, driven by the persistent rise in home prices throughout 2023, brings new opportunities and considerations for borrowers. Reflecting on the Housing Market Trends Julia Gordon, the Assistant Secretary for Housing and Federal Housing Commissioner, highlighted the changes as a response to the continuous upsurge in home prices witnessed nationwide in 2023. With affordability becoming a growing concern, these increased loan limits aim to make FHA’s low-down-payment financing more accessible, ensuring that well-qualified borrowers can still enter…

Starting the journey to buy your first home is an exciting venture, filled with hopes and dreams. For many first-time buyers, the financial aspect of purchasing a home, particularly the initial down payment and closing costs, can be a significant hurdle. This is where first-time home buyer grants and down payment assistance programs come into the picture, providing essential support. These grants, often funded by government agencies or non-profit organizations, are designed to make the dream of homeownership more achievable for those new to the property market. A Deep Dive into National Grant Programs Several national programs offer substantial assistance to first-time home buyers. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides valuable resources, including grants for down payment assistance and closing costs. The HUD's Good Neighbor Next…

In the ever-changing landscape of real estate finance, understanding the latest mortgage rate trends is crucial for both prospective and current homeowners. The rates for 30-year fixed, 15-year fixed, 5/1 Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs), and jumbo loans have all moved lower, marking a change from previous weeks. After climbing above 8 percent, mortgage rates have now dipped back into the 7 percent range. This shift is partly attributed to cooling inflation, hinting at potential changes in the Federal Reserve's approach. The Federal Reserve's Stance The Federal Reserve's decision to raise its key interest rate in July significantly impacted borrowing costs across various financial products, including mortgages. Despite the recent cooling of inflation, the central bank maintained its stance on another rate hike this month, signaling that higher rates may be…

Today we are going to discuss two common mortgage loan products, and the pros and cons of both FHA and Conventional Loans. Many people are familiar with the 20% down, good credit 30 year fixed conventional loan scenario. FHA loans on the other hand are designed for people who might have difficulty qualifying for a conventional loan to still get funding to buy a house. FHA Loans offer down payments as low as 3.5% and are more lenient on credit scores and past financial issues. Borrowers can qualify for FHA loans for as low as 580 credit scores. One of the downsides of FHA loans is mortgage insurance requirements, if you put down less than 10% you will be required to pay monthly insurance for the duration of the loan,…

The housing market is making affordability a big issue for many would be buyers. This can make buying a fixer-upper a lot more tempting. We’ve all seen the home make-over shows with amazing before and afters, but should you do it? Here are a few things to consider: 1. Know Your Limits: How much of the work can you do? How much time do you have to put into renovations? Are you prepared to live in a work zone for a while? 2. Work Out Costs In Advance: Have a contractor walk through the inspection with you and get a written estimate for the work he would do. If you are doing the work yourself price the costs of supplies, either way, add 15% to the costs because surprises are…

Throughout the country, low inventory in the housing market and high rent prices have many homeowners adding or considering adding ADUs (which stands for Accessory Dwelling Units). ADUs often called granny flats, are guest houses or rooms added to garages to create rental income for homeowners. Homeowners typically add ADUs to increase cash flow, as well as look for their property value to appreciate. Whether ADUs are right for you, depends on a number of factors. ADUs often cost at least $100,000 to build so being in a high-rent market helps to offset the initial investment. You’ll also need to make sure local ordinances allow them and what the regulations are. The old real estate adage about location stays true for ADUs as well. If you are in an area…

Many young Americans went to college and studied hard but in addition to getting a diploma, they also graduated with debt. Having loans is not a deal breaker but will factor into the important debt-to-income (or DTI) ratio, and mortgage underwriters are primarily looking at the numbers so having it be student loan debt isn't different from a car loan in the math. Strategies to get approved while having student loan debt Pay it down - this may be easier said than done but if you have extra money or got a raise then try to pay down the debt Consolidate it - if you can consolidate your debt and lower your monthly payment (even not the overall loan amount) this will help your monthly DTI ratio Co-sign - this…