buyers

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The Perks of Buying over Renting

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Thinking about buying a home?

While today’s mortgage rates might seem a bit intimidating, here are two solid reasons why, if you’re ready and able, it could still be a smart move to get your own place.

1. Home Values Typically Go Up Over Time

There’s been some confusion over the past year or so about which way home prices are headed. Make no mistake, nationally they’re still going up. In fact, over the long-term, home prices almost always go up (see graph below):

 
 

Using data from the Federal Reserve (the Fed), you can see the overall trend is home prices have climbed steadily for the past 60 years. There was an exception during the 2008 housing crash when prices didn’t follow the normal pattern, but generally, home values kept rising.

This is a big reason why buying a home can be better than renting. As prices go up and you pay down your mortgage, you build equity. Over time, this growing equity can really increase your net worth. The Urban Institute says:

“Homeownership is critical for wealth building and financial stability.”

2. Rent Keeps Rising in the Long Run

Here’s another reason you may want to think about buying a home instead of renting – rent just keeps going up over the years. Sure, it might be cheaper to rent right now in some areas, but every time you renew your lease or sign a new one, you’re likely to feel the squeeze of your rent getting higher. According to data from iProperty Management, rent has been going up pretty consistently for the last 60 years, too (see graph below):

 
 

So how do you escape the cycle of rising rents? Buying a home with a fixed-rate mortgage helps you stabilize your housing costs and say goodbye to those annoying rent increases. That kind of stability is a big deal.

Your housing payments are like an investment, and you’ve got a decision to make. Do you want to invest in yourself or keep paying your landlord?

When you own your home, you’re investing in your own future. And even when renting is cheaper, that money you pay every month is gone for good.

As Dr. Jessica Lautz, Deputy Chief Economist and VP of Research at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), says:

“If a homebuyer is financially stable, able to manage monthly mortgage costs and can handle the associated household maintenance expenses, then it makes sense to purchase a home.”

Bottom Line

If you're tired of your rent going up and want to explore the many benefits of homeownership, talk to a local real estate agent to explore your options.

Read more at KeepingCurrentMatters.com

Related Links

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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How to Buy a House: 4 Ways to Purchase Faster and Smarter

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If you’re about to embark on the home-buying process, you want to know how to buy a house the quick and smart way.

The process typically takes two to three months, but in a seller’s market with low inventory and strong buyer demand, it could take six months to a year—or longer. But what if you could cut that time in half, without having to make any sacrifices? You’d do it, right?

Of course, you would.

Well, you’re in luck! Take a look at our recommendations for buying a home the smart way.

1. Let the government lend a hand

If you’re in the process of saving for a down payment, you might be able to scrape together the remainder of the money by qualifying for one of the more than 2,200 down payment assistance programs offered nationwide. These programs provide home buyers with low-interest loans, grants, and tax credits.

If you haven’t heard of down payment assistance before, you’re not alone. Many people don’t know about these programs or assume their loans are more difficult to get than they actually are.

You’ll have to meet certain eligibility requirements in terms of income, occupation, or credit, but buyers who use down payment assistance programs save an average of $17,766 between upfront savings and lower monthly mortgage payments over the life of the loan. Visit Down Payment Resource, which offers information on programs, to find a program you could be eligible for.

2. Stay on top of new listings

You can see what houses are currently for sale in your area using Realtor.com®. To stay on top of brand-new listings in your preferred area, however, ask your real estate agent to set up an automated email through the local multiple listing service so that you’ll be pinged every time a new listing that fits your needs pops up.

Tracking new listings in real-time can give you an edge over other buyers because you’ll be in a position to schedule showings right away and potentially make an offer before another buyer even steps foot inside the house.

3. Consider buying a foreclosure

Many home buyers overlook foreclosed and bank-owned properties often because they fear the condition of the home. That’s a valid concern, because foreclosed homes are frequently sold as is—which means the bank is not going to fix any problems (even if you uncover them during a home inspection). However, buying a home that’s in foreclosure has a couple of big advantages.

It’s often worth the investment, given that foreclosed homes sell for an average 15% below the home’s actual value—and foreclosed homes often sell for less than asking price. Also, because there is less competition among home buyers in this sector of the market, you’re less likely to go up against other bids when submitting an offer on a home that’s in foreclosure.

To begin your search you can browse listings of foreclosures on Realtor.com, which might also be marked as “bank owned” or “real estate owned.”

4. Certify that your finances are in order

Closing times are getting longer: On average, it now takes 50 days to reach closing, up from 40 days in 2015, according to a recent report by Ellie Mae, a company that provides mortgage solutions to consumers.

To close faster, your best move is to get pre-approved for a home loan before submitting an offer on a property. A mortgage pre-approval entails a lender running a credit check and verifying your income and assets, followed by an underwriter doing a preliminary review of your financial portfolio. If everything checks out, the lender will issue you a written commitment for financing up to a certain loan amount that’s good for up to 90 to 120 days.

Meanwhile, getting pre-qualified simply means you’ve discussed your finances with a lender and received a verbal commitment for the loan. Consequently, a pre-qualification can cause a home seller to dismiss your offer outright. And even if you somehow manage to sign a sales contract with only a pre-qualification, it’s probably going to take your lender longer to get the loan approved than if you had pre-approval.

Read more at Realtor.com

Related Links

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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Is Your House the Top Thing on a Buyer’s Wish List this Holiday Season?

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This time every year, homeowners who are planning to move have a decision to make: sell now or wait until after the holidays?

Some sellers with homes already on the market may even remove their listing until the new year.

But the truth is, many buyers want to purchase a home for the holidays, and your house might be just what they’re looking for. As an article from Fortune Builders explains:

“ . . . while a majority of people take a step back from the real estate market during the holiday months, you may find when the temperature drops, your potential for a great real estate deal starts to rise.”

To help prove that point, here are four reasons you shouldn’t wait to sell your house.

1. The desire to own a home doesn’t stop during the holidays. While a few buyers might opt to delay their moving plans until January, others may need to move now because something in their life has changed. The buyers who look for homes at this time of year are usually motivated to make their move happen and are eager to buy. A recent article from Investopedia says:

“Anyone shopping for a new home between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is likely going to be a serious buyer. Putting your home on the market at this time of year and attracting a serious buyer can often result in a quicker sale.”

2. While the supply of homes for sale has increased a little bit lately, overall inventory is still lower than it was before the pandemic. What does that mean for you? If you work with an agent to price your house at market value, it could still sell quickly because today’s buyers are craving more options – and your home may be exactly what they’re searching for.

3. You can determine the days and times that are most convenient for you for home showings. That can help you minimize disruptions to your own schedule, which can be especially important during this busy time of year. Plus, you may find buyers are more flexible on when they’ll tour a house this time of year because they have more time off from work around the holidays.

4. And finally, homes decorated for the holidays appeal to many buyers. For those buyers, it’s easy to picture gathering with their loved ones in the home and making memories of their own. An article on selling at this time of year offers this advice:

“If you’re selling around a holiday and have decorations up, make sure they accent—not overpower—a room. Less is more.”

Bottom Line

There are plenty of good reasons to put your house on the market during the holiday season. Connect with a real estate agent and see if it's the right time for you to sell.

Read more at KeepingCurrentMatters.com

Related Links

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

Search Homes in Colorado

Search Homes in North Carolina

Search Homes in Oklahoma

Search Homes in Oregon

Search homes in Minnesota

 
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