We are often asked why there is so much paperwork mandated by the bank for a mortgage loan application when buying a home today. It seems that the bank needs to know everything about us and requires three separate sources to validate each and every entry on the application form. Many buyers are being told…
Don’t Get Caught in the Rental Trap!
There are many benefits to homeownership. One of the top ones is being able to protect yourself from rising rents and lock in your housing cost for the life of your mortgage. Don’t Become Trapped Jonathan Smoke, Chief Economist at realtor.com, reported on what he calls a “Rental Affordability Crisis.” He warns that, “Low rental…
How Supply & Demand Impacts the Real Estate Market
Some Highlights: The Concept of Supply & Demand is a simple one. The best time to sell something is when supply of that item is low & demand for that item is high! Anything under a 6-month supply is a Seller’s Market! There has not been a 6-months inventory supply since August 2012! Buyer Demand…
Whether You Rent or Buy, You’re Paying a Mortgage
There are some people that have not purchased a home because they are uncomfortable taking on the obligation of a mortgage. Everyone should realize that, unless you are living with your parents rent free, you are paying a mortgage – either yours or your landlord’s. As The Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University…
Housing Market Slowing Down? Don’t Tell Builders!
Many experts have been calling upon home builders to ramp up construction to help with the lack of existing inventory for sale. For the past two months, new home sales have surged, with July’s total coming in at the highest since October 2007. The latest estimates from the US Census Bureau and Department of Housing…
2 Myths About Mortgages That May Be Holding Back Buyers
Fannie Mae’s “What do consumers know about the Mortgage Qualification Criteria?” Study revealed that Americans are misinformed about what is required to qualify for a mortgage when purchasing a home. Myth #1: “I Need a 20% Down Payment” Fannie Mae’s survey revealed that consumers overestimate the down payment funds needed to qualify for a home…
Old Millenials Are Diving Head-first Into Homeownership
Some Highlights: ‘Old Millennials’ are defined as 25-36 year olds according to the US Census Bureau. According to NAR’s latest Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers, the median age of all first-time home buyers is 31 years old. More and more ‘Old Millennials’ are realizing that homeownership is within their reach now!
4 Stats That PROVE This Is NOT 2005 All over Again
Recent research by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) examined certain red flags that caused the housing crisis in 2005, and then compared them to today’s real estate market. Today, we want to concentrate on four of those red flags. Price to Rent Ratio Price to Income Ratio Mortgage Transactions House Flipping All four categories…
Real Life vs. Reality TV: 5 Myths Explained
Have you ever been flipping through the channels, only to find yourself glued to the couch in an HGTV ‘show hole’*? We’ve all been there… watching entire seasons of “Love it or List it,” “Fixer Upper,” “House Hunters,” “Flip or Flop,” “Property Brothers,” and so many more, just in one sitting. When you’re in the…
How Long Does It Take to Sell a House?
Whether you’re selling your home to purchase a larger home, or downsizing, one of the biggest questions is, how long will it take to sell? There are several factors that will determine that. While real estate agents don’t have a crystal ball to predict the exact date and time your home will sell, there are…
Where Are Home Prices Headed Over the Next 5 Years?
Today, many real estate conversations center on housing prices and where they may be headed. That is why we like the Home Price Expectation Survey. Every quarter, Pulsenomics surveys a nationwide panel of over one hundred economists, real estate experts, and investment & market strategists about where they believe prices are headed over the next…
The Whatley Group International 