Daydreaming About Your Perfect Home? Know What You WANT vs. What You NEED

In this day and age of being able to shop for anything anywhere, it is really important to know what you’re looking for when you start your home search. If you’ve been thinking about buying a home of your own for some time now, you’ve probably come up with a list of things that you’d LOVE to have in your new home. Many new homebuyers fantasize about the amenities that they see on television or Pinterest, and start looking at the countless homes listed for sale through rose-colored glasses. Do you really need that farmhouse sink in the kitchen in order to be happy with your home choice? Would a two-car garage be a convenience or a necessity? Could the ‘man cave’ of your dreams be a future renovation project instead of a make-or-break right now? The first step in your home buying process should be to get pre-approved for your mortgage. This allows you to know your budget before you fall in love with a home that is way outside of it. The next step is to list all the features of a home that you would like, and to qualify them as follows:

• ‘Must Haves’ – if this property does not have these items, then it shouldn’t even be considered. (ex: distance from work or family, number of bedrooms/bathrooms)
• ‘Should Haves’ – if the property hits all of the ‘must haves’ and some of the 'should haves,’ it stays in contention but does not need to have all of these features.
• ‘Absolute Wish List’ – if we find a property in our budget that has all of the ‘must haves,’ most of the ‘should haves,’ and ANY of these, it’s the winner!

Bottom Line

Having this list flushed out before starting your search will save you time and frustration, while also letting your agent know what features are most important to you before starting to show you houses in your desired area.

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NAR Letter on FHA Premiums

On Jan. 30, 2017, NAR sent a letter to Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Designee Ben Carson asking the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to reinstate the 25 basis point reduction of the annual mortgage insurance premiums that would have applied to mortgages with a closing or disbursement date of Jan. 27, 2017 and to eliminate the life of loan insurance premium. The letter makes the following key points:

• The premium reduction would have reduced costs for 750,000 to 850,000 homebuyers in 2017 with mortgages backed by the FHA and would have made… Read More

Trump Signs Regulatory Executive Order

On January 30, President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) that combines two regulatory reform measures: a regulatory “one-in, two-out” approach with a regulatory “budget”.

The “one-in, two-out” section of the order requires agencies to remove two rules for every new one they publish. The regulatory budget would allow the president to cap regulations at a certain dollar amount per year. If agencies want to issue new rules, they would be required to offset the costs by deleting old ones.

While the EO requires federal regulatory agencies to… Read More

Why you might want a house that others don’t

There aren’t many people who ask their REALTOR® to find them a house that backs up to railroad tracks or sits under a flight path. Buyers tend not to be attracted to homes on busy streets or next to a large business developments. That’s where the laws of supply and demand can work in your favor.

When lots of people don’t want something, the price is cheaper. So if you want to get in a neighborhood that’s a stretch for your budget, you might consider homes with a so-called undesirable quality. That could also help you afford a larger or nicer home than you would otherwise find in your price range.

You might even decide that some of these perceived drawbacks are actually benefits. For example, the noise and activity of a busy elementary school across the street will turn off many buyers, but consider how convenient the playground—and the school itself—would be for your young kids. Airplane noises go hand in hand with quick trips to the airport. A busy street may help you get where you want to go faster, too. 

If you want to explore properties that are more affordable due to factors that turn off some buyers, talk with your REALTOR® about your options.

5 Reasons Homeowners Throw Better Super Bowl Parties! [INFOGRAPHIC]

Highlights:

• Watching the Big Game at home with your friends & family offers many advantages.
• There’s more room to entertain a large crowd, and you don’t have to worry about complaints to your landlord if you cheer too loudly!
• The kitchen is big enough to make as many appetizers as you want, and if some of your guests are only there to watch the commercials, they can do so on a different TV in another room!

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No Matter What the Groundhog Says, Here are 5 Reasons to Sell Before Spring!

Is spring closer than we think? Depending on which groundhog you listen to today, you may have less time than you think to get your home on the market before the busy spring season. Many sellers feel that the spring is the best time to place their homes on the market as buyer demand traditionally increases at that time of year. However, the next six weeks before spring hits also have their own advantages.

Here are five reasons to sell now.

1. Demand is Strong

Foot traffic refers to the number of people who are out, physically looking at homes right now. The latest foot traffic numbers from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) show that the number of buyers out looking for their dream homes in December reached the highest mark since February 2016. These buyers are ready, willing and able to buy…and are in the market right now! Take advantage of the strong buyer activity currently in the market.

2. There Is Less Competition Now

Housing inventory just dropped to a 3.6-month supply, which is well under the 6-month supply needed for a normal housing market. This means, in many areas, there are not enough homes for sale to satisfy the number of buyers in that market. This is good news for home prices; however, additional inventory is about to come to market. There is a pent-up desire for many homeowners to move, as they were unable to sell over the last few years because of a negative equity situation. Homeowners are now seeing a return to positive equity as real estate values have increased over the last four years. Many of these homes will be coming to market soon. Also, new construction of single-family homes is again beginning to increase. A study by Harris Poll revealed that 41% of buyers would prefer to buy a new home, while only 21% prefer an existing home (38% had no preference). The choices buyers have will increase in the spring. Don’t wait for this other inventory to come to market before you sell.

3. The Process Will Be Quicker

One of the biggest challenges of the housing market has been the length of time it takes from contract to closing. Banks are requiring more and more paperwork before approving a mortgage. There is less overall business done in the winter. Therefore, the process will be less onerous than it will be in the spring. Getting your house sold and closed before the spring delays begin will lend to a smoother transaction.

4. There Will Never Be a Better Time to Move-Up

If you are moving up to a larger, more expensive home, consider doing it now. Prices are projected to appreciate by 4.7% over the next 12 months according to CoreLogic. If you are moving to a higher priced home, it will wind-up costing you more in raw dollars (both in down payment and mortgage payment) if you wait. You can also lock-in your 30-year housing expense with an interest rate around 4% right now. Rates are projected to rise by half a percentage point by the end of 2017.

5. It’s Time to Move on with Your Life

Look at the reason you decided to sell in the first place and determine whether it is worth waiting. Is money more important than being with family? Is money more important than your health? Is money more important than having the freedom to go on with your life the way you think you should? Only you know the answers to the questions above. You have the power to take back control of the situation by putting your home on the market. Perhaps, the time has come for you and your family to move on and start living the life you desire.

That is what is truly important.

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CFPB Enforcement Actions: Real Estate Brokers, a Mortgage Lender, and a Mortgage Servicer

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued multiple enforcement actions for Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) violations, including two against real estate brokers. Prospect Mortgage, LLC, received a $3.5 million penalty for paying illegal kickbacks for mortgage business referrals. Re/Max Gold Coast and Keller Williams Mid-Willamette were each fined $50k and $180k respectively, for accepting illegal payment for referrals through agreements with Prospect. Planet Home Lending, a mortgage servicer, received a $265k fine for taking illegal kickbacks from… Read More

Tax Reform Must Protect Homeownership

Published in The Hill

The 115th Congress is gearing up for an intense legislative session, and tax reform is set to play a starring role.

That’s good.

America’s tax system deserves an overhaul, with an eye toward ensuring individual tax rates are as low as possible while still providing for balanced fiscal policy.

Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle have done tremendous work to get us there, and we’re hopeful this conversation continues.

For the roughly 75 million home-owning families across the country,… Read More

Buyer Demand Is Outpacing the Supply of Homes for Sale

The price of any item is determined by the supply of that item, as well as the market demand. The National Association of REALTORS (NAR) surveys “over 50,000 real estate practitioners about their expectations for home sales, prices and market conditions” for their monthly REALTORS Confidence Index. Their latest edition sheds some light on the relationship between Seller Traffic (supply) and Buyer Traffic (demand).

Buyer Demand

The map below was created after asking the question: “How would you rate buyer traffic in your area?” The darker the blue, the stronger the demand for homes in that area. Only six states had a weak demand level.

Seller Supply

The Index also asked: “How would you rate seller traffic in your area?” As you can see from the map below, the majority of the country has weak Seller Traffic, meaning there are far fewer homes on the market than what is needed to satisfy the buyers who are out looking for their dream homes.

Bottom Line

Looking at the maps above, it is not hard to see why prices are appreciating in many areas of the country. Until the supply of homes for sale starts to meet the buyer demand, prices will continue to increase. If you are debating listing your home for sale, meet with a local real estate professional in your area who can help you capitalize on the demand in the market now!

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Buyer Demand Is Outpacing the Supply of Homes for Sale

The price of any item is determined by the supply of that item, as well as the market demand. The National Association of REALTORS (NAR) surveys “over 50,000 real estate practitioners about their expectations for home sales, prices and market conditions” for their monthly REALTORS Confidence Index. Their latest edition sheds some light on the relationship between Seller Traffic (supply) and Buyer Traffic (demand).

Buyer Demand

The map below was created after asking the question: “How would you rate buyer traffic in your area?” The darker the blue, the stronger the demand for homes in that area. Only six states had a weak demand level.

Seller Supply

The Index also asked: “How would you rate seller traffic in your area?” As you can see from the map below, the majority of the country has weak Seller Traffic, meaning there are far fewer homes on the market than what is needed to satisfy the buyers who are out looking for their dream homes.

Bottom Line

Looking at the maps above, it is not hard to see why prices are appreciating in many areas of the country. Until the supply of homes for sale starts to meet the buyer demand, prices will continue to increase. If you are debating listing your home for sale, meet with a local real estate professional in your area who can help you capitalize on the demand in the market now!

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