First Mortgage Buyer

In today’s turbulent market, buying a home is not a choice that should be made quickly, nor taken lightly. It is true that home prices are extremely low, certainly the lowest in the twenty-first century, and interest rates have never been lower, with some mortgage lenders offering interests rates between 3.5% and 4.5%. However, many fear that we have not reached the bottom yet and that with the troubles in America’s economy, it is hard to know when is the right time to purchase a home.

While we may not have reached the bottom of the housing market, it is safe to say that it is currently a buyers market. This is not a good thing if you are trying to sell a home, nor is it good for housing developers, with most areas in the United States having multiple empty lots that may not actually have a house built on them for years, if they ever do. However, while this is not good for real estate investors, it does work out well for the home buyer.

One thing to keep in mind is that there are many foreclosures available all over the country. Some cities, like Detroit, have a disproportionate number of foreclosures and empty homes, but this can be seen in almost all cities in the country. What this means is that there are thousands upon thousands of Bank Owned Homes, which are basically dead weight on the banks ledgers. So, the sooner the banks can get rid of the bad debt, even if it means taking a considerable loss, they will look better and more secure, at least on paper.

So, the buyer has a lot of flexibility when making an offer on a foreclosure, as well as having many homes to check for. Also, where once buying a foreclosure meant investing in a home that had holes in the wall, the wiring ripped out, and no AC, more and more we are seeing quality homes that are in excellent condition being foreclosed on. As a result, there is no need to get stuck with a fixer upper, unless you want one. Of course, the flip side to that, is that as a result of so many good condition foreclosures, if you do go for a fixer upper, you will likely be able to get it for much less.

Not only does the high number of foreclosed properties on the market mean that there are many low cost options out there, but this also has an effect on the price of regular homes, driving the prices lower. Again, while this isn’t a good thing in for those selling a home, it is a good thing for home buyers.

Getting Credit in this Turbulent Market

While the number of foreclosures, low home prices, and excellent interest rates make it a buyers market, most lenders have gotten much more strict about how they lend out credit. This is, of course, at odds with the fact that Congress and President Obama decided to transfer billions of our dollars to the bank, but this is besides the point. The fact is that even after this transfer of the public wealth to the major banks, they are not lending. So, getting a loan becomes a problem, especially for those with less than perfect credit.

One of the best things you can do is speak with your local credit union, as more often than not, most credit unions have been practicing much less risky lending practices and are more connected to the community.

It is also important to check your credit report and clean up and problems before applying for a loan. Remember that having a line of unused credit is often looked at as a good thing, so after paying off your debt, don’t immediately cancel your credit line, unless there is a charge for keeping it.

Getting credit is not impossible now, but it is much harder, so make sure that you look as attractive as possible before applying for a loan.

Purchasing a home is something that can provide a number of benefits, both financially and emotionally. However, it is a big responsibility and since most people do not have the funds to buy the home outright, it means taking out a mortgage. Selecting the right mortgage lender is as important, if not more so, than choosing the right home, as for most home buyers, the mortgage represents their biggest investment to date.

Finding the Best Interest Rate

When considering mortgage lenders, one of the most important factors is the interest rate that they offer, as well as the specific terms of the loan. The interest rate determines how much the monthly payment is and represents the profit that the lender will make. Interest rates can change on a hour by hour and even minute by minute basis, so one of the most important things to remember is that you can not rely upon printed mortgage rates, advertisements, or even quoted mortgage rates to be an accurate representation of the current mortgage rate.

However, while interest rates can change at a moments notice, it is possible to get a basic idea of the current mortgage rates by doing some calling around and visiting your bank. The reason it is a good idea to start with your bank, is because banks provide a nice metric for getting an idea of the standard mortgage rates in the area. Your bank will also often be able to provide you with a much quicker answer when it comes to applying for a loan and are more likely to not require any application fee until you actually close on the home.

Once you check the interest rate at your own bank, it is a good idea to spend some time exploring your other options. Mortgage brokers can sometimes provide a more competitive interest rate, as they have relationships with multiple lenders. However, a mortgage broker is not really a lender, but more of a middle man and they only get paid if you go through them to finance your mortgage, so it is important to keep in mind that they are looking to make a commission off of you. Many take points, which represent a percent of the total sale price, as their commission, which is in some regards a junk fee, meaning that it is negotiable and not necessarily a part of the actual mortgage.

Many real estate agents have relationships with mortgage brokers, so they may be able to steer you towards a reliable mortgage broker. However, keep in mind that this could also represent a conflict of interest.

There are also a number of mortgage banks, which are special banks that deal in mortgages, as opposed to the traditional checking and savings accounts found at your local bank.

Locking in an Interest Rate

Since interest rates can change so quickly, many people opt to lock in a mortgage rate with their lender. This simply means that an agreement is signed between the mortgage lender and the borrower stating that the lender will guarantee, or lock in, the interest rate for a specific period of time. This often means paying a fee or a deposit, but ensures that the interest rate will be honored, even if the interest rate goes up.

However, the flip side to this is that if the interest rate goes down, you may not be able to get them to lower it and they would certainly be under no legal obligation to do so. As a result, it is important to be very careful before entering into any type of agreement with a lender.

Watch out For Subprime Loans

While the interest rate is one of the most important parts of a mortgage, it is very important to consider several other factors, such as whether there is a penalty for paying off the loan early. Subprime mortgages are mortgages that have less than optimal terms and interest rates, but they often look very appealing if you don’t look too hard.

For example, negative amortization loans are one type of subprime mortgage, which has a considerably lower initial monthly payment. However, the payment isn’t really low and instead a portion of each monthly payment is applied to the principal of the loan. So, with each payment, the amount owed on the home actually increases, which subsequently increases the monthly payment.

Evaluating the terms of the loan and comparing it to mortgage terms that you know are acceptable, such as those provided by most local banks, is an essential step in avoiding subprime loans.

Junk Fees and Other Costs

As mentioned above, Junk Fees are extra costs on top of the standard fees that can often be negotiated down. When closing on a home, there are a number of extra fees, such as title searches, title insurance, inspections, lawyer fees, courier fees, and even credit checks. Some of these fees, like the title search or the lawyer cost, are strict and can not be negotiated. However, other fees can and should be disputed, as they are often unnecessary padding the pockets of the mortgage broker or lender.

Often the cost of a credit check and courier fee are added on, despite not really being needed or actually used. For example, most lenders check hundreds and hundreds of credit reports each year. As a result, they get a discount on their credit checks, so if they try to charge you anything more than $25, this is an indication that it is a junk fee. Since closing costs can easily cost over $3,000, it is important to carefully consider all of the costs, as well as question anything that does not feel right.

Buying a home is a big investment, in many cases the biggest investment a person will make in their life, so it is not a decision that should be taken lightly. It is very important to carefully weight the pros and cons of home ownership, to determine if it is right for you.

Advantages of Owning a Home

There are a number of advantages to owing a home, but one of the biggest ones is that instead of paying rent each month, a portion of your monthly payment is actually going towards the cost of the home. At first, the amount that goes towards the principal of the loan is very small, with most of the monthly mortgage payment going towards interest, but after about five to eight years, this slowly reverses.

Assuming the home increases in value over time, this means that even if you have not completely paid off the mortgage yet, you should be able to sell the home, getting back some of your investment and hopefully even turning a profit.

One of the other main advantages of owning a home is that there are a number of tax benefits to home ownership. For example, all of the interest you pay on your home can be deducted from your taxes, which can have a major effect on how much you get back at the end of the year.

Also, repairs and renovations can also be claimed as a deduction, so there is a big motivation to fix and renovate ones home. Not only does this make living in the home more enjoyable, but it also helps to increase the value of the home, which is a win-win situation.

In addition to the regular tax deductions, there is also a First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit Available offered by the Federal Government, which provides up to $8,000 that does not need to be paid back. This is currently available to those who have purchased a home in 2009 and the first part of 2010. In the past, there has traditionally also been a tax credit available that is basically a no-interest loan, but it has to be paid back.

One of the other main advantages to owning a home is the freedom to renovate and modify the home without having to ask anyone. This means if you want to knock down a wall to make your bedroom bigger, you don’t have to ask permission, only ensure that it can safely be done without affecting the homes structure. This applies to smaller changes too, such as changing the color of a room.

Disadvantages of Owning a Home

While there are many advantages of owning a home, there are also some disadvantages. One of the main disadvantages is that you are effectively tied to the home through a mortgage. This means you can’t just pack up and leave if you get a job in a different part of the country or if you don’t like your neighbors. Instead, you must always consider the mortgage when you are thinking about moving or leaving the area.

Also, while the ability to do pretty much whatever you want to the home can be very nice, this comes with responsibility. If a pipe breaks or there is some other sort of emergency, you can not call your landlord up like you would if you were renting. Instead, it is necessary to handle the situation on your own, including the cost.

There are also some risks of owning a home, with the main risk being that the home will loose its value. Sometimes, as can be seen in the current economic crisis, the home looses its value as homes flood the market and there end up being more low cost options available, driving the value of homes down across the board. In the case of subprime mortgages, it is also possible for the terms of the mortgage to cause how much is owed to the bank to increase faster than the value of the home increases. For this reason, it is essential to spend some time shopping around for loans and make sure to steer clear of subprime mortgages, which have higher interest rates and bad terms, such as penalties for paying the home off early.

Buying a home is a very big investment and not one that should be taken lightly. It is important to consider both the benefits and drawbacks to owning your own home, while comparing these to your personal situation. This will help you decide whether it is better to rent or purchase a home.

Renting a Home or Apartment

When you rent a home or an apartment, the monthly payment is paid to a landlord. Often, this will be the actual owner of the home, but property management companies are also popular. In either case, the rent is due at a set point each month and is paid to the property owner. As a result, money paid is not an expense each month, which comes out of pocket for the renter.

One of the major advantages of renting is that as a renter, you are not responsible for repairs or any other maintenance, aside from things like mowing the lawn or perhaps changing the filters. This doesn’t mean that you aren’t responsible for damage, but it does mean that the renter is not responsible for repairing things like the roof or the air conditioner. So, if the plumbing burst in the middle of the night, you can simply call up the landlord and by law they must come and repair the problem.

Another advantage of renting a home is that there is usually little tying the person to the home. So, for example, if they decide they want to move to a new city or a new area, they can do so with few repercussions. In the worst case scenario, assuming there is no damage to the apartment, the renter will loose their deposit, but this only happens if they break their lease.

However, there are several downsides to being a renter. One of the biggest ones is a general lack of privacy. This is because the home owner or rental property can come into your house basically whenever they want, providing they follow a few basic rules.

Also, while not having to worry about repairing things, such as a broken washer, can be nice, you can not actually modify the home as you please. Sometimes the homeowner may allow a renter to paint the walls, but this is usually it and requires the approval of the landlord.

Another disadvantage is that since a renter does not own the home, living in the home is a privilege. A disagreement with the landlord can lead to an eviction and if the landlord dies or sells the home, there is no way to guarantee you will be able to stay after the lease expires.

Buying a Home

Buying a home has a number of advantages and can be a wonderful experience, but since most people don’t have the money for the home upfront, they must take out a rather large loan called a mortgage. This means that even though you technically own the home, the bank has a lien on it and if you miss too many payments, you risk loosing the home and being foreclosed upon.

The level of debt can be a little overwhelming, but since part of each months payment is going towards the principal of the loan, you are not paying out of pocket in the same way as when you rent a home.

Of course, during the first 5 to 8 years, most of the payment is going towards the interest of the loan. During the first few years, it is common for less than 10% of each payment to actually go towards the principal of the loan. However, with that said, you are not simply throwing your money away in the same way as when renting, as ultimately, assuming the home does not loose value, some of the money paid towards a mortgage is retained.

One of the other main advantages to buying a home is the many tax credits available to a homeowner. From the first time home buyers tax credit, which is a credit of up to $8,000 that does not need to be paid back, to simply being able to claim all of your interest and maintenance costs on your taxes, there are many tax benefits to owning a home as opposed to renting.

Another advantage of owning a home is that you can do pretty much whatever you like to it. This means if you don’t like the carpet, you can simply tear it up and put down a wood floor. If you want to make the living room bigger, you can knock down a wall and don’t have to ask anyones permission.

Of course, the flip side to this is that if something breaks, it will be the homeowners responsibility to fix the problem. So, there is no one to call when the plumbing breaks at 3AM, well except perhaps for a plumber.

It is also not possible to simply walk away from a home if you do not like the area or your neighbors. It will either be necessary to find someone to buy the home or damage your credit rating. This can mean much less freedom, as most people become tied to their mortgage.