You don’t have to be a news hound to know about inflation these days. You may have also heard about the Federal Reserve aggressively raising its main borrower rate to help combat inflation.
As we previously noted, long term mortgage rates are not directly tied to the Fed rate. So while home loan rates have gone up from their historic lows of a year ago, this week rates actually dropped significantly for 30 year mortgages. According to Freddie Mac the 30-year rate fell considerably to 4.99% down from 5.3% last week.

The average long-term US mortgage rate fell below 5% for the first time in four months, days after the Federal Reserve jacked up its main borrowing rate in an aggressive effort to get inflation under control.

The 30-year rate tumbled to 4.99% from 5.3% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday. A year ago, the rate was 2.77%.

Rates are definitely violatile as there are mixed signals on recession (and its potential depth) as Freddie Mac’s economist Sam Khater noted, “mortgage rates remained volatile due to the tug of war between inflationary pressures and a clear slowdown in economic growth, high uncertainty surrounding inflation and other factors will likely cause rates to remain variable, especially as the Federal Reserve attempts to navigate the current economic environment.”

Definitely check in with us about current rates and we can see what program best fits your needs, just schedule a consultation or fill out our qualify wizard on our website.

You can lock in a mortgage rate after you’ve made an offer on a house and have a signed purchase agreement. The mortgage rate lock, means that you have a specific mortgage rate “locked in” for a period of time (typically 30 or 60 days). This rate lock means you’ll get that rate even if rates move higher or lower during the time your loan is being processed. Rate locks do expire and can cost a fee (basis points) depending on the rate and period. With today’s rates fluctuating you may want a rate lock but a keen eye on closing dates is important as well. Give us a call or schedule a meeting on our site and we can review your situation and see what best fits your needs!

PMI is private mortgage insurance. If you’re getting a conventional loan and are making of down payment of less than 20% of the purchase price, you generally need to purchase PMI. This insurance is designed to protect the lender in case of default on the loan and it also allows the borrower to buy a house when they can’t afford to make the traditional 20% down payment. PMI is provided by a third party, requirements and rates will be provided before the closing. Once you reach 20% equity in the home – either through mortgage payments or rising home values, the PMI will be terminated. PMI rates are generally between 0.5 percent and 1.8 percent of the original loan amount. According to Freddie Mac, it estimates that most borrowers pay between $30 and $70 each month for every $100,000 borrowed. The key factors in determining the PMI rate are the loan to value ratio. If you put down 5% you are typically going to have a higher PMI rate than if you put down 15%. The other key factor is the borrower’s credit score. There are different types of mortgage insurance and borrowers normally make an annual lump sum payment or pay in monthly installments. Of course we can give you a more detailed explanation of what to expect and your options based on your borrowing needs.

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 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 likely.
3. Check Permitting Costs and Procedures C
heck with local officials to see if the work requires a permit and the permit costs. 4. Be Extra Careful with Structural Issues
If the house requires structural repairs then double check the work and pricing. Hire a structural engineer to do an inspection and if structural work needs to be done make sure your bid discounts this work
5. Include Inspection Contingencies Make sure you hire professional inspectors and check for hidden issues like mold, piping issues, pest damage etc. And if things come up ask for discounts. And if too many red flags come up or the seller won’t properly discount the costs for repair then you may want walk away and keep looking!

Here is a top ten list of questions you should ask before buying a home
1. What is my budget? We mean total budget, not just the sales price. Remember to include property taxes, insurance, any HOA fees, renovations costs and ongoing maintenance.
2. Did I get preapproved? Most realtors want to see that your pre-approved (many won’t even talk to you until you are!). So get preapproved to show you mean business. And we can help! Contact us today for a preapproval letter!
3. Why is the seller moving? This can be useful in seeing how motivated the seller is and can help in negotiating the price.
4. What comes with the sale? Make sure you get in writing what is included in advanced – the washing machine, stove, blinds etc.
5. Is it in a flood or natural disaster area? Make sure you know if its in a FEMA flood zone or other disaster coverage you may need.
6. What is the going rate for houses in the neighborhood? Look at housing prices of other homes sold in the area to get a feel for prices
7. How long has the house been on the market? If its been sitting on the market for a while, that can strengthen your negotiating position
8. How about the neighbors? This is doubly important if you’re moving into an HOA, make sure you do your own intel on this. Talk to neighbors, drive around and see for yourself.
9. How’s the home’s health? Make sure you get a thorough inspection and have any issues with the house identified in advanced and also get a history of renovations.
10. How’s the neighborhood? Lastly make sure you check out the neighborhood too! Make sure to check the local schools, crime rates, what activities are available nearby and if you’re going to have a commute make sure you to check the drive time too!

In the last few years many people began working remotely and interest in second homes has skyrocketed. Here is a primer for those considering a second home.
The first step is where – do you want a vacation home by the beach or mountains, do you want to be near relatives. Do your research and use a local real estate for help with choosing the right area or neighborhood.
Second is why – do you want a vacation house, a second residence if you spend a lot of time in an area for work or family or do you want an investment property? You can actually combine these and use a second home for vacations and AirBNB it while you’re not there (of course check local rules regarding this).
Third and perhaps most importantly is how – as in how are you going to finance it 🤓. You will often need a higher down payment for a second home, as default rates tend to be higher. And with an additional mortgage, you’ll need to make sure your DTI (Debt to Income) ratio is not too high. You’ll also want to make sure a second home doesn’t stretch your budget to much, you should factor in maintenance, property taxes in addition to mortgage payments. If you are planning on renting make sure you factor in the property not being rented immediately and plan to set aside ten percent of rental income towards maintenance.
If you are ready to start looking – apply online and we can let you know how much you can pre-qualify!

There are a lot of benefits to being self-employed – you’re your own boss but when it comes to getting a mortgage secured, its a slightly different process than traditional mortgages. It often comes with additional requirements and red tape.
Here are some tips to help you get organized and approved if you’re self employed. Apply for a mortgage when your income is up (we know this is easier said than done) but lenders will look at your last two years income most closely, and if you’re income fluctuates its best to apply on an up year. This can help you qualify for a greater loan amount and lower interest rate. Get That DTI lower, your debt-to-income ratio is one of the key factors in getting approved. So you’ll want to try to pay down debts (both business and personal) as well as avoid opening new lines of credit a few months before applying. Don’t Mix Business and Personal Keep your business and personal finances separate. Have separate bank and credit card accounts for your business and personal use. This will help lenders easily see the business income and expenses as well as show you are running your business in a professional manner. Give us a call or contact us from our pre-qual app and we can see what product best fits your needs. You may be a candidate for QM (Qualified Mortgage) or non-QM lender, either way we can review and help you get started!

You likely heard the the Federal Reserve Board increased the federal funds rate by three quarters of a percentage point this week, in response to rising inflation (most obviously felt when going to the gas station!). The Fed wants to combat too much liquidity by making borrowing more expensive. As a result mortgage rates have increased from near record lows of the last few years. With higher rates more borrowers are looking into adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs). ARMs were not a favored option with record low rates, but now they are looking more appealing to many borrowers.

As we know the Fed is reacting to a number of factors, as mentioned trying to reign in liquidity, as well as global events that were not anticipated (Russia invading Ukraine the primary one, as well as supply chain issues). The Fed is attempting to cool down the economy now. If you are looking to purchase a new home there a still a number of loan options. Fill out our loan finder or schedule a consult our website to see what options are best for you.

As we’ve seen an uptick in interest rates, many homebuyers are now looking into adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs). ARMs were very popular in the early 2000s but with our extremely low rate recent history, very few home buyers were choosing ARMs. Now with higher rates many home buyers are looking into ARMs again.
First a brief overview on what ARMs are – unlike your traditional fixed rate mortgage, ARM loans have interest rates that can change. Normally with lower initial interests for a few years that then “adjust” based on the current market rate. So a 3/1 ARM will have a lower fixed rate for three years and then adjust annually after that. A 7/1 ARM is for seven years etc.
The primary benefit of ARMs are the lower initial interest rate and thus lower initial monthly payments. ARMs are attractive if you aren’t planning on living in the house for a long period. ARMs are a popular option on jumbo loans as well. Of course you’ll need to be comfortable with the risk and uncertainty of higher possible rates in the future. If you want to know more about ARMs and your options schedule a consultation on our website.

As we enter beach and pool season – a lot of people ask if a swimming pool will add value to their home (to be clear we are talking about in ground pools here). The answer is it depends.
Studies show that it can add 5% or more to the value of your home (but these studies are pre-Covid). If you are in a warmer climate like Texas or Florida, pools can add more value and be more desirable. In fact if your home is in a high-end area where most homes have pools then it can lower your home’s value if you do not have one. Of course you have to take into account building and maintenance costs, as well as if your yard has enough space to accommodate a pool and still have enough area left over. It’s probably a good idea to want a pool for enjoyment rather than just building one to increase resale value. If you want to get more feedback on your property and how it fits in the market feel free to schedule a consultation with us on our website for more details and the latest market conditions.