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Have you ever been shopping on a website where you were looking at something that was on sale?  You were interested in it but there wasn’t a sense of urgency and maybe, you had a lot going on and didn’t get back to it for a few days.  When you did go back to the website, the price on the item had returned to its regular price.

How did you feel?  Did you go ahead and purchase it for the current price?  How did that make you feel knowing that if you had acted more decisively, you would have saved money and had the product by now?

In 2021, homes across the United State went up 19.1% on average.  There were some markets where the prices soared 30 to 40%.  Fortunately, last year the mortgage rates did remain relatively stable but that isn’t the situation this year, in 2022.

At the end of 2021, economists from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, felt like prices would go up around 7% for 2022.  The Mortgage Bankers Association and the Home Price Expectation Survey predicted more like 5% and Zelman Research and the National Association of REALTORS� forecast closer to 3%.

While the number of sales did decline at the end of February 2022 to 7.2% month-over-month and 2.4% year-over-year, that could be explained as a lack of houses for sale.  In the same month, inventory was 1.7 months which is down from 2 months in February 2021.  The median sales price had a year over year increase of 15.0% to $357,300.

The Fed had their first of what may be four or five interest rate hikes this year to try and get control of the inflation rate.  We have already seen mortgage rates at the 4.5% price and that is for borrowers with the best credit.  Those with less than sterling credit can expect to pay more.

It is anyone’s guess at where rates will end a year from now, but many experts think this decade of low rates is over and we’ll not likely to see them again.

There is a pent-up demand for houses to buy and an urgency to buy before the rates get higher.  If a buyer waits a year to purchase a home but the price goes up by 5% and the interest rate goes up by 1%, it will have a dramatic effect on the payment.

If the appreciation is closer to 10% increase, the negative effect of waiting is exacerbated.

The equity in a person’s home contributes greatly to their overall net worth and wealth position.  The effect is very apparent in contrast to renters compared to homeowners whose net worth is 1/40^th of the homeowners $300,000 or $8,000 for the renters.

As people stair step their way into larger homes to not only meet their increasing demands but also to enjoy the amenities of a nicer home, the equity will continue to grow based on two dynamics: appreciation and equity-build up.  The renters do not benefit from either of these.

To run your own comparison, using your own numbers and what you believe will happen in the marketplace, go to Cost of Waiting to Buy.  If you haven’t developed a plan to purchase in today’s market whether it be your first home or a move-up, you need facts and a trusted team of professionals to work for you.

It starts with finding an agent who will be as committed to find your home as you are.  We would love to help you or your friends.  It is what we do.

Filed under: Blog by Chris Clark
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Sellers try to rationalize not making needed updating and repairs to their homes before marketing them by saying they are going to let the buyers make their own personal choices. It is a convenient story to justify not going to the effort for the necessary market preparation to justify achieving the highest possible sales price.
An agent told a story of a home that was structurally sound being on the market, but it needed significant cosmetic work, like paint, floorcovering, updated fixtures, and lots of yard work. The house was vacant with the owner having moved out of town.
The agent explained to a prospective buyer what he thought it would take to bring the home up-to-date and what it would be worth. The buyer was from out of town and was going to be teaching at the university the next semester. He returned home without buying and came back to look again two months later.
As they were looking at homes with the same agent, the question came up about the previously viewed home that needed work. The agent told him that she had bought it and did all the things that she had suggested. The buyer asked if he could look at it. On seeing the property, now, in its pristine condition, the buyer asked the agent if she would sell the home to him at a profit.
The agent told him that it wasn’t for sale but followed up to the buyer with a question of her own. “I told you that you could buy it for below market and gave you an estimate of what it would take to update it which would have you in the home below market value and with all the colors and choices of your own. Why didn’t you buy it then?
The buyer admitted that it looked like a lot of work and that he just didn’t feel up to the challenge. The main thing was that he just saw a lot of work and couldn’t really see the finished product.
This story is not novel; it happens frequently. Buyers are not experienced enough to recognize what needs to be done, how much it would cost and how long it would take. In many cases, they don’t have the connections with the different service providers. In some cases, they simply can’t imagine what the home would look like after the renovations are made.
There are some buyers who scout out opportunities for do-it-yourself experiences where they can earn sweat equity by buying below market and making the repairs to add value to the home. There are many more buyers who don’t know how and/or may not want the hassle and are willing to pay a higher price and be able to “move in” to their new home.
The highest prices being paid for homes are the ones in the best condition with the best locations.
The highly popular TV series Fixer Upper now, on the new Magnolia Network, uses this situation for the premise of each show. People want to buy a home in great condition but can’t find what they want. Chip and Joanna find a good home in a good neighborhood for them and sell the vision of what it could be. The unique aspect of the show is that they act as agents, designers, and contractors to meet the buyers’ budget.
In the case of Fixer Upper, the buyer is the beneficiary of the increased equity for having taken the risk to make the repairs. For the seller to be the beneficiary, they need to do the updating and repairs before marketing the home.
Ask your agent if they can provide suggestions of what items would most benefit from remodeling and if they have service providers that they can recommend. The proceeds from the sale of your home belongs to you and to maximize them, it needs to sell for the highest possible price. Your agent can work with you to make that happen.

Filed under: Blog by Chris Clark
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Americans have seen the equity in their homes increase by 29.3% year over year in the fourth quarter of 2021 according to the CoreLogic Homeowner Equity Insights.  The average home equity gained $55,000 during the same period.

CoreLogic’s Home Price Index reported a 19.1% increase in appreciation for the previous twelve months ending in January 2022.  This increase in value is fueling the increased equity that homeowners are experiencing.

Some homeowners are doing cash-out refinancing and using the funds for a variety of purposes like home improvements, investing, saving for retirement, college or rainy-day funds.

Other homeowners are seeing the increased value of their homes as an opportunity to move up to a home that meets more of their current lifestyle.  In some cases, adult children have moved back home, and in others, working remotely has made their current home not as ideal as it once was.

Homeowners now realize that their home has been quite the investment and are willing to re-invest in a larger home that meets their current needs.  With their increased equities and mortgage rates still under 4.00%, they can get into a home for a relatively small increase and the higher value home will continue to increase.

One way to justify moving to a larger home is to estimate what your equity would be in the old home in a specified number of years from now compared to selling it and buying a larger home to see what the equity would grow to in the same period.

A $400,000 home appreciating at 4% annually would be worth $526,000 in seven years compared to a $600,000 home appreciating at the same rate that would be worth $789,000 in the same time frame.  This doesn’t tell the whole story because the mortgage amounts are different.

The comparison in the table below doesn’t show the higher payment on the larger home but can be explained by the benefits of enjoyment and practicality of having a larger home to live in during the comparison period.

Hold or Sell & Buy Analysis

To make your own analysis, use the Hold or Sell & Buy  Contact us to find out what your home is worth or to help you with any questions you may have.

Filed under: Blog by Chris Clark
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Appreciation and amortization are key factors in building equity for homeowners with mortgages.  As the home goes up in value due to appreciation and the unpaid balance goes down due to amortization, the equity increases.

Appreciation is the increase in value of a home and is usually measured year over year.  In recent years, appreciation has been robust (19% nationwide in 2021) due to high demand and low inventory.  Many times, the news will quote annual appreciation rates from a national or regional level.

Occasionally, you may see a chart that tracks the annual appreciation over a period, but it is more interesting than it is practical.  It can be used to determine an average rate over a longer period that you can use to project future growth.

The reality is that supply and demand determine appreciation along with location and condition.  To reflect more accurately what your individual home has appreciated, you’ll need to find local numbers which your real estate professional can provide.

The amortization of a loan is consistent with regular monthly payments based on the term of the mortgage.  Homeowners frequently receive a monthly statement, either through the mail or online, from their lender declaring the current unpaid balance.

If a homeowner makes additional principal contributions toward the loan, the unpaid balance will accelerate the normal amortization schedule.  Additional principal payments on fixed-rate mortgages shorten the term of the mortgage.  Additional principal payments on adjustable-rate mortgages will lower the payment on the next anniversary date.

Equity in a home is the difference between the value of the property and what is owed on in.  If there is no mortgage on a property, the equity and value of the home are the same.

To illustrate how equity is influenced by appreciation and amortization, let’s look at an example of a $400,000 purchased today that appreciates at 3% a year using a 90% mortgage at 4% for 30 years.  The $40,000 would grow in seven years to $182,135 in equity with $91,950 coming from appreciation and $50,186 from amortization.

If the appreciation in the same hypothetical example is increased to 5% annually, the equity would be $253,026 with $162,840 coming from appreciation and the same $50,186 from amortization.  The same loan amount, rate and term will result in the same unpaid balance as the example with lower appreciation.

With the considerable appreciation experienced in recent years, the values are going up fast and benefit the people who currently own a home while making it more expensive for would-be buyers.  Another factor facing buyers is rising interest rates.

It is important to get the facts about the market and your individual situation to determine what alternatives you have to purchase a home in the near future.  Your agent can provide this objectivity and recommend a trusted mortgage professional to be pre-approved.

For more information, download our Buyers Guide.

Filed under: Blog by Chris Clark
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While updating and remodeling certainly makes a home more enjoyable and livable, and increases the value, homeowners should not expect to recover 100% of the cost of the remodeling.  Certainly, remodeling and updating makes a home sell faster, some of the expenditures will not return their full cost, although, some do return more than others.

Exterior home improvement projects rank 11 out of the top 12 for the highest return on investment for homeowners according to Remodeling magazine’s 34^th annual report.

The top two places included a garage door replacement and manufactured stone veneer which estimated a 94% and 92% cost recovery.  The choice of materials slightly affected the cost recovery such as siding replacement varied from 69% for fiber cement and 68% for vinyl.  Similarly, vinyl window replacement inched out wood by the same percentages of 69% and 68% respectively.

Some of the other outside improvements included steel entry door replacement at 65%, wood deck addition at 63%, and asphalt roofing replacement at 61%.  The lone interior improvement in the top twelve was a minor kitchen remodeling at 72%.

Repairs to a home are necessary to maintain the livability of the home, as well as the fair market value.  As homes age, improvements are major expenses that update the home and give it the feel of a newer property.

Some improvements are for pure personal enjoyment such as putting in a high-end, professional grade gas cooktop.  If the homeowner is a foodie and enjoys cooking, this could bring much enjoyment, but buyers may not add the increased value over a midrange cooktop commensurate with the value of the home.

If a homeowner has been using a bedroom for an office, sometimes, the agent might recommend that they return it to a bedroom so that people can recognize it for what it is.  Even though this isn’t a far stretch of the imagination, professional stagers would probably agree.

On the other hand, if the functionality of a bedroom had been changed such as to be a extraordinary master closet for the adjoining bedroom, it could affect the value negatively.  If most typical buyers for that home would value the transformed bedroom more, they might discount the price by the cost to make the conversion back to its intended use.

One major question to consider before embarking on remodeling projects is how long you intend to stay in the home?  The longer you are going to be in the home, the more opportunity you must personally enjoy the improvements.  This is especially important if the expected return on the cost is small.

Another consideration should be to determine if you are you overbuilding the neighborhood.  There is a principle in appraisals called conformity.  All homes in a neighborhood should be of similar size, quality, and amenities.  Homes that are overbuilt will be brought down in value by the smaller ones.  Conversely, smaller homes could be elevated in value based on most of the homes being more expensive in that neighborhood.

If an investor were doing a fix and flip, they could evaluate a situation and decide on what to do to a home to maximize the value.  For homeowners, it isn’t the same thing because they are living in the home and don’t really consider return on investment the same way as an investor.

Homeowners certainly want to recapture as much as they can but realistically; they need to consider that there is a personal cost to most improvements that will not be reflected in the final sales price.  The popularity of Remodeling magazine’s annual cost vs value report gives homeowners an idea of what they can expect to recapture.

One final thought.  Homeowners should keep track of the money they spend on improvements because it raises the basis of their home which will lower the gain.  Because this calculation isn’t made for an unknown number of years into the future, many homeowners neglect to make a record.  When they do need the number, they either estimate or forget about the expenditure.

A capital gains register is a useful document that can be kept with your important papers.  Download this Homeowners Tax Guide for a copy and more information.

Filed under: Blog by Chris Clark
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Existing FHA and VA mortgages are assumable at the note rate to owner-occupied buyers who qualify.  This can be an alternative to paying higher, current rates and benefit buyers with lower closing costs while saving money on the payment.

For the last 20 years, rates have been steadily coming down and there was no reason to qualify for the assumption when a new loan had a lower interest rate.

Assuming an FHA or VA loan with a lower interest rate will obviously mean lower payments but it will also build equity faster because the amortization schedule is advanced from a new 30-year mortgage.  Another benefit is that the acquisition costs on an assumption are much lower than starting a new loan.

In the example in Table One, a couple bought a home two years ago for $400,000 with a 3% FHA mortgage that has principal and interest payments of $1,656.  It is now worth $435,000.

Let’s look at a hypothetical situation involving the sale of this home after two years.  The savvy listing agent explains that the home may have additional marketability due to the assumability of the FHA mortgage in place.

In scenario #1, the buyer purchases it for $435,000 with 10% down payment at the then, current rate of 5% for 30 years.  The principal and interest payment is $2,102.  If the home appreciates at 4% annually the equity will be $230,989 in seven years.

In scenario #2, the buyer purchases it at the same price with the same down payment but assumes the 3% mortgage with 28 years remaining.  Since he doesn’t have enough cash to buy the equity, he gets a second mortgage for the balance at 5%.  The combination of the payments on the first and second are $1,739 or $363 less than the payments in scenario #1.

In seven years, the $363 savings accumulated to $30,492.  The future equity is $21,457 larger on the assumption because the first mortgage is at a lower rate and the loan is amortizing faster.  In this example, the buyer is much better off assuming the FHA mortgage.

There will be a challenge in identifying which homes for sale have assumable FHA or VA mortgages because for decades it didn’t make much difference to list it in the description.  Many MLS’s are not even including fields for existing mortgages.

Finding the “Right” home for a buyer is important but equally important is finding the “Right” financing.  Not all agents have the training or the tools to identify the possible opportunities for buyers but the ones who do are invaluable.

Filed under: Blog by Chris Clark
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Adjustable-rate mortgages are not the right choice for many homeowners especially, if they plan to own the home for a long time.  Less than 3% of buyers choose an adjustable-rate mortgage according to NAR’s 2021 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.  With fixed-rate mortgages hovering in the mid 4.00% range, it’s understandable that people select a rate that will not change over the term.

The buyers who know they’re only going to be in the home a few years should, at least, investigate an adjustable-rate mortgage.  Compare the cost and evaluate the risk of an ARM instead of a fixed-rate mortgage.

The payment on the ARM in the example is $223.25 less than that of the FRM.  The rate is locked in for the initial period which is five years on a 5/1 ARM.  This will save a buyer $13,395 in the first 60 months.

The lower interest for the initial period is an obvious advantage to create savings but another dynamic that takes place is that lower interest rate loans amortize faster than higher interest rate loans.  In the example shown, the unpaid balance on the ARM is $6,165 less than the fixed-rate mortgage creating a total savings of close to $20,000 for the ARM in the first five year period.

This comparison estimates the breakeven point on this example to be 7 years and 1 months.  That is when the savings during the initial period will be exhausted based on interest rate adjusting the maximum allowed at each succeeding period. This is a worst-case scenario because ARMs are adjusted according to an independent index that the lender has no control.  The payment can adjust downward just as it can adjust upward.

Even if a person knows they are not going to be in a home for five years or less, their tolerance to risk may cause them to choose a fixed-rate mortgage.  With the difference in rates being so close, some people might think the fixed rate is safer in case their plans change and they end up living in the home a longer period.  Still, for the person who feels comfortable with the uncertainty of changing payment, the ARM may save them money.

For an estimate of what it could save you based on your price range, use this ARM Comparison and you can see the current FreddieMac rates on fixed and adjustable loans.  Call us at {Contact.PhoneNumberBusiness} for a recommendation of a trusted mortgage professional.

Filed under: Blog by Chris Clark
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Mortgage rates have been kept artificially low by the Federal Reserve since the Great Recession in 2010.  There is a whole generation of people who have never known what might be called normal mortgage rates.  And then, most of the rest of the adults in America have forgotten what average rates were in the 60’s, 70’s, and especially, in the 80’s when they hit 18.45%.

The bottom of the market was February 2021 with 30-year fixed rates were 2.73%.  Current rates, as of February 10^th, according to Freddie Mac, are at 3.69%.  Earlier predictions by NAR, FNMA, Freddie Mac, and MBA were that rates would go as high as 4.00% by the end of the year.

Those estimates may be considered low now based on concerns about inflation and the federal government’s efforts to keep it under control.  The Fed has announced a series of policy rate increases for the balance of the year.  Mortgage lenders, in anticipation of the rate hikes, have already started raising their rates as evidenced in the rates since January 3, 2022.

It is possible that a year from now, 30-year fixed rates could be at 5% or above.  This could make a significant difference in a buyer’s payments especially compounded with rising prices.

A $450,000 purchase price today with a 90% fixed-rate 30-year mortgage at 3.69% has a principal and interest payment of $1,862 a month.  If things continue to heat up and the mortgage rate goes up by one percent while the price increases by ten percent, a year from now, the home will cost $495,000 and the payment would be $446 higher each month for the term of the mortgage.

Use the cost of waiting to buy to make projections on the price home you want to buy based on your own estimate of what interest rate and appreciation will do in the next year.

Acting now causes the payment to get locked in at the lower rate and the increase in value belongs to the buyer as equity build-up.  Unfortunately, with the current state of supply and demand on housing inventory, waiting to purchase moves the bar higher and higher until some buyers will not qualify.

For more information, download the Buyers Guide.

Filed under: Blog by Chris Clark
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Real estate has been described as the basis of all wealth.  Without considering income or investment property, buying a home to live in is an incredibly powerful way to build wealth or financial net worth.

A home is an asset measured by the size of the equity.  Equity is simply the difference between the value of the home and the amount owed.  There are two powerful dynamics at work to increase the equity which include appreciation and amortization.

Appreciation occurs when the fair market of the home increases.  The shortage of available inventory coupled with high demand has contributed to an 18% increase in value in the past year on average for homeowners in the U.S.

Most mortgage loans are amortized with monthly payments that include the interest that is owed for the previous month and an increasing amount that is paid toward the principal loan amount so that if all the payments are made, the loan would be repaid by the end of the term.

A 30-year mortgage at 3.5% interest on a $400,000 loan amount would have a principal and interest payment of $1,796.18 every month for 30 years.  After the interest is applied from the first payment, $629.51 would reduce the loan amount, thereby, increasing the owners’ equity.

Each succeeding payment would have an increasingly larger amount applied to the principal and a decreasingly lower amount applied to interest.

Recently, CoreLogic reported that homeowners with mortgages have seen their equity increase 29.3% since the second quarter of 2020.  Equity rich is defined as when combined loans secured by a property are no more than 50% of estimated market value.  ATTOM reported that 42% of mortgaged homes in the U.S. are considered equity rich as of the fourth quarter of 2021.

Another advantage of this powerful asset is that borrowing money against the equity of your home is a non-taxable event. Regardless of whether it is a refinance or a home equity loan, the borrowed money is not income and not taxable.

A homeowner could stay in the home for years and as the home increases in value due to appreciation, they could borrow against their equity as many times as the value will justify.  They could continue to pull money out of their home for decades and under the current tax law, they could die and will the home to their heirs who would receive a step up in basis and the taxes would never have to be recognized.

Lastly, let’s consider the home as an investment by looking at the rate of return.  Obviously, it is a personal asset that the homeowner will be able to live in, enjoy, raise a family, and share with their friends.  In calculating the rate of return, we consider a $375,000 home with a 3.00% 30-year FHA mortgage with a 3.5% down payment.  Using an annual appreciation of 3% and normal amortization, the $13,125 down payment in this home turns into a $148,062 equity in seven years.  The rate of return calculated is over 40% per year for the seven-year holding period.

Even if you discounted the ROI by half for all the unforeseen other expenses that may affect the real equity, it is still a 20% return on investment which could easily justify why purchasing a home should be your first investment.

It is challenging, particularly in some markets with low inventory, multiple offers, rising prices and increasing interest rates, but the advantages of owning a home are significant.  Would-be homeowners need the facts about their market and how to get into a home.  Start with downloading the Buyers Guide and make an appointment with a trusted real estate professional.

Filed under: Blog by Chris Clark
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We have all heard this expression that implies that had a person known earlier in life what they know now, they would have done things differently.  The subject possibilities are endless   While no one has a crystal ball to see into the future, it may be possible to learn from people who have experienced similar situations.

In the late sixties, mortgage rates hit 8.5% but before the decade had finished, the rates had come down to 7% where they stayed for some time.  Homeowners who purchased at the higher rate, could buy a larger, more expensive home for the same payment if they could get out from under the obligation of their existing mortgage.

FHA and VA mortgages, up until the late 80’s, could be assumed by anyone, regardless of credit worthiness.  Since these homes were purchased one or two years earlier, the sellers didn’t really have much equity in them, and many homeowners were willing to “give” them to investors so they could qualify on a new, lower rate mortgage.

It was a fantastic opportunity for investors who could afford the negative cash flow because the homes wouldn’t rent for the payment.  As the 70’s economy, started heating up, so did inflation.  Most people consider inflation an undesirable thing but for people who owned rental property, it meant the values were going up and so were the rents.

Soon, the rentals no longer had negative cash flows and the investments turned the corner.  If you talk to investors who purchased those homes during that period, you’ll very likely hear, “I should have bought more of them.”

If we could fast forward into the future to see how people will be talking about the period we’re currently in, we might see an even greater opportunity in our present time.  Interest and mortgage rates have been on a downward trend for thirty years.  In the past ten years, they hit an historic low.  They are trending up currently and it appears they will continue to do so.

Homes are in short supply which has caused the prices to go up.  Builders haven’t returned to the number of new units needed to meet demand and that has been going on for over ten years.  Even when the supply does increase, it will take a long time to catch up with demand.

Combine that with supply chain shortages due to the pandemic and prices look like they are unaffordable.  Many millennials and some Gen Xers believe the “window of opportunity” has closed.

For tenants, rents are continuing to increase due to the same causes that home prices are increasing.  Buyers, by acting now, can lock in their mortgage rate and the purchase price of the home.  As prices continue to increase and the amortization of the mortgage pays down the unpaid balance, homeowners’ equity increases and so does their net worth.

Unfortunately, for tenants, the rents will continue to rise, along with prices which will make it more difficult in the future to purchase.  Their rent is used to pay the landlord’s mortgage who benefits in the principal reduction for each payment made.

The market is changing and people who don’t own a home currently must find a way to buy one.  The longer they wait, the harder it will be to buy one.

People wanting to purchase a home in today’s market must educate themselves with facts and not hearsay.  There are all sorts of programs available to address low down payments, varieties of mortgages, credit issues and other things.

It starts by meeting with a real estate professional who can recommend a trusted mortgage professional.  Download our Buyers Guide and check out your numbers using the Rent vs. Own.

Filed under: Blog by Chris Clark
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