Everybody has gone shopping for one thing or another so this should apply to mortgage loans too. By taking the time to shop around for the best rates available, you could be saving thousands of dollars during the life time of the loan. So it pays to be aware of the cost associated in obtaining a loan. Not to mention, you will be more confident about affording and purchasing that home that says “buy me”.
After all, purchasing a property could be the most expensive thing you buy in your life time. Why not take the plunge now? With the lowest interest rates ever available and lots of homes to choose from, plus slow economic recovery of the market, this is the best time to do so.
Have you been thinking about when it may be the best time to purchase a property? Well, here’s 5 reasons why you might want to make that big step now. Don’t forget, real estate has cycles. We are now in a buyer’s cycle and it’s the best time to take advantage of the market place. Remember, not too long ago, the last seller’s market? Do you remember when prices went through the roof and properties were selling like hot cakes? Does multiple offers to buy a home and bidding over the asking price sound familiar? Well, it’s better now. If you can get into a property today, you’ll be able to ride the wave of the next seller’s market.
So how are you going to get the money to take advantage of the opportunity? Unless you have lots of cash to make that purchase, you should see your banker or loan agent to see how much you can borrow. If you need to scrape up some money for a down payment, here’s 7 ways that may help. Good Luck!
According to Realty Trac, “A total of 340,740 California properties received a foreclosure filing in the first half of 2010, the nation’s highest total but down 15 percent from the previous six months and down nearly 13 percent from the first six months of 2009.”
It is encouraging to know that the foreclosures are on a decline, however is the real estate market going to survive the next wave of REOs? I think it will as long as the interest rates stay at today’s levels, unemployment declines, and the demand for housing remains strong.
The San Francisco market is a great example. Although the hardest hit areas in San Francisco, are in the lower and medium priced homes, the home sales have increased and spurred on the sales of the more expensive areas of the city. It is expected to continue for the rest of the 2010.
Since we have been in this recession for a while now, what’s your feeling about the results from all of the government bail outs? Some areas have seen some improvement but some have not. There have been some many different programs that have been implemented to help everybody, but is it really working or are we digging a big whole, deficit, for our future generations to pay?
Even though the federal tax credit may not make a come back, there are lots of reasons why it is still a great time to purchase a property.
One of the most important factor that affects most buyers is interest rates. As the rate gets higher, the amount of money a person can qualify for would be less. Interest rates have been really low historically speaking and with the problems we are facing today, the rates will go back up. I don’t think interest rates will ever be lower then what they are today. 30 years ago, I thought I would never see rates as low as they are today. We could see rates as high as 18%, just like it was in 1981, or even more.
Are you going to make the June 30th deadline? Hopefully you will since it’s been a stressful process. If you don’t make it, then let’s hope that Congress votes to extend the deadline 3 more months. The Senate has approved the extension because of the enormous back log of sales and now it time for Congress to consider the extension.
According to Vicki Cox Golder, president of the National Association of Realtors, said the extension was a matter of fairness.
“These are not buyers who just entered into the market. These are buyers who previously met all the qualifications for the tax credit, but find themselves at the mercy of a work-flow jam with the lenders or other delays and might not be able to complete the purchase of their homes.”
I think it’s the right thing to do, especally since it’s not the buyer’s fault for not meeting the deadline.
With today’s economic conditions, some people find it hard to save or even pay their bills. There are ways to cope with our lack of funds. If you really think about how much you spend everyday and for what, you might be surprised that you can cut down on your spending and save for another rainy day.
You may also think about where your money is being kept. Are you receiving a fair return on your investment? If you’re saving money with bank CD’s or other bank related products, you maybe cheating yourself from getting the most return for your hard earned money. There are other investments out there that can provide you with higher returns.
Are you planning to repair the fixer upper you just bought? Have you had that overwhelming feeling when you shop for kitchen cabinets, refrigerator, tile, etc.? Well, there are a lot of things to consider. You can spend more money then what you can get in return.
Summer is almost over and I hope you’re enjoying the season.
The worst recession in 70 yeas is also showing signs of being over too. The Commerce Dept. reported that the economy shrank at an annualized rate of 1% which is better then the 6.4% shrinkage in the first quarter of this year. Economist think the economy is poised for growth, but slowly. You can read more of the state of the economy by clicking this link: http://rismedia.com/2009-08-03/signs-of-life-slower-decline-may-signal-recessions-end/.
The market currently in San Mateo county is also showing signs of a rebound. The information below is from the San Mateo MLS showing the market activity from the end of the 1st quarter to the end of the 2nd quarter. As you can see there has been an increase of new listings, a decrease of homes for sale, an increase of homes sold, a decrease of marketing time, the average sales price increased, and the median price increased. This is totally opposite of what the market was doing last year. If you would like more information about your area, please let me know and I’ll be happy to furnish you the information.
| Single Family Residential |
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| Years |
New Listings |
Current Inventory |
Closed Sales |
Average DOM |
Average Sales Price |
Median Sales Price |
Total Sales Volume |
|
| 2009-Q1 |
1689 |
1627 |
635 |
84 |
738,831 |
560,000 |
468,419,476 |
|
| 2009-Q2 |
1768 |
1500 |
1066 |
75 |
893,332 |
682,500 |
949,612,038 |
|
| Summary |
7428 |
1285 |
3833 |
70 |
1,013,672 |
|
3,880,337,152 |
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It’s not too late to purchase something now. Buyers still can get tax credits for buying their first home, interest rates are still low and affordable, and the prices have bottomed out and are on the way up. I can tell you that the days of multiple offers are here again in a lot of areas.
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