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Buying a Home? Don’t Let Fear Get in Your Way
Please enjoy this article by our friend Steve Harney
Last week, I was talking to a young couple I know that was about to close on their first home. They were riding the wild rollercoaster of current mortgage rate swings and were not happy about the mortgage process overall. Yet, when the conversation shifted to finally living in a home that they own, their disposition changed dramatically.
A smile came across their faces as they talked about decorating their son’s bedroom and how much he will enjoy the backyard. They talked about inviting friends over for dinner and their family over for the holidays. The more they talked, the more excited they became.
I asked them if many of their friends were also buying. I was shocked to find out that they weren’t. Why not? Their friends believed that homeownership was financially unobtainable right now. Many wanted to own but didn’t think they could afford the monthly mortgage payment. They decided to rent instead.
I said that, with interest rates and prices where they are today, owning a home might not be any more expensive than renting one. The couple agreed but said their friends were afraid; afraid they might not qualify for a loan, afraid to handle negotiations with a seller, afraid of the home buying process itself.
Wow!
People should not make decisions out of fear! I’m not saying that every young person should own a home. I am saying that anyone that is qualified and wants to buy should not be afraid of the process. I realize the process may seem daunting but realize over 10,000 homes sell every day in this country. Sit down and discuss your goals with professionals from both the real estate and mortgage industries. Get the facts. Make an informed decision. Don’t let the fear of the unknown prevent you from living the life of your dreams.
If you are considering a home purchase, give us a call, text or email. We would love to help you find your new home and put you in touch with a reputable lender.
?-Steve and Sandra
Steve Hill and Sandra Brenner
Windermere Real Estate/FN
Seattle-Northwest
122502 Greenwood Ave N
Seattle WA 98133
call/text: 206-769-9577
email: stevehill@windermere.com
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The COST of a Home: Last Year, This Year & Next Year
The cost of a home is determined mainly by two components: price and mortgage rate. Today, we want to show how the monthly cost of purchasing a median priced home has changed over the last twelve months and how it might change over the next twelve months. For the first two examples, we will be using the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) Existing Home Sales Report to establish median price and Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey to establish mortgage rate. We also assumed a 20% down payment in all examples.
LAST YEAR
The median priced home in the country was selling for $187,800. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate was at 3.5%. Here is what it would cost to buy a home last year:
TODAY
The median priced home in the country is selling for $213,500. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate is at 4.5%. Here is what it would cost a purchaser to buy a home today:
The monthly cost increased by: $190.78!
NEXT YEAR
Projecting into the future in real estate can be rather tricky. To establish future pricing, we depended on the over 100 housing experts surveyed for the Home Price Expectation Survey who called for an approximate appreciation rate of 5% over the next twelve months. For the interest rate, we took the average of the projections from the Mortgage Bankers’ Association, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Here is what these experts project will be the approximate cost of a home a year from now:
The monthly cost will increase by about: $97.32!
Bottom Line
From a financial perspective, why wait if you are thinking about buying?
Article courtesy of KCM Blog
Posted: 26 Aug 2013 04:00 AM PDT
If you are considering buying a new home, get off the fence! Waiting will only cost you money. Give us a call, we are ready to help you find your new home.
Steve Hill and Sandra Brenner
Best In Client Satisfaction
WIndermere Real Estate
Call/Text: 206-769-9577
When To Buy a House? RIGHT NOW!
After witnessing the housing bubble ‘pop’ just a few years ago, many would be buyers may be hesitant to pull the trigger. Today, we want to explain that the greatest risk a buyer can take right now is actually waiting to buy a home.
We realize that every purchaser wants to be able to get the best deal. They want a great price and the lowest mortgage interest rate possible because those to items together will determine the monthly cost their family will pay. Let’s look at each one:
Are home prices rising?
Just last week, the Case Shiller Pricing Index was released. The index revealed that U.S. home prices increased by 10.2% over the last twelve months. Last month, theHome Price Expectation Survey was released predicting that home values would increase by at least an additional 3.5% for each of the next five years.
If you were waiting for the absolute bottom of the home price declines, you already missed it.
Are interest rates rising?
According to Freddie Mac’s Weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey, the 30 year mortgage rate shot up to 3.81% last week – the highest level in over a year. This is an increase of a half of a percentage point in the last six months. And the Mortgage Bankers Association, Fannie Mae and the National Association of Realtors all predict that rates will continue rise over the next eighteen months.
Conclusion
If the right thing for you and your family is to purchase a home this year, buying sooner rather than later could lead to substantial savings.
Considering Buying?
Give us a call and let our experience save you time and money.
Steve Hill and Sandra Brenner
Windermere Real Estate Seattle Northwest
206-769-9577
