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Home Buying for Unmarried Couples
by guest blogger Mark Sheets
Throughout the home buying process there can be various hurdles to jump over to make sure everything goes smoothly. In today’s culture, we are finding more often unmarried couples are purchasing their first homes together. Although this sounds like a great plan, there are precautions that need to be taken in order to make sure the process is done right. Doing your research beforehand can alleviate any headaches. From a financial sense it is more difficult to break the co-ownership of a house, than it is to get a divorce, if things turn sour.
When making the decision to purchase a home with your significant other, you and partner must know that just like with marriage, a property agreement is a legal contract. One of the more important aspects of purchasing a home together is knowing how the investment will be split. In many cases, one partner may initially invest more money into the home than the other. This may cause issues in the future if things don’t work out due to the fact that legally one person may end up owning more of the house than the other.
Plan Now
If the relationship were to end, a dividing of the assets needs to take place. Although everyone in a relationship hopes for the best, preparing for the worst-case scenario will alleviate any hassle in the future. The best way to protect yourself is to come to an agreement as soon as possible while you both are still happy. If there were to be any future issues, it could get real ugly resolving things if steps were not taken care of from the start.
Credit Scores
As an unmarried couple looking to purchase a home together, there are a few concerns you need to be aware of. When the time comes to apply for a mortgage, the lender needs to run both of your credit scores. This can backfire if one of you has a great credit score and one has a terrible score. If this is the case, then you may not get the loan.
Legality
You will also want to check your individual state’s laws regarding an unmarried couple purchasing a home together, as some states don’t allow it. You as the homebuyer need to know this because if you are planning on going through with the purchase and can’t legally, you will be extremely disappointed.
Protect Yourself
Having the right paperwork filed is another important step to take, because without it you could find yourself in trouble in the future. One thing to do early in the home buying process is to file for a Joint Tenancy With Rights Of Survivorship (JTWROS). A JTWROS allows for the home and assets to be passed to the surviving partner if the other were to pass away. This lets the partner avoid inheritance taxes, as the home won’t go through an estate. Married couples are automatically granted JTWROS whereas unmarried couples are not. By doing this you can save yourself a great deal of potential stress in the future.
If you had filed for JTWROS with your partner and something went wrong with the relationship, you would need to fix your agreement. If you don’t adjust past agreements, then your soon to be ex is still entitled to the house and potentially your assets if you were to die. On paper if you had left everything all to your partner but intended to change that and never did, they are still legally getting everything. This also goes for if one partner were to pass away and if you didn’t file for JTWROS, the family of the deceased partner may try to sell the house. If the partner had made a will to leave everything to their family, it would not matter if the surviving partner wished to remain in the home.
What to Adjust After Getting Married
If down the line you and your partner decide to get married, there will be more papers that would need to be altered. The biggest adjustment would need to be the title to the house. After the title is adjusted, creditors cannot single out one of you for bad credit. This is good due to the fact that they cannot add extra interest to that partners share. If you and your soon to be married partner both have good credit, this can work out great if you were looking to refinance once everything is fixed.
As stated, there are precautions that need to be taken when purchasing a home as an unmarried couple. As we all know, getting married is one of the biggest decisions we will make. Planning to buy a home together is a great decision as long as you are cautious about how you go about it.
Let us answer any of your real estate questions, call text or email us anytime!
?-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
Check out these useful links:
BrennerHill.com
Best In Client Satisfaction
Seattle Real Estate Statistics
Windermere Housing Trends Newsletter
Our Preferred Lenders
George Runnels
Washington First Mortgage
WaFirstMortgage.com
call/text: 206-604-4545
Jackie Murphy
Cobalt Mortgage
CobaltMortgage.com
call/text: 425-260-6834
From White Picket to Upcycled Pallet Fences: Millennials and Housing
by Jim Harney
Critiques and defenses about Millennials abound. However, I think an overlooked aspect of the kerfuffle over Generation Y is the question “Why?” Although it is great to spur the generation on to great heights, it is crucial we understand some of the hurdles they are facing, economically and socially in order to anticipate how the market will have to change and adjust to accommodate a new generation’s capabilities and values.
Educational Debt & Credit
No big newsflash here: millennials are facing unprecedented levels of debt, between the various recessions, housing bubbles, and explosion of educational debt. New legislation in the works is attempting to help set up a more stable higher education financing system as well as relieve the staggering debt loads. Although debt forgiveness is the big buzzword these days, most students will still face shouldering a majority of their debt. Fortunately for the economic outlook, the legislation focuses on creating more income-based repayment plans that won’t put millennials on the street. However, the big question that remains is how will this affect their credit?
Public vs. Private Sector
With the specter of the 2008 housing bubble burst looming over everyone’s head, the situation is no longer about whether or not millennials are willing to take on more debt or have the income to cover minimum payments, it is about if lenders are willing to take on the risk. President Obama has rolled out plans that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be gradually diminished, leaving the private sector to provide the backbone of risk management. With first-time buyers being edged out of the market due to new credit requirements, we could see a short-term slowdown in home-buying.
Uncertainty
Surprisingly, the instability recently exhibited by the U.S. government shutdown and continued clamor over the debt ceiling may actually work in the market’s advantage. Millennials, wary of being overly reliant on vacillating government promises, might become increasingly inclined to use their savvy to explore home equity loans and carefully consider newly-revised reverse mortgages as part of their retirement plans. Having front-row seating for the recent economic meltdowns, the newest generation will be more inclined to do their research and not bite off more than they can chew, meaning they might, actually, leave a positive legacy for the housing industry.
American Dream
Homeownership is still an important idea to many Americans. If the government and the private sector work together to slowly adjust the system and increase stability, which is already the direction we are driving in, we can expect to see homeownership continue to increase with this generation. However, we should expect to hold the memory of Desi and Lucy fondly in our hearts, and leave them there as the face of home buyers will be forever changed.
It is a pervasive misconception that millennials are thoroughly disenchanted with the concept of settling down. The revitalized home-making movement—as evidenced on social media platforms like Pinterest–within more progressive millennial circles would indicate that although it might take a bit longer for the birds to return from their explorations, they will inevitably nest.
Furthermore, the creativity and frugality of Generation Y will provide them fresh incentives to invest in housing as home ownership opens up new avenues hosting friends and international travelers. As this new group of home-buyers realizes that a mortgage doesn’t necessarily clip their wings, we should be able to anticipate a new, stronger, and invigorated market of responsible borrowers. These iPod-wearing, tweeting, bicycle-riding youngsters just might be the market we’ve been looking for.
Please contact us with any of your real estate related questions, we would love to help you out in any way we can!
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
Check out these useful links:
BrennerHill.com
Best In Client Satisfaction
Seattle Real Estate Statistics
Windermere Housing Trends Newsletter
Our Preferred Lenders
George Runnels
Washington First Mortgage
WaFirstMortgage.com
call/text: 206-604-4545
Jackie Murphy
Cobalt Mortgage
CobaltMortgage.com
call/text: 425-260-6834
5 Reasons to Sell Before Spring
Many sellers feel that the spring is the best time to place their home on the market as buyer demand increases at that time of year. However, the fall and winter have their own advantages. Here are five reasons to sell now.
Only Serious Buyers Are Out
At this time of year, only those purchasers who are serious about buying a home will be in the marketplace. You and your family will not be bothered and inconvenienced by mere 'lookers'. The lookers are at the mall or online doing their holiday shopping.
There Is Far Less Competition
Housing supply always shrinks dramatically at this time of year. The choices for buyers will be limited. Don't wait until the spring when all the other potential sellers in your market will put their homes up for sale.
The Process Will Be Quicker
One of the biggest challenges of the 2013 housing market has been the length of time it takes from contract to closing. Banks have been inundated with both purchase and refinancing loan requests. Both of these will slow in the winter cutting timelines and the frustration these delays cause both buyers and sellers.
There Will Never Be a Better Time to Move-Up
If you are moving up to a larger, more expensive home, consider doing it now. Prices are projected to appreciate by over 25% from now to 2018. If you are moving to a higher priced home, it will wind-up costing you more in raw dollars (both in down payment and mortgage payment) if you wait. You can also lock-in your 30 year housing expense with historically low interest rates right now. There is no guarantee rates will remain at these levels in years to come.
It's Time to Move On with Your Life
Look at the reason you decided to sell in the first place and decide whether it is worth waiting. Is money more important than being with family? Is money more important than your health? Is money more important than having the freedom to go on with your life the way you think you should?
You already know the answers to the questions we just asked. You have the power to take back control of the situation by pricing your home to guarantee it sells. The time has come for you and your family to move on and start living the life you desire. That is what is truly important.
Are you considering selling? Give us a call, text or email. We would love to provide you with a complinetary Fall Seller's Guide, no obligation, we just like to share.
?-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
Check out these useful links:
BrennerHill.com
Best In Client Satisfaction
Seattle Real Estate Statistics
Windermere Housing Trends Newsletter
Our Preferred Lenders
George Runnels
Washington First Mortgage
WaFirstMortgage.com
call/text: 206-604-4545
Jackie Murphy
Cobalt Mortgage
CobaltMortgage.com
call/text: 425-260-6834
Windermere, Real Estate, Northwest, Seattle, Mill Creek, Greenwood, Ballard, Ballard, Broadview, Home, Purchase, Sell
Seattle Homes Continue to Sell at a Rapid Pace
Over half of all home listed in Seattle sell in a month. It continues to be a seller's market. Check out the graphic below to see inventory and sales statistics.
Check out ALL the real estate statistics for the greater Seattle area HERE.
If you are considering a move, give us a call, text or email. We would love to help you sell your home for top dollar in rapid time.
-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
Check out these useful links:
BrennerHill.com
Best In Client Satisfaction
Seattle Real Estate Statistics
Windermere Housing Trends Newsletter
Our Preferred Lenders
George Runnels
Washington First Mortgage
WaFirstMortgage.com
call/text: 206-604-4545
Jackie Murphy
Cobalt Mortgage
CobaltMortgage.com
call/text: 425-260-6834
The Importance of Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is the attractiveness of your home's exterior when viewed from the street. Studies show that a majority of buyers will not get out their car if they do not find your home's curb appeal visually attractive–that is, if they visit your property at all. With more and more people shopping for homes online, potential buyers could be turned off from viewing your property, just based on the listing photo alone. Addressing your home's curb appeal is a critical component in marketing and selling your home.
Why is curb appeal so important in selling your home? It forms potential buyers’ first impressions of your home. Curb appeal sets the tone for your entire home. Buyers associate the condition of the exterior and landscape with the condition of the interior. Your home's curb appeal must invite buyers to view the rest of the property. In a buyer's market, curb appeal can mean the difference between a home that sells quickly for the asking price and a home that sells after months of sitting on the market for below the asking price.
Considering selling your home? Give us a call, text or email. We would love to provide you with good advice to improve your homes' curb appeal.
?-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
Check out these useful links:
BrennerHill.com
Best In Client Satisfaction
Seattle Real Estate Statistics
Windermere Housing Trends Newsletter
Our Preferred Lenders
George Runnels
Washington First Mortgage
WaFirstMortgage.com
call/text: 206-604-4545
Jackie Murphy
Cobalt Mortgage
CobaltMortgage.com
call/text: 425-260-6834
Buying a Home? Consider COST not just Price
We have often talked about the difference between COST and PRICE. As a seller, you will be most concerned about ‘short term price’ – where home values are headed over the next six months. As a buyer, you must be concerned not about price but instead about the ‘long term cost’ of the home. Let us explain.
Last month, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), the National Association of Realtors, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac all projected that mortgage interest rates will increase by about one full percentage over the next twelve months. We also know that many experts are calling for home prices to also increase over the next year.
What Does This Mean to a Buyer?
Here is a simple demonstration of what impact an interest rate increase would have on the mortgage payment of a home selling for approximately $250,000 even if home prices don’t increase:
Considering a home purchase, give us a call, text or email, we would love to help you find your new home, whether it's your first or your tenth!
?-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
Check out these useful links:
BrennerHill.com
Best In Client Satisfaction
Seattle Real Estate Statistics
Windermere Housing Trends Newsletter
Our Preferred Lenders
George Runnels
Washington First Mortgage
WaFirstMortgage.com
call/text: 206-604-4545
Jackie Murphy
Cobalt Mortgage
CobaltMortgage.com
call/text: 425-260-6834
Homes Selling Faster Than Previous Year
By: Ashley Harris
Nationwide, homes listed for sale on Zillow were selling at a rapid clip, to the tune of a month faster in September than a year ago, according to a new analysis. Zillow measured homes sold on the real estate marketplace, and as a whole homes in September spent a median of 86 days on Zillow, down 30 days from 116 days in September 2012.
Among the 30 largest metro markets covered by Zillow in September, homes moved the fastest and spent the fewest days listed on the site in the Bay Area (48 days); Sacramento, California (59 days); and Dallas, Texas (60 days). Homes sold faster this September compared to last September in 30 of the largest metros. Those metros include Las Vegas (44 days faster), Sacramento (43 days faster), and San Antonio (37 days faster).
Zillow calculated the median number of days listings spent on Zillow, at the national, metro, and county levels, dating to January 2010. In order to correct for homes that are listed, then removed and re-posted with new prices, Zillow considered multiple listings within 40 days at the same address as one listing. Since the beginning of 2010, homes nationwide have spent a median of 119 days on Zillow before being sold or taken off the market.
“The declining inventory of for-sale homes over the past year naturally creates pressure for buyers to more quickly snap up the inventory that is on the market. This demand has been fueled by huge resets in home prices since market peak, historically low mortgage rates and a slowly improving broader economic climate,” said Dr. Stan Humphries, Zillow chief economist.
“Home shoppers in today’s environment need to be prepared to move quickly, with pre-approvals in place and an established sense of what they’re willing to pay for a home,” he continued. “But even though things are moving fast, buyers should resist the urge to enter into bidding wars or pay prices they’re uncomfortable with. We do expect that this need for speed will abate in the near-term as mortgage rates rise and more inventory becomes available because of new construction and declining negative equity.”
Are you curious about housing inventory in your neighborhood? Give us a call, text or email, we love to talk about real estate!
?-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
Check out these useful links:
BrennerHill.com
Best In Client Satisfaction
Seattle Real Estate Statistics
Windermere Housing Trends Newsletter
Our Preferred Lenders
George Runnels
Washington First Mortgage
WaFirstMortgage.com
call/text: 206-604-4545
Jackie Murphy
Cobalt Mortgage
CobaltMortgage.com
call/text: 425-260-6834
Corporate and Individual Relocation
Relocating to Seattle or out of the area? We are now Windermere Real Estate Relocation Specialists. We can get you or anyone you know in touch with a reputable broker anywhere in the world.
Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® is a global network of over 500 premier real estate firms with 4,000 offices and 120,000 sales associates (brokers) in over 40 countries around the world. Our members dominate the US list of top 500 real estate firms.
Give us a call, text or email today, we would love to help you with your relocation needs!
-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
Check out these useful links:
BrennerHill.com
Best In Client Satisfaction
Seattle Real Estate Statistics
Windermere Housing Trends Newsletter
Our Preferred Lenders
George Runnels
Washington First Mortgage
WaFirstMortgage.com
call/text: 206-604-4545
Jackie Murphy
Cobalt Mortgage
CobaltMortgage.com
call/text: 425-260-6834
Windermere, Real Estate, Northwest, Seattle, Mill Creek, Greenwood, Broadview, Home, Purchase, Sell
Ignoring Homeowner’s Insurance Risks Can Be Costly
by
Carrie Van Brunt-Wiley
Editor, http://homeinsurance.com
One of the first stages during the hunt for a new home is crunching the numbers to figure out your budget. And no matter how high or low that budget may be, prospective homebuyers should take into consideration the cost of insuring the home.
It's easy to overlook insurance, especially since you may be more worried about the number of bedrooms, the school district, or the size of the backyard. But before you can close on the purchase, your lender will require you to line up homeowners insurance. You may be hit with some sticker shock if the home you are about to buy ends up being a high risk- and therefore high cost- home to insure.
Once you’ve got a few homes in your sight, you should get some preliminary home insurance quotes on each property. Just as you will compare asking price and property taxes- figure your insurance costs into the equation as well. Even homes of similar size and style can vary greatly in terms of cost to insure.
Here are a few lesser known home features that affect insurance costs:
Location- The location of a home will have a huge impact on the insurance premiums due to the proximity to a fire station, the fire station ratings and the flood zone it’s located in.
- When you shop for homeowners insurance you will be asked how close the home is to a fire hydrant and to a fire station. In the event of a fire, the quicker the fire department can respond to the home, the less damage will be incurred. The average claim for a residential fire exceeds $33,000, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). Therefore insurers typically charge lower premiums for homes within a close proximity of each.
- Fire stations in each community each have a specific fire protection class rating which also affects the home insurance premiums on a home.
- Last but certainly not least, the specific type of flood plain that a home is located in may require you to carry a separate flood insurance policy in order to obtain a mortgage. Flood insurance is recommended for all properties, however, in certain high-risk flood plains a flood insurance policy is not only required- but the coverage could double your annual insurance spend.
Roofing- Ask your realtor about the home's roof. You'll want to know how old it is and the material it's made of. Roofs that are 20 or more years old can be considered high risk and may be expensive to insure. Replacing a roof also can be costly so you'll want to weigh the pros and cons. Newer roofs, built with impact-resistant material, are ideal. These roofs are made to withstand nature's harshest elements, and they can also qualify homeowners for more preferred home insurance policies.
Swimming Pool- You might be looking specifically for a house with a pool but you should know swimming pools can drive up your insurance premiums. Accidents frequently happen in and around pools so insurance companies see them as a high-risk home feature. Remember, you can be held liable even if a trespasser has an accident at your pool. For this reason, homes with swimming pools located on the property should meet all local safety codes and carry high limits of liability coverage.
Age- The age of the home can also affect your premium. Typically older homes have outdated electrical wiring and plumbing systems, which can lead to fires or water damage. If you are considering an older home, ask your realtor the age of the plumbing, HVAC and electrical systems. If they have been updated in recent years, this is important to note with your insurance agent. If not, make sure you know what this may cost you in additional premiums and to upgrade in the future.
Security equipment- Security equipment is a plus for obvious reasons- items such as burglar alarms, deadbolt locks, and smoke alarms can make your home a safer environment. In addition, insurance providers offer discounts for homes featuring these items. In fact, you could save 10% or more on your premium. Take note of the types of safety devices in the homes you are comparing so you can get accurate discounts figured into your insurance rates.
You likely won't make a decision on a house because of insurance factors alone. But it's best to have an idea of where you stand as you consider your options. Start by checking out average home insurance rates in your state. Then work with an agent you can trust to compare quotes on various properties. An educated search can help you find the home of your dreams and home insurance premiums that won't break the bank.
Do you have other real estate questions? Give us a call, email or text. We'd love to answer any real estate related quesions you may have.
-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
Check out these useful links:
BrennerHill.com
Best In Client Satisfaction
Seattle Real Estate Statistics
Windermere Housing Trends Newsletter
Our Preferred Lenders
George Runnels
Washington First Mortgage
WaFirstMortgage.com
call/text: 206-604-4545
Jackie Murphy
Cobalt Mortgage
CobaltMortgage.com
call/text: 425-260-6834
Where Home Prices are Headed over the Next 5 Years
Today, many real estate conversations center on housing prices and where they may be headed. That is why we like the Home Price Expectation Survey. Every quarter, Pulsenomics surveys a nationwide panel of over one hundred economists, real estate experts and investment & market strategists about where prices are headed over the next five years. They then average the projections of all 100+ experts into a single number.
The results of their latest survey
The latest survey was released last week. Here are the results:
- Home values will appreciate by 4.3% in 2014.
- The average annual appreciation will be 4.2% over the next 5 years
- The cumulative appreciation will be 28% by 2018.
- Even the experts making up the most bearish quartile of the survey still are projecting a cumulative appreciation of over 16.8% by 2018.
Individual opinions make headlines. We believe the survey is a fairer depiction of future values.
Are you curious about current home values in the Seattle Puget Sound area? Give us a call, text or email, we love to talk shop!
-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
Check out these useful links:
BrennerHill.com
Best In Client Satisfaction
Windermere Housing Trends Newsletter
Our Preferred Lenders
George Runnels
Washington First Mortgage
WaFirstMortgage.com
call/text: 206-604-4545
Jackie Murphy
Cobalt Mortgage
CobaltMortgage.com
call/text: 425-260-6834
