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Archives for November 2019

4 Critical Tips To Consider When Hiring A Home Contractor

November 6, 2019 by Barbara Bodnar

4 Critical Tips To Consider When Hiring A Home ContractorThere are many reasons why you might be interested in hiring a home contractor. These professionals are an important part of helping someone attain their dream home. While everyone cares about the price of the contractor, this is not the only factor that you should consider.

After all, the home is where people spend a lot of their time. By thinking about price alone, you might be sacrificing quality. It is important for you to take the proper steps when it comes to hiring a home contractor. There are a few factors that you should keep in mind.

Start The Process With A Detailed Plan

This is the step that absolutely must be completed before you even approach a contractor. If you need help with this, think about reaching out to a designer or an architect who can help you. Walk your contractor through your plan step by step. This will help the contractor give you a more accurate price estimate and will allow the contractor to ask important questions. 

Give The Project Specifications Upfront

There are certain finishes or fixtures that you might want in your home. Make sure to provide your contractor with this list ahead of time. These specifications can drastically influence the price estimate. Save your time, as well as the contractors, by providing the specifications as early as possible. That way, the contractor can figure out how much each of these specifications is going to cost.

Ask About Insurance

It is also important for you to make sure your contractor has insurance. Sometimes, accidents happen. This is a reality of the industry. The contractor probably has a large crew that he or she needs to work with to help your project come together. This is not easy. When mishaps happen, your contractor needs to be set up to deal with these issues professionally.

Ask For Client References

Lastly, it is important for you to take a look at some of your home contractor’s work. Take a look at some of the prior projects and make sure you are satisfied with what you see. This will help you get a solid idea of what your project might look like when all is said and done. 

As always, your trusted local real estate professional is an excellent resource for referrals to other quality service providers around the home.  Give them a call today and ask for a referral!

Real Estate Tagged: Contractor, Home Improvement, Real Estate

How To Find Hot Markets For Real Estate Investment

November 5, 2019 by Barbara Bodnar

How To Find Hot Markets For Real Estate InvestmentReal estate investors who want to build up a strong investment portfolio always keep an eye out for hot markets, which gives them a chance to pick up properties that add to their portfolio value.

A word of caution about hot markets is that if you learn about them after they are already hot, you may have missed much of the run-up that made them hot. 

Clever real estate investors try to anticipate markets that will heat up before they do, so they can buy properties in advance of increasing values. Selling properties in a hot market is how they capture profits. 

The Hot Markets

Realtor.com® identified seven markets in the United States that are currently hot markets for flipping houses. The average gross profit for house flippers is $62,700. This figure does not include the cost of making the repairs. The gross profit equals about 20% to 33% of the home’s sales price after making the repairs.

An evaluation looking for hot markets for flipping homes considered the percentage of home sales that were investment properties.

The current hot markets, in the order of activity, are:

  1. St. Louis, MO – 18.8% of home sales are investment properties. The median sales price is $189,900.
  2. Birmingham, AL – 17.3% of home sales are investment properties. The median sales price is $190,000.
  3. Miami, FL – 17% of home sales are investment properties. The median sales price is $299,900.
  4. Tampa, FL – 16.2% of home sales are investment properties. The median sales price is $230,000.
  5. Memphis, TN – 16.1% of home sales are investment properties. The median sales price is $206,300.
  6. Las Vegas, NV – 15.7% of home sales are investment properties. The median sales price is $301,800.
  7. Phoenix, AZ – 15.1% of home sales are investment properties. The median sales price is $275,800.

Hot Pockets In Cooler Markets

Another way to find opportunities is to know your local market very well and look for areas that are up and coming. Look for a fixer-upper in a decent area. Also, search in areas that are adjacent to high-priced areas. 

Look for soft barriers that can be passed easily, such as a block that is improving, which is next to another block that has already improved. Hard barriers, such as a wide street, a freeway, or a river make it more challenging for an improving neighborhood trend to pass across them.

Summary

Finding a hot market or a hot pocket comes from investigating potential growth areas and watching them. Get a feel for the trends. One strategy is to buy early when the prices are still low, rent the property for a while, and then sell later, once the market heats up.

If you are in the market for a new home or want to find out about the hot neighborhoods in your area, be sure to consult with your trusted real estate professional.

Real Estate Tagged: Hot Markets, Investment Property, Real Estate

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – November 4th, 2019

November 4, 2019 by Barbara Bodnar

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – November 4th, 2019Last week’s economic reports included readings from Case-Shiller on home prices, pending home sales data and the post-meeting statement announcement from the Fed’s Federal Open Market Committee were released.

Labor sector reports on jobs and the national unemployment rate were also released. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and initial jobless claims were also published.

Case-Shiller: Home Price Growth Slows in August

Home price growth slowed by 0.20 percent in August for the first time since August 2018. Home price growth rates typically decrease in August as peak home-buying season passes. The Case-Shiller 20-City Home Price Index showed a geographical shift away from the West and Southwest in August as two of the three cities with the highest home price growth rates were in the Southeast.

Home prices in Phoenix, Arizona held the top spot in the 20-City Home Price Index with a seasonally-adjusted annual growth rate of 6.30 percent. Home prices in Charlotte, North Carolina and in Atlanta, Georgia rose 4.50 and 4.00 percent.

Pending home sales rose 1.50 percent in September according to the National Association of Realtors®. Pending home sales gauge future closed sales and mortgage loan volume.

Fed Lowers Key Interest Rate Range

The Federal Reserve announced its third consecutive cut to its benchmark interest rate range but indicated that future rate cuts may be on hold. Fed policymakers cut the federal funds rate range one-quarter percent to 1.50 to 1.75 percent from 1.75 percent to 2.00 percent.

Federal Open Market Committee members said global economic developments and muted inflationary pressure were considerations in the decision to lower the Fed’s key interest rate range.

Mortgage Rates, New Jobless Claims Rise

Freddie Mac reported higher mortgage rates last week; rates for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose eight basis points and averaged 3.78 percent. Rates for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages rose one basis point and averaged 3.19 percent.

Rates for 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgages rose three basis points to 3.43 percent. Discount points averaged 0.50 percent for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages and 0.60 percent for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages. Discount points for 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgages averaged 0.40 percent.

First-time jobless claims rose by 5000 claims to 218,000 new claims filed. The national unemployment rate rose to 3.60 percent in October as compared to September’s reading of 3.50 percent. ADP reported 125,000 private-sector jobs added in October as compared to 93,000 jobs added in September. 128,000 public and private sector jobs were added in October according to the government’s Non-Farm Payrolls report.

What’s Ahead

This week’s scheduled economic news includes readings on job openings and consumer sentiment. Weekly reports on mortgage rates and new jobless claims will also be released.

Financial Reports Tagged: Interest Rates, Jobless Claims, Mortgage Rates

What Is Owner Financing When Buying A Home?

November 1, 2019 by Barbara Bodnar

What is Owner Financing When Buying A HomeThere are many options when it comes to taking out a loan on a new home. One of the options that people might have heard about is called owner financing. In general, the property owner takes the place of a traditional lender.

Instead of someone taking out of a loan from a bank or a credit union, they take out a loan from the owner of the property. Similar to a traditional loan, the buyer will make payments to the seller over a period of time with a certain interest rate.

The Structure Of Owner Financing

If someone elects to go with owner financing, there are several terms that will specify the repayment structure. The most common structure is called a note and mortgage.

This is a secure form of financing. It is also the closest in structure to a traditional mortgage from a bank. The seller will put together a note that specifies the size of the loan and how it will be repaid. The mortgage will secure the seller with the property in case the borrower cannot repay the loan.

The buyer is still placed on the title of the home. Then, the mortgage is recorded with public records, just as in a traditional loan. There are other types of seller financing; however, this is the most common structure.

The Structure Of Repayment

You may have questions regarding this type of financing when compared to a traditional mortgage. Just as in a traditional mortgage, the repayment terms can vary. You will still have the opportunity to negotiate the terms of the loan.

Typically, interest rates are close to that of a loan from a bank or credit union. There are still options to set up a fixed-rate or adjustable-rate mortgage as well.

The Benefits Of Seller Financing

There are several benefits for both the buyer and the seller. First, seller financing may allow the seller to avoid paying capital gains taxes on the property. This can also help the seller offload a property that otherwise might not sell.

The buyer will also be able to purchase a home without having to borrow from a bank. Often, there is less paperwork and fewer fees. Finally, a buyer that might not qualify for a traditional bank loan might be able to buy a home through seller financing.

Understanding Owner Financing

It is important for everyone to think carefully before signing up for this type of financing. This is a unique option that you should understand when looking for a home. Consult with your home mortgage professional to get the best answer for your particular situation.

If you are interested in buying a new home or listing your current property, be sure to contact your trusted real estate professional.

 

Mortgage Tagged: Financing, Homeownership, Mortgage

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