Homebuyer 101

Olson Homes Offers 6 New Home Communities with Loan Payments Comparable to Rent

April 14th, 2011

Seal Beach, CA (Vocus/PRWEB) April 13, 2011 – It happens this time every year. Thousands of landlords across the southland send notification to their tenants that an increase of up to 10% will be added to their current monthly payment for rent. While a common reaction will be to just bite the bullet and renew at the higher payment, many smart homebuyers are weighing the option of making a home purchase instead. For those individuals, Olson Homes is offering 6 new home communities with payments comparable to what the landlord wants for rent. Michelle Johnson VP of Sales and Marketing for the Olson Company points out “With landlords raising rents again, many renters are considering home ownership as a way to control costs”

“But looking for a great loan just got a bit harder” said Michelle Johnson remarking on the recent FHA move. “One of the best loan programs out there today is from FHA, which allows buyers to purchase a home with only 3.5% down combined with flexible guidelines. However, with two critical FHA guidelines about to change, securing these loans will become increasingly difficult. Financial institutions are urging homebuyers who plan to take advantage of FHA financing to lock in their purchases now before the changes take effect later this month. This is why Olson Homes is trying to educate buyers on the value of home ownership over renting.” Michelle also points out that Olson Homes understands what today’s young buyer is looking for and builds communities based on today’s lifestyle values.

Adding to the challenge is a second change the FHA will be rolling out this month. “The FHA is severely limiting the number of loans they will allow in a condominium community to only 30%, which means the FHA is anticipating that they will be running out of loans before the summer even begins” says Ruby Johnson, VP of DRE/Escrow for Olson Homes. “With only a finite number of cases available many home shoppers will have to go with higher cost conventional financing. When the money runs out, most buyers will need to put 10%-20% down for conventional financing.” In this economy, that may put potential homeowners out of the market and right back into the rental market. The choices are either pay the rent increase or move again in search of an affordable alternative.

Many worry that with interest rates set to rise, with that in mind, they are moving forward with a home purchase now rather than wait. This way they are locking in an interest rate below 5%, making their monthly payments comparable to what they were paying in rent.

With 6 great new home communities located throughout Southern California, Olson Homes has a new home community perfect for young urban lifestyles designed to help kick the rental habit.

Olson Homes is currently helping new homebuyers fire their landlords with the following communities: Mosaic Walk in Garden Grove, from the low $300,000′s, Rio Walk in Montebello, California priced from the 290,000′s, Willow Walk in Compton, California priced from the mid $200,000′s, Sycamore Walk in Garden Grove, California priced from the mid $400,000’s, Citrus Walk in Covina, California now forming an interest list with new townhomes and flats from the mid $300,000′s, and Heritage Walk in Paramount, California offering new single family detached homes from the high $200,000′s.

To learn more about these Olson Homes communities, visit OlsonHomes.com/smartbuy.

10 Reasons Why Not to Shop on Black Friday

November 24th, 2010

This holiday season has people flocking to stores on Black Friday–Here are 10 Reasons why shoppers should buy a new home for the holidays instead

Black Friday is upon us! While merchants are busy gearing up for a record Black Friday filled with sales, Olson Homes wants to spell out 10 reasons why shoppers should buy a new home instead. So here are our 10 reasons why it’s good to buy a home and skip the big box Black Friday sales.

1. Home shoppers have waited long enough. Good deals are available for the asking.
In case home shoppers may have missed this, this is the best buyer’s market we have seen on over 30 years. If home shoppers are waiting for the bottom, they may have already missed it! No one will ever catch the bottom mostly because no one knows where that is. The truth is it doesn’t really matter so much in the long haul.

2. Mortgages are cheap. Very cheap.
Home shoppers can get a 30-year loan for around 4.3%. In some cases home shoppers may find special buy down rates that get down to 3.75% What’s not to like about low interest rates? These are the lowest rates on record. As recently as two years ago they were about 6.3%. That drop slashes your monthly repayment by a fifth. If inflation picks up, home shoppers won’t see these mortgage rates again in their lifetime. And if we get deflation, and rates fall further, homeowners can always refinance.

3 Home shoppers will save on taxes. Tax breaks for itemization.
Here is a plus. Home shoppers can deduct the mortgage interest from their income taxes. Try doing that on your standard holiday purchases. With a new home purchase, home shoppers can deduct their real estate taxes. And they’ll get a tax break on capital gains–if any–when they sell. Sure, home shoppers need to do the math. Homeowners only get the income tax break if they itemize their tax deductions, and many people may be better off taking the standard deduction instead. The breaks are more valuable the more people earn, and the bigger their mortgage. But savvy homeowners will find that these tax breaks mean owning costs them less, often a lot less, than renting.

4. This time it’s personal! That new home is a design showcase.
Get in early enough on a new home and home shoppers can have the kitchen and bathrooms they really want. Homeowners can upgrade to their hearts content. They can get the flooring, window treatments, and upgraded appliances they have dreamed about. New home ownership also allows homeowners to add these items to their monthly mortgage payments at a cost that adds only a bit more to their monthly mortgage payments. Black Friday shoppers should try this instead of maxing out their credit cards at 22% interest rates. Consider that fact when in the check out line that this purchase won’t will be paid back for many years to come. Hmmm, maybe buying a new home instead does make more sense?

5. Home shoppers get a better home. Much Better!
Renting a place gives people a place to rest their heads and a space to park their belongings, but generally speaking, if they want the best home in the best neighborhood, most people are better off buying a new home. Plus new homeowners get that great new home smell!

6. It offers some inflation protection.
Black Fridays come and go but studies by Professor Karl “Chip” Case (of Case-Shiller), and others, suggest that over the long-term housing has tended to beat inflation by a couple of percentage points a year. That’s valuable inflation insurance, especially if raising a young family and thinking about the next 30 or 40 years. The rule of thumb is if anyone that plans on living in a place for 5 years or more, they may be better off buying than renting. If someone is planning on moving every few years they may want to re-think that strategy and lock-in home ownership while it is still affordable and within reach.

7. It’s risk capital. That is comfort now, equity later.
No, a home isn’t the stock market and no one should view it as the way to get rich. Thats what got people into the mess we see on the news. But current indicators suggest that the economy may surprise us all and start booming, sooner or later real estate prices will head up again, too. Long after the Black Friday sale items are forgotten in the back of a closet, your new home will have gained equity. One lesson from the last few years is that stocks are incredibly hard for most normal people to own in large quantities–for practical as well as psychological reasons. Equity in a home is another way of linking part of a portfolio to the long-term growth of the economy–if it happens–and still managing to sleep at night.

8. It’s forced savings. Pay yourself first!
Suppose one can rent an apartment for $2,000 month instead of buying one for $2,400 a month, renting may make sense. But will people save that $400 for their future? A lot of people won’t. People have to do the math, but need to remember that part of a mortgage payment that goes to principal repayment isn’t a cost. Homeowners are just paying themselves by building equity. As a forced monthly saving, it’s a good discipline.

9. There is a lot to choose from. 4 New home communities to be exact!
Olson Homes may be biased, but when it comes to home affordability, home shoppers should consider one of our great new Southern California new home communities. From the mid $200s Olson Homes has the final phase of Willow Walk in Compton visit WillowWalkHomes.com, from the high $200s Olson Homes has 2 communities; Rio Walk in Montebello visit RioWalkHomes.com, and nearly sold out Heritage Walk in Fullerton visit HeritageWalkHomes.com, and in Garden Grove from the low $300s there is Mosaic Walk visit MosaicWalk.com. Any of these communities offer great locations and great value for new home shoppers.

10. Sooner or later, the market will clear. Be there when it does.
Demand and supply will meet. The population is forecast to grow by more than 100 million people over the next 40 years. That means maybe 40 million new households looking for homes. Meanwhile, today’s home shoppers will be so happy they bought a new home now, and be able to brag about how smart they were way back when people without vision let this once in a lifetime home ownership opportunity pass them by.

So there it is! 10 great reasons not to shop on Black Friday and buy a new home instead.

10 Reasons to Buy a Home Today

September 16th, 2010

Enough with the doom and gloom about homeownership. Brett Arends of the Wall Street Journal explains why owning a home is a good thing. We thought we would share it with you. Please feel free to share it too!

The following article is from The Wall Street Journal, by Brett Arends | September 16, 2010

Enough with the doom and gloom about homeownership

Sure, maybe there’s more pain to come in the housing market. But when Time magazine starts running covers that declare “Owning a home may no longer make economic sense,” it’s time to say: Enough is enough. This is what “capitulation” looks like. Everyone has given up.

After all, at the peak of the bubble five years ago, Time had a different take. “Home Sweet Home,” declared its cover then, as it celebrated the boom and asked: “Will your house make your rich?”

But it’s not enough just to be contrarian. So here are 10 reasons why it’s good to buy a home.

1. You can get a good deal. Especially if you play hardball. This is a buyer’s market. Most of the other buyers have now vanished, as the tax credits on purchases have just expired. We’re four to five years into the biggest housing bust in modern history. And prices have come down a long way– about 30% from their peak, according to Standard & Poor’s Case-Shiller Index, which tracks home prices in 20 big cities. Yes, it’s mixed. New York is only down 20%. Arizona has halved. Will prices fall further? Sure, they could. You’ll never catch the bottom. It doesn’t really matter so much in the long haul.

Where is fair value? Fund manager Jeremy Grantham at GMO, who predicted the bust with remarkable accuracy, said two years ago that home prices needed to fall another 17% to reach fair value in relation to household incomes. Case-Shiller since then: Down 18%.

2. Mortgages are cheap. You can get a 30-year loan for around 4.3%. What’s not to like? These are the lowest rates on record. As recently as two years ago they were about 6.3%. That drop slashes your monthly repayment by a fifth. If inflation picks up, you won’t see these mortgage rates again in your lifetime. And if we get deflation, and rates fall further, you can refi.

3. You’ll save on taxes. You can deduct the mortgage interest from your income taxes. You can deduct your real estate taxes. And you’ll get a tax break on capital gains–if any–when you sell. Sure, you’ll need to do your math. You’ll only get the income tax break if you itemize your deductions, and many people may be better off taking the standard deduction instead. The breaks are more valuable the more you earn, and the bigger your mortgage. But many people will find that these tax breaks mean owning costs them less, often a lot less, than renting.

4. It’ll be yours. You can have the kitchen and bathrooms you want. You can move the walls, build an extension–zoning permitted–or paint everything bright orange. Few landlords are so indulgent; for renters, these types of changes are often impossible. You’ll feel better about your own place if you own it than if you rent. Many years ago, when I was working for a political campaign in England, I toured a working-class northern town. Mrs. Thatcher had just begun selling off public housing to the tenants. “You can tell the ones that have been bought,” said my local guide. “They’ve painted the front door. It’s the first thing people do when they buy.” It was a small sign that said something big.

5. You’ll get a better home. In many parts of the country it can be really hard to find a good rental. All the best places are sold as condos. Money talks. Once again, this is a case by case issue: In Miami right now there are so many vacant luxury condos that owners will rent them out for a fraction of the cost of owning. But few places are so favored. Generally speaking, if you want the best home in the best neighborhood, you’re better off buying.

6. It offers some inflation protection. No, it’s not perfect. But studies by Professor Karl “Chip” Case (of Case-Shiller), and others, suggest that over the long-term housing has tended to beat inflation by a couple of percentage points a year. That’s valuable inflation insurance, especially if you’re young and raising a family and thinking about the next 30 or 40 years. In the recent past, inflation-protected government bonds, or TIPS, offered an easier form of inflation insurance. But yields there have plummeted of late. That also makes homeownership look a little better by contrast.

7. It’s risk capital. No, your home isn’t the stock market and you shouldn’t view it as the way to get rich. But if the economy does surprise us all and start booming, sooner or later real estate prices will head up again, too. One lesson from the last few years is that stocks are incredibly hard for most normal people to own in large quantities–for practical as well as psychological reasons. Equity in a home is another way of linking part of your portfolio to the long-term growth of the economy–if it happens–and still managing to sleep at night.

8. It’s forced savings. If you can rent an apartment for $2,000 month instead of buying one for $2,400 a month, renting may make sense. But will you save that $400 for your future? A lot of people won’t. Most, I dare say. Once again, you have to do your math, but the part of your mortgage payment that goes to principal repayment isn’t a cost. You’re just paying yourself by building equity. As a forced monthly saving, it’s a good discipline.

9. There is a lot to choose from. There is a glut of homes in most of the country. The National Association of Realtors puts the current inventory at around 4 million homes. That’s below last year’s peak, but well above typical levels, and enough for about a year’s worth of sales. More keeping coming onto the market, too, as the banks slowly unload their inventory of unsold properties. That means great choice, as well as great prices.

10. Sooner or later, the market will clear. Demand and supply will meet. The population is forecast to grow by more than 100 million people over the next 40 years. That means maybe 40 million new households looking for homes. Meanwhile, this housing glut will work itself out. Many of the homes will be bought. But many more will simply be destroyed–either deliberately, or by inaction. This is already happening. Even two years ago, when I toured the housing slumpin western Florida, I saw bankrupt condo developments that were fast becoming derelict. And, finally, a lot of the “glut” simply won’t matter: It’s concentrated in a few areas, like Florida and Nevada. Unless you live there, the glut won’t have any long-term impact on housing supply in your town.

Orange County Builders Applaud State Legislature and Governor Schwarzenegger’s Decision to Approve Home Buyer Tax Credit

March 25th, 2010

Great tax news for first time homebuyers at Mosaic Walk.

Both Governor Schwarzenegger and the State Legislature have taken a critical step in reinvigorating the state’s economy by passing and signing AB 183, a bill which will provide a $10,000 tax credit to home buyers. With the housing industry making up some 11% of the state’s overall Gross Domestic Product, an increasing number of economists and policy-makers agree; the recovery of the housing sector is essential to the recovery of the state’s economy. Slumping new home production has been steadily killing jobs for the past two years.

The home buyer tax credit will go into effect May 1, and will provide $200 million in tax credits for both new home buyers and first-time buyers of existing homes. Buyers can claim up to $10,000 or 5 percent of the home price (depending upon which is less), for the purchase of a new home. Buyers must reside in their home for a minimum of two years and there is no income requirement. Even though the program is set to expire at the end of the year, buyers can’t wait too long, last year’s tax credit was extremely popular and funding was already dried up by mid-summer. Several Orange County builders experienced substantially higher new home sales as soon as the previous tax credit went into effect last year.

Kristine Thalman, CEO of the Building Industry Association of Orange County comments, “The reality is new construction creates jobs – up to 3 new jobs for every single home built. Renewing the homebuyer tax credit is a critical step in creating jobs and generating positive economic activity for the state. Since new construction generates approximately $16,000 in state tax revenues alone, the new tax credit would more than pay for itself. The companies that are directly and indirectly affected by the housing industry reach across nearly every sector of our state’s economy. It’s not just home builders that will benefit; its trade contractors, professional services, news publications (ads), local small businesses, not to mention the considerable tax benefit to both the state and local governments. We applaud Gov. Schwarzenegger for taking decisive action in extending the tax credit program and putting people back to work. This truly is a win-win situation for the state and the economy as a whole.”

First Time Home Buyer Programs and Mortgage Refinancing Options

February 21st, 2010

Several first time home buyer programs exist to help future homeowners obtain home loan financing. Not all programs are available to everyone and each has unique eligibility requirements. In order to determine which home buying programs are available, buyers can conduct research online or consult with a mortgage adviser.

The most common first time home buyer programs include: HUD homes, FHA loans, VA loans, Fannie Mae financing, and Making Home Affordable; a U.S. government program for mortgage refinancing and loan modification.

First time home buyers can also benefit from the Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act, which provides an $8000 tax credit for properties purchased by April 30, 2010. The Recovery Act also extends up to $6500 tax credit to borrowers who have lived in their house for at least five years and want to purchase a higher priced home.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers a variety of first time home buyer programs. HUD programs vary by state, but most home buying programs involve purchasing HUD homes at significantly reduced prices.

Individuals who work in teaching and public service professions such as law enforcement, firefighters and emergency responders, might qualify for HUDs ‘Good Neighbor Next Door’ program. Good neighbor home purchase incentives include buying houses at up to 50-percent off realty listing prices.

FHA loans are backed by the Federal Housing Administration and provide financing opportunities for first time home buyers with less than perfect credit. Applicants who have filed bankruptcy or possess inconsistent employment sometimes find it easier to obtain FHA financing.

One major benefit of FHA loans is the low down payment requirement of 3-1/2 percent. Down payment money can come from outside sources such as a gift or loan from family or friends. FHA financing is the only home loan program which allows down payment assistance from an outside source.

VA loans are available to veterans and active duty service personnel. The Department of Veterans Affairs offers no money down financing and guarantees up to 25-percent of home loans; making it easier for veterans to obtain a home loan. First time home buyer incentives and mortgage assistance can be found at va.gov.

Fannie Mae presents first time home buying programs and mortgage refinance options. One of the more popular is the Home Path® program which offers an assortment of homes for sale. Fannie Mae homes are foreclosure and deed in lieu properties sold at reduced prices through approved realtors.

Fannie Mae home buying incentives include flexible mortgage terms, no appraisal fees, low down payment requirement, and home loan financing for individuals with bad credit. First time home buyer and mortgage refinance information can be located at FannieMae.com.

Lighting Design: Choosing Light Fixtures for a New Home

February 20th, 2010

Building a new home is both exhilarating and daunting. Few things are as exciting as building a home from scratch, made to spec. It’s rewarding to be able to choose everything from flooring, to plumbing, paint colors, appliances and light fixtures. Building a home is the ultimate opportunity to express style while meeting specific needs.

Lighting design may be something a homeowner has never before considered. This is particularly true if it’s the first new home he or she has ever built. Light fixtures are first and foremost functional items. They provide the illumination that is necessary to go about daily life. Nevertheless, they do not have to be purely utilitarian. Light fixtures can be both functional and decorative. They can enhance the quality of a home and even add to its overall value. Choosing light fixtures knowledgeably can pay off in terms of quality of life and resale value. The following three considerations are the most important when it comes to choosing light fixtures for a new home:

* Choose light fixtures based on need/use. Evaluate each room in terms of the type of activity that will take place there. The kitchen is a prime example of form versus function in lighting design. Smaller kitchens may be able to get away with one light fixture in the center of the room. Larger kitchens, however, may require several banks of light fixtures. Track lighting can be useful in small kitchens even though it’s more commonly associated with other rooms. Track lights allow you to adjust light positions to aim light where it’s needed most. Remember to think about those areas of the kitchen that may need directed light for working purposes. The stove is usually one of these places. Another may be countertops where food preparation will take place. Apply these same principles to all rooms in the home. This will help you determine which type of light fixtures will be necessary and how many. It’s okay to have light fixtures that are mainly for decorative purposes (such as sconce lights). However, be sure to supplement those with directed lighting.

* Choose lighting design based on the style of the home. Light fixtures should complement the style of the home’s interior. For example, a contemporary home interior features clean, straight lines. Light fixtures in a contemporary home or room should do the same.

* Think about energy costs when choosing light fixtures. The cost of energy used to be an afterthought when it came to lighting design. This trend is changing considerably. Even those with deep pockets are concerned with the impact that energy use has on our environment. Just because a homeowner can afford to be extravagant with lighting design doesn’t mean he should be. It’s possible to achieve beauty, ambiance and value without doing extra damage to the environment. Homeowners should compare their budgets with the projected cost of energy use with any light fixtures they consider. They should also strive to be as energy-efficient as possible.

Homeowners can come up with a suitable lighting design once these priorities have been identified and determined. It may seem that a lot of factors are at play. However, it’s possible even for the novice to choose light fixtures that are complementary and functional at the same time.

First Time Home Buyers

February 20th, 2010

In 1994, we set our sights on a house located in a pleasant, quiet suburban enclave called Bixby Knolls in Long Beach, CA.  Although we could barely afford the home’s $230,000 purchase price – a fortune for us at the time – it was a small, neat, modest home situated in a good neighborhood with appreciation potential.  So, we dove into the home buying market.  It was a perfectly manageable house located in a perfectly acceptable neighborhood.

                                                           

We did not have a clue at the time that home prices would slowly begin to climb and climb and climb thanks to an extended period of historically low interest rates. Low interest rates spurred consumer demand, which soon grew to overwhelming consumer demand for homes to call their own.  Consequently, home prices reached stratospheric levels in our neighborhood as well as in most major metropolitan markets (Texas, Oklahoma, the Dakotas and a few other affordable markets being the exception). 

Ten years later, in the middle of April 2004, a devastatingly tragic electrical fire took the lives of our beloved Italian Greyhounds, Ben and Rusty.  Although we rebuilt our home better than it was before, it was still a sad time for us; we ultimately sold our first, “first home”.  The offers made for our modest 1,600 square foot home were obscene – obscene amounts, that is.  It was undeniably the most profitable yet most heartbreaking investment of our lives.

In retrospect, recalling the loan application process and qualifying for the mortgage in order to buy our perfect little house, well, we recollect that process was NOT so perfect. 

In 1994, when we were struggling to qualify for the mortgage, we were not aware of available first time home buyer programs created for folks of low to moderate income.

Furthermore, our loan officer did not introduce us to these options, either because he was as clueless as we were about the existence of such programs or, the bank with whom he was employed at the time elected not to participate in specialty programs for first time home buyers. 

Neither we nor our loan officer had any idea the city of Long Beach, county of Los Angeles and yes, even the State of California all had available specialty loan programs designed specifically for folks like us: first time home buyers, short on cash for a 20%, 10% or even 5% down payment, not to mention funds to cover closing costs. 

We were wholly unfamiliar with mortgage credit certificate programs, below market interest rate programs, mortgage revenue bond programs, and we would have given our left arm for help with no-strings-attached gift money and forgivable grant money provided through city, county and state housing agencies. 

If we only knew . . . the home buying process would have been so much easier and much less stressful.   Driving our decision to buy a home we could barely afford was  exacerbated by our landlord’s demand we vacate the house, which was once rented by my husband and his former wife (the landlord’s daughter), within 30 days.  Great – no pressure there. . .

Fortunately, with the generous help of parents and with a loan borrowed from our 401K, we were finally able to produce a minimal down payment.   Our motivated home seller, an 80 year old retiree who wanted to move closer to her daughter in another town, helped us pay some of our closing costs through seller concessions. Then after all that, we SOMEHOW managed to scrape up sufficient funds to substantiate cash reserves to satisfy our lender and cover our personal moving expenses after escrow closed. 

Did we consider buying new furnishings and/or major appliances to update our 50 year old new house?  Fuggedaboutit!  And THEN we had to take into account recurring costs associated with debt servicing the new mortgage and maintaining our new home like water, electricity, property taxes, etc. 

If your borrowers are anything like we were back in the day, the sticker shock associated with a new home purchase and maintenance costs can discourage even the most motivated buyers.

Timely solutions to the above-described challenges may not be easily found or forthcoming at all.  Notwithstanding the charity of parents, other relatives and/or through the liquidation of assets in order to meet most lenders’ minimum mandatory requirements for down payment and cash reserves, a substantial number of  first time home buying hopefuls will consequently shelve their Dream of Homeownership.

This is the sad, sad shelf upon which dust will gather, accumulate and ultimately completely obscure the light-filled Dream of Home Ownership which once burned brightly in their mind’s eye – snuffed out, extinguished. 

What you must know is it doesn’t have to end this way.

Be the Hero.  With new information provided through the OFFICIAL LOAN OFFICER GUIDE,   solutions to the above-described challenges are placed at your fingertips.

In most real estate markets today, it remains virtually impossible for the average consumer of low to moderate income to qualify for a modestly sized mortgage without benefit of a substantial out-of-pocket investment.  Depending on a variety of qualifying factors, we’re talking a down payment investment equal to  10, 15, 20 or 25% of the home’s sales price plus closing costs (points, title, insurance, etc.). 

Be the Hero.  Be the “Go to Guy” for information about down payment assistance programs and products.

Programs like those that are the focus of the Official Loan Officer Guide will well serve your marginally qualified borrowers and help support the real estate industry overall by providing another way to shore up buyer qualifying and loan viability. 

Be the Hero.  Reserve first time home buyer program funds on behalf of your borrower before your competition does.  When I worked for a major national mortgage bank (a bank  heavily vested in first time home buyer loan programs),  I observed first hand fierce competition between loan officers and competing lenders for the right to secure programs funds on behalf of their constituencies – first time home buyers. 

I observed borrowers anxiously await word from their loan officer for assurances that they too would get their piece of the first time home buyer mortgage assistance pie.  Anything less could, and often did, jeopardize the borrower’s ability to qualify for a mortgage and close escrow on time (if ever).

A growing number of city, county and state housing finance agencies/authorities/corporations are creating new and/or fully funding existing programs to assist first time home buyers with cash money for down payment and closing costs.  Monetary assistance can be quite substantial, ranging in amounts from $5,000 to $100,000+ (amounts vary by city, county and state) or calculated as a percentage of the home’s sales price or a percentage of the first mortgage loan amount. 

Be the Hero.  Be the first in line to procure program information, educate your customer and secure funds for your stressed out client base – first time home buyers. 

Please note, programs addressed in the OFFICIAL LOAN OFFICER GUIDE are primarily used exclusively in conjunction with purchase money first mortgage loans with 30 year fixed loan terms.   Alt-A, sub-prime and non-traditional hybrid loan first mortgage loans types are strictly prohibited.

Bottom line?  There is hope, and it begins with this quick read, bare-bones approach to assisting the neophyte loan officer and veteran loan officer to better understand how such first time home buyer programs work in tandem with step-by-step processes and procedures and ways to pinpoint available programs in your borrower’s selected subject property city, town and/or surrounds.   Some first time home buyers may elect to buy (or not to buy) in a particular city or county based on the availability (or lack thereof) of first time home buyer programs. 

The OFFICIAL LOAN OFFICER GUIDE provides a fast track to inside knowledge regarding useful specialty programs created specifically to assist first time home buyers of low to moderate income on a NATIONWIDE scale.

There is a dearth of information available to educate loan officers on a nationwide scale about the many beneficial programs that are the focus of this guide.  As I complete the writing of my first book on this topic, it is my hope, desire and intention that the OFFICIAL LOAN OFFICER GUIDE: Below Market Interest Rate Programs – Down Payment Assistance Programs, First Edition, will serve to educate and empower you to help cash strapped first time home buyers produce tangible results in the form of new, affordable housing that falls within the budgetary means of all eligible citizens nationwide.

To you guys and gals in the mortgage finance trenches, you are amazing!  This book was written for you.  May you make many a first time home buyer and real estate agent happy, satisified clients by your effective utilization of the information contained within this book.

  

Best of luck to you all and happy down payment assistance hunting!

Esperanza J. Creeger

Author

www.FTHBGuru.com

Top 20 Secrets You Should Know When Getting A Home Loan

February 18th, 2010

If you are planning to apply for a home loan, there are various types of home loans available in today’s financial market and each one comes with its own rules and regulations. Below you will find the top 20 secrets you should know when getting a home loan.
1.Know About Various Types of Home Loans
The competition in the loan market is rising day by day. Nowadays there are numerous loan packages which suit almost every budget. Some of the major loan types include:
One Month ARM’s
Five Year Fixed ARM’s
15 Year Fixed
30 Year Fixed
100% Home Equity Loan
VA Home Loans
Zero Down Payment Mortgage Loans
2.Select the Right Home Loan for You
What a customer needs to do is to research various home loans and know the benefits, interest rates and repayment schedules for individual loan institutions. Make sure you select the right home loan for you as there are so many home loans available on the market today. Don’t apply for a home loan from the first loan company you meet, thinking that they are offering the lowest interest rates. Before applying for a loan, make sure that the loan is appropriate for you needs.
3.Down Payment
As a general rule of thumb, the majority of the loan providers will be seeking contributions from borrowers around 3% to 6% of the total loan value. Make sure that you are selecting the right one. As the competition in the home loan sector is increasing day by day, you can easily negotiate and get the right package for you.
4.Fixed Interest Rates Versus Adjustable Interest Rates
Fixed interest rates means that your interest rates will be fixed until the end of the loan period. On the other hand, adjustable interest rates (also known as variable interest rates), means that your interest rates for home loans will vary (increase or decrease) depending on the existing interest rates in the financial market. Before you apply for a home loan decide on which interest rate is the best one for you, that is whether you need a fixed rate or one which may decrease or increase each month.
5. Annual Percentage Rates (APR)
Annual percentage rates (APR) consist of principle, interests, fees, and all other costs related with the loan. Comparing the APR of various loan providers will help you to select the loan which best suits your budget.
6.Compare Home Loan Features
The majority of home loan customers exclusively compare interest rates, it is essential to compare home loan features as well. Keep in mind that, the more flexible your home loan is the higher the interest rates. A variable interest loan permits one to withdraw against repayments or offset savings against the loan, will also have a higher interest rate when compared with a standard home loan. So make sure that you have compared the home loan features.
7.Think Whether You Need a Redraw Facility
A redraw facility allows borrowers to make additional repayments on a home loan, and then have access to the additional repayments they paid earlier. However, these facilities are normally available only on Standard Variable loans which feature a higher interest rate than ordinary home loans. Think twice before applying for a loan with redraw facility as it is a little more expensive.
8.Loan Amount Qualification (Income)
This can differ according to you, your loan provider, and several other variables. However, as a baseline to decide on how much you can afford to borrow, have a look at two or three times your current household income. This will tell you how much of a loan you qualify for.
9.Loan Amount Qualification (Expenses)
This is another important category which changes from one loan provider to the other. However there are several factors to look at such as housing expenses, like insurance, property taxes, and mortgage and long term debt, like auto loans and credit cards.
To decide upon the loan amount expenses, take the sum of all of the housing expenses and long term debt. Make sure that the expenses don’t exceed 33% to 36% of your total household income. The next step is to examine your housing expenses. Make sure that the expenses do not exceed 25% to 28% of your total household income.
10.Employment
The majority of loan providers need to take a look at your employment history so as to make sure that you have a steady and stable income. If you have a stable income then there will not be any problems in getting the appropriate loan amount.
11.Credit History
This is another factor which can positively or negatively affect your home loan. If you have good credit history you can easily obtain the loan, while if you have bad credit history then you may need to pay a higher interest rate for your loan.
12.Know about Points
Points are one of the major fees charged on the loan and they represent the profit earned by the lending institution. Points are generally tax deductible. One point means 1% of the total loan amount.
13.Select Carefully Between Points and Interest Rates
When choosing a home loan, a borrower has the option of paying additional points in exchange for a lower interest rate. Before making any deal you need to consider a few factors. If you are planning to stay in the house for a longer period of term, at least 6 to 8 years, then choosing the points will be the ideal option, this is because the lower interest rates will save you more in the long run.
14.Consider Sub-Prime Loans
These are loans which are exclusively designed for those people who are burdened with credit and financial difficulties. These loans are also great for those who are looking to reestablish their damaged credit. If you fall under any of these categories it is a good idea to choose sub-prime loans. Though the interest rates of these loans are slightly higher than normal loans, these loans help you to reestablish your damaged credit history, or purchase a new home before cleaning your credit history. Generally these loans are offered on a short term basis like 2 to 3 years.
15.Consider a Portable Home Loan
A portable home loan is one which allows you to sell one property and move to a new one without refinancing your loan, that is, if you pay off the old loan and take on a new loan. This will save you a considerable amount of money, such as no application fees and legal fees. However, most home loan providers insist that the new home loan amount required must be less than the existing loan amount.
16.Get Professional Help
Even though websites offer buyers a large access to home listings, it is still a good option to seek the help of a professional. Look for an exclusive buyer agent who can provide you enough help with your home loan needs.
17.Shop Around
Many people are not aware of the importance of shopping around to find the best home loan. However it is quite essential to shop around as it helps you to know more about the home loan packages and interest rates offered by various home loan providers. This helps you to select the right deal.
18.Get Online Quotes
Nowadays most of the loan companies offer free online quotes. Ask for online quotes from various home loan companies and compare them to know which one suits your needs the most.
19.Read Reviews
Reading reviews of websites which offer home loans will help you to know what their previous borrowers have to say about them. Reviews are quite important as they are posted by those who have previous experience with a loan company. Try to read reviews before you select any loan provider.
20.Search Online
An extensive search online will help you to find the top online home loan providers. Don’t go with the first result displayed by the search engines. Go through a few websites and read their terms and conditions. Spend some time to learn more about the company and its services and then pick up the deal which suits your needs.
You are now aware of the top 20 strategies for searching and applying for a home loan, so what are you waiting for, apply for a home loan today.