Purchase tips for first time homebuyers

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Purchasing a household, especially if it’s your first one, is usually very scary. There are so numerous things you don’t know as well as terminology you have never came across before. Folks usually worry what they don’t realize.!!!. So it is not surprising that studies have shown that this concern literally prevents some folks from taking the initial steps to acquiring a house!

As a Very first Time Residence Buyer, you happen to be possibly “doing your homework,” seeking info on the net, and asking concerns with the people you trust. If you are like most of us, your household will be the biggest buy you ever make. And if it is your 1st time, this obtain may be even extra intimidating simply because that you are taking full responsibility upon yourself!

I often talk with first time home buyers these days because they begin to realize that rent is more expensive than to pay a mortgage, and here are the five actions I suggest you take prior to buying:

1) Before you begin your residence search, discover what the actual difference is between rent and household ownership. How much are taxes, what will your tax benefit be, what may be the marketplace like within your area (not just the headlines you read within the paper)!!! Comparing a rent payment of $1000 to a house payment of $1000 is like comparing apples to oranges.

2) Get real about your credit, because we all know this is the initially thing a lender is going to appear at!. Learn NOW if your credit rating report appear like a train wreck.!!!. and do not PANIC if it does! Poor credit rating does not ought to stop you from acquiring a home – we can usually get someone’s credit score scores up to where it needs to be within six months!

3) Think about what you’ll be able to afford.!. A down payment might be a huge barrier to homeownership. FHA requires a 3.5% down payment (and they will allow a gift!) USDA House Loans and VA Mortgage Loans require no cash down! In today’s market place, the seller’s are paying most of the closing costs, but you should be ready to pay for your appraisal, taxes, homeowner’s insurance, Inspection Fee and your portion from the Title Insurance.

4) Get Pre-Approved, not Pre-Qualified. A Pre-Qualification could mean that you spoke with a loan officer for 20 minutes, and they said, “well, based upon what you are telling me – we’re good to go.” Should you work with us, we are usually going to go via the full Pre-Approval method. This means, that you will have to offer your income documentation, credit score, bank statements and numerous other items required by the lender to in fact underwrite your file. When you are ready to make an offer on a property, you’ll have more bargaining power over somebody who is just pre-qualified! When talking to your lender, remember to ask lots of questions.!.

5) Hire a Realtor from day one. It will cost you nothing!!

Real Estate in Cape Coral is really improving in regards of pricing. Initial time buyers can discover tremendous deals here and construct equity within the next years to come. Feel totally free to call me at 239-240-7346 if you’d like to see a list of homes inside your price range or contact me here.

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Comments (0) Sep 26 2010

10 Short Sales questions and tips

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Here are 10 frequently asked short sales made questions which are incredibly useful especially if you are just getting started or contemplating quick sales as a means to acquiring pre-foreclosures.

1. What occurs on the seller’s credit rating when they permit an investor to short sell their property?

What typically takes place is the loan will show up as “paid” on their credit report; even so there will probably be a notation that says “settled for less than originally owed” or something along these lines. It’s additional favorable for a homeowner to small promote than to have a foreclosures on their credit report.

2. Where do you find investors for short sales?

Depending on where you live, you may see buyers who advertise with bandit signs or in your local newspaper. Call the investors directly and ask them if they’re experienced in performing short product sales and if they would be interested in working with you. Another good place is your nearby real estate investors club meeting.

3. Define a short sales?

A short selling is really a form of pre-foreclosure sale made and occurs when the mortgagee agrees to accept much less than the loan volume to avoid foreclosure. A negotiated short sale results inside a discounted buy price for the buyer. The buyer would finance the acquisition significantly the same as in any conventional realty acquisition.!. but devoid of the luxury of time.

4. Can an proprietor profit from a short sale?

The seller can’t profit (monetarily) from a pre-foreclosure short sale.!!! But you will find usually exceptions towards the rule.

5. How do bankruptcies affect the possibility of carrying out a short sale?

Most mortgagees won’t take into account a short sale if the house owner is in bankruptcy.!.why? Due to the fact negotiating a short sale made payoff is considered a collection activity. Collection activities are prohibited in bankruptcy.

6. Can somebody tell me what paperwork do I have to include inside a short sale package?

Documents depend on the lender. Each loan company has diverse requirements. It is typical to require hardship letter, buy and sales contract, ECOR, settlement statement (HUD 1), net sheet, pay stubs, bank statements, personal financial sheet (monthly budget), amongst other things.

7. What percentage of mortgage firms send somebody out for an appraisal on a achievable short sale?

All lenders order a BPO or full appraisal of the asset prior to making their decision to accept or reject the short purchase offer. This is there only way of assessing the worth of your home.

8. How late in the pre-foreclosure procedure can you begin a short sale?

Attempt to allow a window of at least 90 days to effectuate a mortgagee approved, pre-foreclosure Short Sale made.

9. What is a Due on Sale clause?

“Due on Sale” Clause (DOS) Provision inside a mortgage or deed of trust calling for the total payoff of your loan balance inside event of a selling or transfer of title towards the secured genuine asset. A contract provision which authorizes the loan provider, at its choice, to declare immediately due and payable sums secured by the lender’s security instrument upon a purchase of all or any part of the genuine home securing the loan devoid of the lender’s prior written consent.

For purposes of this definition, a sale or transfer indicates the conveyance of authentic house of any proper, title or interest therein, regardless of whether legal or equitable, regardless of whether voluntary or involuntary, by for deed, leasehold interest with a term greater than three years, lease-option contract or any other technique of conveyance of true home interests. Standard language which states that the mortgage must be paid when a house is sold.

10. Will banks enable a short sale when the owner has some or a beneficial sum of equity?

If a asset has what the financial institution would consider a substantial quantity of equity, chances are they would take into account allowing the asset to foreclose and then reselling it closer towards the retail value. Focus on homes that don’t have much equity. Your job will be to create the fairness in the home by negotiating a successful short sale made.

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Comments (1) Sep 12 2010

Moving out of state? Are you in the lenders’ “job black list”?

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job-blacklist

It seems that the key phrase ‘job black list’ is somewhat a secret quote used in the lenders and mortgage industry.

I had no clue of its existence as an agent until my last buyer, moving from another state. He was pre-approved by a lender, and I wrote pre-approved, not pre-qualified. He had a top number on that document and I was sending listing with what he was looking for within his price range. So far, so good.

Once we had the right property, he came down, driving 11 hours, had a good few hours look at the property, made an offer, which has been accepted, made an inspection and survey. Everything was going smoothly when he suddenly got the news: his job is on the lenders’ “job black list”

So, what do you need to be part of that list exactly? You need a job, a career or a position that is making money only in the area you are practicing and which could make no money elsewhere. Let me give you some examples:

A self-employed individual who build his business locally and getting business from local advertising, as mortgage broker, plumber, electrician, lawn, Real Estate agent, insurance, painter, A/C maintenance, pool maintenance, and more…

Lenders have denied my buyer because leaving his state to move into another one, will put his income in jeopardy!

So, make sure that your out of state buyers are REALLY approved before putting any offer in writing. That moves can save time to all parties.

You can find helpful mortgage material HERE. This can help you the understanding behind the ugly scene :-)

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Comments (0) Feb 20 2010

You think your pre-approved Real Estate buyers will be approved? Think again…

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I learn something everyday. And yesterday was no exception.

At the first place, when this couple contacted me for their real estate needs, they were explaining what they were looking for, that they have been pre-approved, not pre-qualified, with a mortgage broker, that they were coming to see few properties.

At the end of January, they came for a week-end as planed and we saw 4 houses that Saturday and another 3 that Sunday.

A couple of days later, we discussed an offer on one of them, a 95% of asking price offer that was accepted.

The inspections went OK and they were in their loan paperworks for a couple of weeks when I got a phone call from them. They have been denied. I had to confirm with their mortgage broker and ask how pre-approved buyers can suddenly be denied. Here are some details I was not aware of:

She is an artist and create art that she sells online, on her website, Ebay and other sites. She just need a one car garage space or an extra bedroom for her job. She’s netting about $30K/year.

He’s a manager of a firm that is restructuring and he’s relocating from Richmond to Knoxville, to be the local branch’ manager. He’s netting about $60K/year.

Now  the best part. His income could not be taken as usable income from 2 lenders because that’s an income produced in another state. They ruled that if they are moving to another state, that income will be lost. He will need to provide 6 to 12 months of income in the new state. The wife is OK because they ruled that she can continue her job anywhere and a relocation will not change her income.

Therefore, only the wife’s income can be used and they will be able to buy a property at 1/3 of the original qualifying number.

On the phone with the mortgage broker, he was “shocked” while another one I called explained that it is part of all the new reforms that is happening in the mortgage industry.

Fortunately this time, I didn’t lose that sale since we finally found an owner financing willing to cooperate with agents.

But in the last 4-6 months, I have had buyers who have had a hard time dealing with financing…

Today is another day, another new lesson…Can’t wait to discover what it will be!

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Comments (0) Feb 17 2010

Real Estate agent: documents you need for your short sales.

Posted: under Realtor® Tools.
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First of all, understand the short sales.

A short sale is a transaction that happens when a homeowner is owning more money on his/her home than what it is worth in today’s Real Estate market, and when the bank or the lender is willing to take less than what the homeowner owes.
Most of the time, that bank or lender will be able to collect more money with a short sale than if the homeowner goes into bankruptcy or foreclosure. That’s why they will be listening to short sales under certain circumstances.
For the homeowner, the short sale transaction is a better situation than going bankrupt or foreclosed. They credit will be hurt for 2 or 3 years instead of the 7+ years in a foreclosure situation.

Secondly, here are a list of documents you will need in order to prepare the short sale transaction with the bank representative:

FOR THE REALTOR:

  • ~ Signed letter of authorization from seller authorizing you to negotiate with the lender on their behalf.
  • ~ Letter of facts about the property. Everything that is wrong with the property and why it is impossible to sell it at a higher price.
  • ~ Current Market Analysis. Highlight comparable sales that reflect the lower value.
  • ~ Photographs. Remember, the photographs aren’t to highlight a charming house. Photograph evidence of damage, bad location, etc…
  • ~ Evidence of all showings and feedback. Explain to lender results and conversations you’ve had while trying to sell the property.
  • ~ Copy of listing contract/MLS Listing/MLS history.
  • ~ Current “AS IS” CMA.
  • ~ Copy of purchase contract if you have one.
  • ~ Preliminary HUD
  • ~ Make sure the seller has a detailed, tear jerking letter of hardship. See an example here
  • ~ Sales and services Quotes

Also, insert copies of the following if any:
1. Code Violations
2. Fines
3. Hearing Information regarding the maintenance of the property
4. Evidence of lawsuits the City is filing against lenders
5. Evidence of pending litigation or changes in the law
6. Insert Tenant / Landlord provisions if it helps your case
7. Evidence of the town / city’s enforcement of fines against other banks
8. Latent Material Defect
9. Sexual offenders and predators

FROM THE SELLER:

    -Two years tax returns and W-2’s.
    -Three months bank statements.
    -Pay stubs for last 30 days.
    -Detailed monthly budget.
    -All mortgages with account numbers.
    -Copy of the deed.
    -Copy of the note and/or mortgage
    -Pending bankruptcy, or other action/judgment or lis pendens.
    -Tear jerking hardship letter. See an example here

Buyers generally get a lot more house for their money in a short sale situation, because these properties are usually very competitively priced in order for the sellers to unload them before they end up in foreclosure. It’s a very good situation for them. The only downside I see is often the multiple offers situation for those short sale properties. But there are a lot of short sale properties available in the Cape Coral Florida market than in other parts of the country, so this area is the place to buy!.

So, if you are thinking of buying a short sale, here are 3 tips:

1 – Find a Realtor with short sales experience. There are many rigorous short sales and foreclosure training programs available to real estate agents, including the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) and the Short Sales and Foreclosures Resource Certification (SFR). If you wish to purchase a short sale property in Cape Coral, Florida, or anywhere else for that matter, you will greatly increase your chances of getting your deal to closing if your agent is experienced and comfortable with short sales….either through a short sales certification program, or through hard knocks experience in the field.

2 – Get pre-approved. No short sale offer will be considered without a pre-approval or a proof of funds letter. If you have not yet been pre-approved by a local lender and are not sure who to call, your real estate agent is a good source of referrals. The pre-qualification process generally takes less than 30 minutes, and can be done over the phone, however, a pre-approval takes longer but is better than a pre-qualification. Make sure you work with a local lender – today’s wild & woolly finance environment means that you greatly increase your chances of closing a deal if you use a local lender with a good reputation. All short sale offers must be submitted with a pre-approval letter, or with a proof of funds, as bank’s statements, in the case of a cash transaction.

3) Submit your highest and best offer the first time around! Lenders generally do not counteroffer….they will either say “Yes” or “No”. So if you are going to go through the process of waiting 60 days or more to hear back from the lender, you will greatly increase your chances of hearing that “Yes!” if you submit a good, solid offer with no contingencies.

Once you submit an offer that is approved by the seller, the seller has to submit your offer to their lender to see if the lender will accept the offer as well….remember, in a short sale situation the lender is agreeing to accept less than what the homeowner owes on the mortgage…..and the lender is going to do whatever they can to minimize the amount of that loss to their bottom line. Parting with their profits is not something that comes easy to lenders…..so it takes awhile to find out if they are willing to take the level of financial beating that is inherent in the amount you are offering. Sometimes the wait can be up to 90 days….sometimes much more (the amount of the wait often depends upon which lender holds the paper).

Look at the frustrating wait time as the price you pay for getting the chance to get a home you might not otherwise be able to afford.

If you want to receive listing from banks, this program will give tremendous help to get in the game as well.

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Comments (0) Dec 31 2009

Must do for first-time homebuyers

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As you may know, the first-time homebuyers’ $8,000 credit has been extended. I think it’s time to let you know what you should do before purchasing your first home.

1. Check the selling prices‘ of comparable homes in your area. Web sites like Zillow, Trulia or Homegain are not giving you an acccurate idea of what you should expect to pay. You can also do a quick search of actual multiple listing service, or MLS, listings in your area on a number of Web sites. The best will be to ask a Realtor® of course. Choose one that work in the area you are looking to buy.

2. Use a mortgage calculator to get an idea of what your monthly mortgage payments would be if you bought today. They are plenty of them online, just google it.

3. Find out what your total monthly housing cost would be, including taxes and homeowners insurance. In some areas, what you’ll pay for your taxes and insurance escrow can almost double your mortgage payment. Make sure you can afford that

To get an idea of what you’ll pay in insurance, pick a property in the area where you want to live and make a call to a local insurance agent for an estimate. You won’t be obligated to get the insurance, but you’ll have a good idea of what you’ll pay if you do buy. Just remember that exemptions and the intricacies of local tax law (like Florida’s Save Our Homes value cap) can create differences between what a homeowner is currently paying and what you can expect to pay as a new homeowner.

4. Find out how much you’ll likely pay in closing costs. The upfront cost of settling on your home shouldn’t be overlooked. Closing costs include origination fees charged by the lender, title and settlement fees, taxes and prepaid items like homeowners insurance or homeowners’ association fees. You can see what closing costs average here.

5. Look at your budget and determine how a house fits into it. Fannie Mae recommends that buyers spend no more than 28 percent of their income on housing costs. Go much past 30 percent and you risk becoming house poor.

6. Talk to a reputable Realtor® in your area about the real estate climate. Do they believe prices will continue falling or do they think your area has hit bottom or will rise soon?

7. Remember to look at the big picture. While a buying a house is a great way to build wealth, maintaining your investment can be labor-intensive and expensive. When unexpected costs for new appliances, roof repairs and plumbing problems crop up, there’s no landlord to turn to, and these costs and can quickly drain your bank account.

So consider whether you’re ready for the expense and effort of homeownership before pulling the trigger.

Then, prepare yourself for the hunting!

If the numbers make sense for you, taking a few steps at the beginning of the homebuying process can save you time, money and aggravation.1. Examine your credit. Right now, blemished credit or the inability to make substantial down payment can put the kibosh on your homeownership plans. That’s why it pays to look at your creditworthiness early in the home-buying process. Get a credit report and comb through it for errors and unresolved issues. If you find mistakes, contact the credit reporting bureau to make sure they are corrected. It’s also a good idea to get your FICO score, which will cost you a small fee.

2. Get your docs in a row. Collect pay stubs, bank account statements, W-2s, tax returns for the last two years, statements from current loans and credit lines, and names and addresses of your landlords for the past two years. Have them ready to show to the lender. This may seem like a lot, but in this age of tight credit, don’t be surprised if your lender needs a lot in the way of documentation.

3. Find lenders and get preapproved. Getting preapproved for a mortgage helps you bargain from a position of strength when you are house hunting. The institution where you bank and a local credit union are good places to start your search. Applying to multiple lenders in the same month helps increase your chances of getting a loan approved at the best rate possible without dinging your credit score too much.

4. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try … the government? If you can’t find a bank willing to lend to you — and in the current tight credit market, it’s possible you won’t — consider getting an FHA loan. The Federal Housing Administration has a program that insures the mortgages of many first-time homebuyers. As a result of this guarantee, lenders who might otherwise feel queasy about your qualifications will be more inclined to lend to you. As a bonus, the FHA only requires a 3 percent to 3.5 percent down payment from first-time homebuyers.

5. Finally, don’t forget about the first-time homebuyer’s credit. Get your hands on Form 5405 ahead of time and send it in with your tax return immediately after your home purchase to ensure you receive the $8,000 credit as soon as possible, especially since the credit is set to expire April 30, 2010 and you must close by July 31.

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Comments (0) Dec 07 2009

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