HOW TO FINANCIALLY PREPARE YOURSELF BEFORE LOOKING AT A HOME

June 29, 2020 by chorton Leave a Comment

Prepare Financially Before Looking at Homes

Too often home buyers fail to prepare themselves financially before looking for a home to purchase. Doing so is a common mistake that many future home buyers make even though this may be the largest purchase of their lives. Not taking the proper steps to set yourself up for success could mean that you do not get your dream home, or it costs you more than it should.

Here are some of the best tips for preparing yourself financially before starting the home search process. By doing so you’ll be two steps ahead of the game and well on your way to home ownership!

CONNECT WITH A LENDER FAR IN ADVANCE

Before you start driving around neighborhoods, flipping through listings online or even stopping in to speak with a Realtor, it would be a good idea to know what your buying power is today. If you have a goal to be able to buy into a particular neighborhood, you should put a plan in place to be able to achieve that.

Speaking with a lender first to develop a plan of action on how you can qualify to buy a home in that area or price range is critical.

My recommendation is that you have an initial discussion with a lender nine months to one year in advance. Sound crazy? I know many people do not know that far in advance that they may be buying a home next year. For those who do, this is extremely important.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO PLAN SO FAR IN ADVANCE?

First, your lender will let you know what you can qualify for today based upon your income, down payment and credit score. There are other factors which play a part including credit events and large monthly payments on your credit report.

Income – Income sometimes is difficult to change in one year. Lenders will be looking at your last two years’ tax returns and recent pay stubs when you are ready to apply. They will also require that you have a two-year work history.

Some individuals decide to take a break for personal reasons without realizing that a gap in employment may prevent them from getting loan approval. Documenting your income is essential as well. If you are in a cash business, then you should begin depositing that money into an account on a regular basis so that you can qualify for a bank statement loan. These are just a few examples of what your lender will discuss with you.

Down Payment – This is extremely important, and it will partially determine your buying power. It is also connected to the various loan programs that you may or may not qualify for. You will need to have those down payment funds in your bank account three months before you submit a loan application.

If you have little to no down payment and do not think you can raise additional funds over the next nine months, then your lender will discuss low down payment and loan program options which will then help determine your realistic price range.

If you can get to a twenty percent down payment that is ideal. When you don’t have at least twenty percent to put down, you’ll often be required to pay private mortgage insurance.

PMI is a useless fee that only benefits the lender as protection in the event you default on your loan. Most people will try to stop paying private mortgage insurance as soon as they can.

Credit Score – Your credit score plays a significant role here. It will have an impact on your final mortgage rate, in some instances your down payment requirement, or whether you are qualified at all for a mortgage. Borrowers with the best credit scores generally will get the lowest mortgage interest rate. Therefore it makes sense to put a lot of work into improving your financial status.

The good news though is that it is not that hard to improve your credit scores in as little as 6 months or less. There are creative ways to do it yourself and even some reputable services out there who know how to get your scores raised for you.

Do your best to target a score of 680 or above. There are lenders that can find a bad credit mortgage for you with scores as low as 500 but then your down payment requirement and your rate will be much different.

Credit Events – A credit event is a bankruptcy, foreclosure and in some instances collections. If you have a bankruptcy or foreclosure, your lender needs to know up front so he or she can plan for this. It is preferable to have had these two years prior to applying for a loan.

Less than two years out of bankruptcy for example will prevent you from getting an FHA loan. Collections need to be dealt with. Pay outstanding collection amounts and work to have them removed from your credit report. That can be negotiated with the creditor as part of the payment agreement.

Large Payments on Your Credit Report – Too often potential home buyers fail to qualify because they have too many other minimum monthly payments showing up on their credit report. During the qualification process, lenders need to factor your future mortgage payment as well as the monthly obligations that appear on your credit report.

Together, and when divided into your gross monthly income they make your debt to income ratio (DTI). Each loan program has a maximum DTI allowed. The less that you have in OTHER monthly payments on your credit report, the larger the loan you will be able to qualify for.

In this example, you can see that with a gross monthly income of $6,500, this person would qualify for a $300k loan at current rates using a maximum DTI of 43%. At the bottom, you can see how much more buying power this person has when the other monthly payments are removed.

This example above should hopefully explain why it is important to keep your credit report free from other monthly obligations. If you think there is a chance that you may buy a home in the near future, then do not buy a new car. At least not without discussing the implications with your lender.

In the example above, the person could afford $88k more if there was no car payment when applying for the loan. The truth is that auto lending is much more lenient when it comes to qualifying. Once you are approved and close on your home loan, there is an excellent chance that you can then go and buy the car you want.

RESERVE FUNDS

The cash needed to buy a home is not just about the down payment and closing costs. Lenders will require a few months’ reserves (check with your lender). They want to be sure that if you have a job loss that you can at least make a few payments before you are out of money.

Realistically, you need to plan for a lot more than that. When you buy your home, do you think you may need some money to fix it up the way you want? Even with new construction, there are expenses.

Do you need to buy furniture? Do you own basic home needs like a lawn mower? This is also part of the planning process. Throwing everything you have into your initial purchase without anything left over makes you “house poor” and with one small setback can land you in a very difficult scenario where you could lose your home.

FINAL PERSPECTIVE

Once you have this plan developed with the assistance of a lender, then you can target price points and specific towns or neighborhoods. You will be able to spend time focusing on homes that are a true reality for you.

Developing a plan far in advance and sticking to it will also help make the home buying process much easier and will take the stress out of finding a mortgage. Your realtor will also be pleasantly surprised to know that you have taken the time to make sure you have the ability financially to purchase the home.

If you are thinking about looking for a home at some point in the future, contact a lender today to have a preliminary discussion.

Is This Your Situation: Looking for the Best Home in Your Budget?

June 17, 2020 by chorton Leave a Comment

You’re neither rich nor poor, and you’re ready to buy your first home. You look around—all those homes on the market, but they all seem priced out of reach.
Cheer up. You’re not alone. With some solid real estate counseling and some help from your lender and/or sellers and others, you can not only get your foot in the door, you can own the house too. It just takes some creativity, a few inside tips and a bit of homework.

Examine Your Goals

How ironclad are your dreams? Can your dream of a formal dining room or a hot tub on a redwood deck be postponed? Must you have a two car garage? Lowering your expectations and starting out modestly (in decent housing that meets your needs) can lead to owning those dreams in time.

Start Saving

Get your priorities straight. Without taking all the fun out of life, what’s more important to you, weekends on the road and dinners out or stashing away at least part of your down payment? (Most lenders want to see that some of the money you invest is your own.)

Keep Your Credit Record Clean

When you go mortgage shopping, lenders will be looking over your payment records. Don’t let a late-payment habit rise up to haunt you. (Reformed late-payers can request creditors to erase the blots on their records—for a small fee).

Look for Financial Assistance

Your parents and other relatives may be able and willing to give you gifts that will get you over the down payment hurdle. (Loans from relatives will be counted as debts and will lower a number of mortgage payments your lender will allow you to carry).

Get Some Co-Signers

Parents, relatives (and unrelated investors) can either co-sign a loan or share the ownership of your home. With shared ownership, you’ll be the resident but your co-investor may share specified expenses (plus tax advantages and equity accrual) and will share in your profit on the sale.

Shop for Mortgage Loans

Qualifying for a mortgage can be managed in several ways to fit your down payment and monthly payment abilities. FHA and VA loans come with low down payment requirements, and lenders offer ARMs (adjustable-rate mortgages) at initially low-interest rates. (Look for an ARM that can be converted to a fixed rate should rates drop).

Consider Creative Financing

Also, new-home builders and other sellers may offer buy-downs that lower your interest rate in the first few years of a mortgage, thereby making a home more affordable. Balloon loans (if they have at least a 7-year term) can often bridge gaps and give you time to accumulate equity and/or cash to pay them off. Home sellers can sometimes help you financially—with a lease-purchase arrangement or a take-back loan. Lenders and sellers are constantly creating new ways to help buyers buy homes. We can help you check them out.

Look at Starter Homes

Once freed of the vision of “instant dream home,” you can look for housing that will start you on the equity-building path to realizing your dream. Condominiums and townhouses are often much less expensive than detached houses and buying one now can serve well as a stepping stone.

Search for Bargains

If you’re handy with tools, a fixer-upper home gives you the opportunity to buy inexpensively. Fix it up and in a few years, trade up. If you’re adventurous, auctioned properties in suitable neighborhoods can also be good values. If you don’t mind a longer commute to work, outlying areas frequently offer homes at lower prices than those found close to town.

Whatever route you choose toward buying your first home, keep cool. It may take time to find the right combination of elements, but there is a home out there for you and a way to obtain it. We’ll be happy to help you create your path to its door.

Call or email us today to help you discover the best home that your budget can buy.

Getting a Mortgage When You’re Self Employed

May 1, 2020 by chorton Leave a Comment

mortgage self employed

Getting a mortgage can be a difficult process, and getting a mortgage when you’re self employed even more so. Lenders look at a number of different factors when determining whether to offer you a loan and what the terms of that loan should be. And one of the biggest factors is the reliability of your income. If you’re a business owner, freelancer, or other type of self employed worker, you’ll have to be able to prove to the bank that you’re not a risky investment—and that’s sometimes easier said than done.

Still, getting a mortgage when you’re self employed is far from impossible. Here’s what you’ll need to know to navigate the mortgage process without a W2.

What Lenders Are Looking For

The reason that getting a mortgage when you’re self employed is often such a tough hill to climb is that, on its face, a self employed income isn’t as verifiable as one that’s backed by a contracted salary. Banks will have questions about just how secure your prospects are, as well as what they can expect from your income moving forward.

A major determining factor here is your credit score, which isn’t affected by your self employed status. However, it’s not the only thing lenders are looking at. Your income is just as crucial, and can make the difference between getting a good loan at a good rate and not getting a loan at all.

When it comes to proving the viability of your income, lenders are looking at a few major factors:

- The demand for your business (The state of the industry, including unique variables like location and profit potential)
- The financial history of your business (How much money have you made from your business in the past?)
- The financial stability of your business (Do you make relatively the same amount year to year, or is your annual take-home pay extremely variable?)

The big question they’re getting at here: Will your business enable you to pay back your loan? That is, after all, their primary concern.

Also taken into account will be your debt-to-income ratio, which is the amount you make versus the amount that you owe toward things like credit card debt and student loans. (Or more specifically: monthly debt-related payments divided by monthly income.) If your ratio is favorable—43% or less—then you’re in a much better spot for getting a mortgage.

How to Prove Reliable Income

A full-time salaried worker gets an annual W2 that states, in clear terms, how much they’ve made in each of the years leading up to their loan application. A self employed worker on the other hand is usually juggling multiple 1099s, as well as clients with whom they don’t file a 1099 at all and record income manually. And so when it comes to getting a mortgage when you’re self employed, instead of just one tax form it’s a whole cache of documents that need to be produced showing not just current wages but enough information to predict future wages as well. It’s a lot; but hey, nobody ever said that mortgage applications are fun.

To prepare for your application, gather the following documents:

Income documents: 1099s, state and federal tax returns, bank statements.

Asset documents: Any documentation of investments and other assets, including retirement, savings, and stock accounts.

Debt documents: Federal 1098 student loan tax forms, credit card statements, auto loan statements, credit scores, rent or mortgage checks, etc.

For most lenders, you’ll need to show at least two years’ worth of documentation. This helps with proving the stability of your income, since if you’ve made a consistent amount for two years or more then they can have more faith you’ll continue to make the same.

Keep in mind that only taxable income will be considered. If you’re telling a potential lender that you’re bringing in $5,000 a month but your bank statements and tax forms only show $4,000 a month in income, it’s the latter number that’s going to count. Likewise, they might not consider “windfall” income like an inheritance, because even if it was taxed it’s still not something you—or they—can expect you to earn every year.

The Process for Getting a Mortgage When You’re Self Employed

Extra documentation aside, the process for getting a mortgage when you’re self employed is the same as it would be if you were employed by someone else. As always, we recommend that you start this process early and that you get a mortgage pre-approval, which makes you much more attractive as a buyer.

It all starts with your application. This is usually done either online or in person, and includes a series of questions designed to answer all of those questions the bank wants to know about your income, credit history, and debt. In most cases, your answers are fed into an automatic underwriting system, which, in a matter of just minutes will either say you’re approved for a loan, unapproved for a loan, or need to go through a more intensive human underwriting process.

Whether it’s by a person or by a machine, you’ll need underwriter approval in order to move on to the next step, which is when your supplied documentation is used to “prove” your answers to the questions asked. This is always done by a real human, and may include requests for even more documents, such as a business license or specific certifications. Once you pass this step you’ll have full mortgage approval and will be able to close on your loan.

Getting the Best Terms

As for what terms you’ll face, you can still get competitive interest rates when you’re self employed. So long as your income is verifiable and consistent and your debt-to-income ratio is in a healthy place you should have no trouble tapping into the same rates that everyone else with similar financial credentials gets.

If you’re struggling with getting a mortgage when you’re self employed, you may want to consider working with a mortgage broker. While they’re not free to use (expect to owe about 1% to 2% of your final loan amount), a mortgage broker can help you figure out exactly what you need to do and how to do it, and may be able to get you better terms.

Another way to get better terms on your mortgage is to put more money down to start. And of course, a great credit score certainly doesn’t hurt. You may also want to—or be required to—bring on a co-signer.

Get in as good of a financial spot as possible before applying for your mortgage. Taking the time to pay off debt, build up savings, and establish consistency in your income will go a very long way toward making you a less risky investment with a mortgage provider. The more you can do to show that you’re a capable self employed borrower the easier the process is going to be.

Altogether, set aside at least a week for getting an approved mortgage. That includes the time that you’ll need in order to get all of your documents in order, as well as the time spent working with an underwriter. If you’ve got a good business and the documentation to prove it, you won’t have anything to worry about.

If you have any questions on how to get started give our office a call, our agents are here to help!

Building On Your Land – What You Need to Know

April 15, 2020 by chorton Leave a Comment

The land we own can serve many purposes. Some buy land as a place to hunt or fish, while others plan to grow crops or start a farm. For others, it’s a place to build your dream home or vacation getaway. Regardless of your reason, if you’re planning to build a home, cabin or outbuilding on your land, there are a few things you need to know first.

Zoning

Before building any structure on your land, you need to determine whether it’s actually legal to do so. Zoning restrictions and topography may dictate that a home or structure may not legally be built, or it will be required to be in a certain area of the property. Be sure to check with an experienced local builder to help you navigate any potential issues.

Finding a Lender

Once you have any zoning issues sorted out, your next step should be to meet with a lender that’s experienced in construction loans so that you can be pre-approved for a loan based on your financial needs. In general, a build-on-your-lot or custom home will require a down payment of 20% to 25% of the entire cost of building the home, including permits and site preparations. Most lenders are willing to finance construction for a year. When the home or building is complete they will require you to refinance into a permanent loan for the property.

Building a Home

There are three primary options for having a home built on your land. Choose the one that fits your needs and budget best:

Build-On-Your-Lot Builder – Most of these builders will have a variety of pre-designed floor plans for you to choose from. Oftentimes they can offer you a choice of specific fixtures and appliances for your home. This can save you money, but make sure these products match what you’re looking for.

Design-Build – These firms work with you to plan your new home from the ground up. It’s a similar process to working with a build-on-your-lot builder, except your home will be a custom design. These firms usually have in-house architects or a contract with an architect who will work with the construction company.

Architect – Of course, you can always hire your own architect to build your new home or building. The architect can create the exact home you’re envisioning using your ideas and their expertise. If you choose to hire your own architect, be sure that the architect and builder are willing to work together and can confidently meet your budget.

Feel free to contact our office, we are happy to answer any questions.

The Realtors at Preferred Properties of Texas in Stephenville are here to help you buy and sell real estate for over 25 years!

9 Home-Buying Costs Veterans and Active Military Should Keep in Mind

April 6, 2020 by chorton Leave a Comment

After

For veterans and active military, VA loans are a great way to achieve the dream of homeownership. More than 22 million service members have used these flexible, no down payment loans since 1944.

But when people hear “no down payment,” they often don’t realize they’ll still need some cash on hand to finish the deal.

“Zero down does not mean zero to close,” points out Gwen Chubirko, broker in charge at Genesis Realty Co. in Kannapolis, NC.

The good news is that buyers don’t have to go in blindly: Your VA loan-savvy real estate agent will be your ally in helping you estimate the costs you will need throughout the process, no matter where you live.

“Our goal is to save veterans money and get them into a home that they’re happy with,” says Realtor® John Ulrich, broker associate with Illustrated Properties in Manalapan, FL.

While the amount you need to close will vary according to your location and situation, experts say you can usually expect to need about 3% of the purchase price on hand to close.

Want to break it down? Here are some home-buying costs that veterans and active military shouldn’t overlook.

1. Credit report

Buyers will often pay this fee, which runs, on average, about $30, to their lender when they first apply for a loan. Be aware that this fee is nonrefundable even if the loan doesn’t close.

2. Earnest money

The earnest money deposit is key to the home-buying process. It essentially allows you to put a “hold” on a house while you conduct the inspections and appraisal. Without earnest money, you could theoretically make offers on many homes, essentially taking them off the market until you decided which one you liked best. As the name suggests, it shows that you are earnest about moving forward on the purchase.

“The seller wants that buyer to have some money in the game when they take the house off the market,” Chubirko explains.

Depending on where you live, you can expect to put down anywhere from 1% to even 10% of the home’s purchase price as earnest money. (In some highly competitive markets, buyers are making even larger deposits in an effort to stand out.)

But don’t worry! Whatever you put down for earnest money will go toward your down payment and closing costs as soon as the deal goes through. (If the deal falters, you could lose some or all of your deposit, depending on the reason why the agreement tanks.)

3. Appraisal

All VA loans require an appraisal to ensure the property is up to acceptable standards and meets the VA’s Minimum Property Requirements. What does that mean? Well, an appraiser will calculate the square footage, confirm the property is worth the price you’re offering, and that it’s safe, structurally sound, and sanitary. Among other things, the appraiser will check for safe mechanical systems, acceptable roof life, and hazard-free basements and crawl space. VA buyers will often pay for the appraisal upfront, but they may be able to recoup the cost at closing.

4. Home inspection

While the appraisal is required, a home inspection is technically optional (except for a pest inspection, which is required in certain states and can cost roughly $50 to $150). But you never want to take a pass on the inspection, unless you’re buying a tear-down (not with a VA loan!).

The home inspection is your all-too-crucial opportunity to uncover any problems with the house before you make it official. It’s also your chance to point out repairs you can ask the seller to make on your behalf (and those repairs could cost much more than the inspection itself, which is going to run about $300 to $500.)

5. Recording fees

Recording fees must be paid out of pocket at the time of closing. This is the fee you pay the county to record your mortgage in the public record, and the cost varies from county to county.

6. Real estate transfer taxes

These costs vary by state—from none in Indiana, to a $2 flat fee in Arizona, to $2 per each $500 in value in New York. States, counties, and municipalities collect these taxes to transfer the title of the property from the previous owner to the new owner.

7. Title insurance

Title insurance protects you (and your lender) in the event there are title issues from previous owners of the home. The average cost of title insurance is around $1,000 per policy, but that amount varies widely from state to state and depends on the price of your home.

8. HOA fees

If you buy a home in an area where there is a required homeowners association, you will need to pay the application fee, which is variable depending on the local rules. Then there are your monthly dues. For a typical single-family home, HOA fees can cost homeowners around $200 to $300 per month, although they’ll be lower or much higher depending on the size of your unit and the amenities.

9. Loan origination fees

An origination fee is one of several that will make up your closing costs. The VA allows lenders to charge up to 1% of the loan amount to cover origination, processing, and underwriting costs.

The bottom line? While VA loans are a great option for any veteran hoping to buy a house, being prepared before you apply will ensure no surprises throughout the process.

Give our office a call to book an appointment with one of our knowledgeable agents today!

The Realtors at Preferred Properties of Texas in Stephenville in Erath county in the Cross Timbers area of North Central Texas are here to help you buy and sell real estate for over 25 years!

How Interest Rates Can Impact Your Monthly Housing Payments

March 25, 2020 by chorton Leave a Comment

Interest Rates and Home Payments

Spring is right around the corner, so flowers are starting to bloom, and many potential homebuyers are getting ready to step into the market. If you’re thinking of buying this season, here’s how mortgage interest rates are working in your favor.

Freddie Mac explains:

“If you’re in the market to buy a home, today’s average mortgage rates are something to celebrate compared to almost any year since 1971…

Mortgage rates change frequently. Over the last 45 years, they have ranged from a high of 18.63% (1981) to a low of 3.31% (2012). While it’s not likely that the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate will return to its record low, the current average rate of 3.45% is pretty close — all to your advantage.”

To put this in perspective, the following chart from the same article shows how average mortgage rates by decade have impacted the approximate monthly payment of a $200,000 home over time:

Clearly, when rates are low – like they are today – qualified buyers can benefit significantly over time.

Keep in mind, if interest rates go up, this can push many potential homebuyers out of the market. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) notes:

“Prospective home buyers are also adversely affected when interest rates rise. NAHB’s priced-out estimates show that, depending on the starting rate, a quarter-point increase in the rate of 3.75% on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage can price over 1.3 million U.S. households out of the market for the median-priced new home.”

Bottom Line

You certainly don’t want to be priced out of the market this year, and waiting may mean a significant change in your potential mortgage payment should rates start to rise. If your financial situation allows, now may be a great time to lock in at a low mortgage rate to benefit greatly over the lifetime of your loan.