Waiting To Buy A Home

Buying a home is a personal decision that is usually the single largest investment of a lifetime.  This real estate downturn is now bigger than the great depression, fact.  Prices are soft but there are still a lot of reasons to be very serious about shopping for your future home.  If you are sitting on the fence waiting to time the market looking for the absolute bottom please continue to read.  The cost of your home loan is going to go up and that is going to affect you more than a sticker price on your home. Joshua Groesbeck 208-353-7131 or josh@homeswithjosh.com

Interest Rates Are Increasing

Interest rates have increased almost 3/4 of a point in the last six months. Most experts expect rates to continue to increase through the year. Interest rates along with price determine the overall cost of a home. Even with prices softening, if interest rates rise, it may be less expensive to buy now rather than wait.
The 30-Year Mortgage May Disappear

There has been much debate regarding government’s role in providing support for homeownership. There are several experts who believe If Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s roles are eliminated, or even limited, it may be the end to the 30-year mortgage. This concern is addressed in MSN Real Estate’s Is it curtains for the 30-year mortgage?
QRM Requirements Could Be Much More Stringent

Here are proposed changes to the requirements for a ‘qualified residential mortgage’:

* Certain mortgage types would be eliminated
* You would need to put a minimum of 20% down
* You would need a minimum 690 FICO score
* The ratios of income to both the mortgage payment and overall debt would become much more conservative (28% and 36%)

There would be loans available to purchasers who don’t qualify under the new rules. However, they will probably be more expensive to the buyer (both in rate and costs).
Rents Are Expected to Increase

The supply of available rentals is decreasing and the demand is increasing. That will lead to an increase in rental costs throughout the year. The Wall Street Journal this week quoted a report by Reis, Inc:

“Expect vacancies to continue declining, and rents rising through the rest of 2011 at an even faster pace.”

Bottom Line

You may be waiting on the sidelines to see if prices will continue to depreciate before you purchase a home. The mortgage expense is a major piece in the overall financial picture of homeownership. Make sure you consider it when timing your decision.

Are Home Mortgage Rates Going Up

The 30-year fixed mortgages rose this week, with the current rate borrowers were quoted on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace at 4.72 percent, up from 4.71 percent at this same time last week.

As of now the  30-year fixed mortgage rate declined over the weekend, falling to 4.67 percent on Saturday, before climbing to the current rate.

Furthermore, the 15-year fixed mortgage rate on Tuesday morning was 3.98 percent and for 5/1 ARMs, the rate was 3.29 percent.

What are the rates right now? Check out www.homeswithjosh.com or call Whittney Curran at Academy Mortgage 208-489-1356.

Joshua Groesbeck 208-353-7131

Idaho Buy Low and Buy Now

Waiting for the bottom of the housing market can be very tricky and truth be told when you find it- Well chances are very high that you missed it and it is on the way back up- I wanted to leave and example of what waiting on the fence may cost you in the end. The market here in Idaho is still rocky in cities such as- Boise, Eagle, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell, Kuna, Star and Middleton. Below is just an example of how interest rates compare to purchasing power. 208-353-7131 or josh@homeswithjosh.com

Let’s say you were going to take out a $200,000 30-year-fixed-rate mortgage in November of 2010. At that time, interest rates were 4.17% (as per Freddie Mac). Your principle and interest payment would have come to $974.54. According to the most recent report from Case Shiller house prices fell 3.9% in the 4th quarter of 2010. The most recent report from the Federal Housing Finance Agency shows a 0.8% fall in prices. Let’s use the larger percentage decrease: 3.9%.

For the sake of keeping the math simple, we will now say you can get the same house with a $192,000 mortgage (4% discount from November price). Interest rates are now 4.95% (as per Freddie Mac).

Your principle and interest payment would now be $1,024.84.

By waiting to pay less for the PRICE of the house, the COST increased over $50 a month. That adds up to more than $600 a year and over $18,000 over the life of the loan.

Multi-Family Housing In Meridian Idaho

1071 West Pine offers this super nice 5 year old 4-plex for just $270,000 OBO!! Walking distance to the ever growing downtown Meridian,Idaho. Enjoy good local restaurants and craft stores. Easy Access to I-84 and all of the Treasure Valley. Could be a great opportunity for owner occupy have the renters make your payment while you get the tax exemption for owner occupied, call Josh for more info– All units are  rented with a solid rental history, don’t wait if this is for you because I am expecting multiple offers. Joshua Groesbeck 208-353-7131 or josh@homeswithjosh.com

To view this and all properties available in our local treasure valley market go to visit HomeswithJosh.com

If you are trying to save your home from Foreclosure please call Joshua for free consultation!

Reasons Why Buying A Home Now Is Good

We all have different reasons why and when we purchase a home.  Home prices have tumbled from a false appreciation that occurred during the boom years has left many of use cringing as our equity has been wiped leaving us even with our value or in most cases upside down in our mortgage. Buyers are wreaking the rewards from the high volume of homes that are currently on the market. If you can qualify to purchase a home the world is your oyster or in housing terms your dream home awaits you. Home loan interest rates are best we have ever seen and history shows when you are trying to time the absolute bottom of a market chances are it will have already hit and start back up.  In closing I say keep your eyes on the housing market and look for your home in your area chances are you might just find a place to call yours. Please feel free to call Josh Groesbeck 208-353-7131 or josh@homeswithjosh.com for assistance.

10 Reasons to Buy a Home
Time magazine is being overly pessimistic in its recent cover piece that called into question the benefits of homeownership. In fact, now is a great time to buy. And, what’s more, tomorrow will be a great time to own, because the fundamental strength of homeownership hasn’t changed.

Why is now a great time to buy? Here are 10 reasons:

1. You can get a good deal. Prices are down 30 percent on average. They’re at a level that makes sense for people’s income.
2. Mortgages are cheap. At 4.3 percent on average for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, your costs to own are down by a fifth from two years ago.
3. You can save on taxes. When you add up the deductions for mortgage interest and others, the cost of owning can drop below renting for a comparable place.
4. It’ll be yours. The one benefit to owning that never changes is that you can paint your walls orange if you want (generally speaking; there might be some community restrictions). How many landlords will let you do that?
5. You can get a better home. In some markets, it’s simply the case that the nicest places are for-sale homes and condos.
6. It offers some inflation protection. Historically, appreciation over time outpaces inflation.
7. It’s risk capital. If the economy picks up, you stand to benefit from that, even if you’re goal is just to have a nice place to live.
8. It’s forced savings. A part of your payment each month goes to equity.
9. There is a lot to choose from. There are some 4 million homes available today, about a year’s supply. Now’s the time to find something you like and get it.
10. Sooner or later the market will clear. The U.S. is expected to grow by another 100 million people in 40 years. They have to live somewhere. Demand will eventually outpace supply.

Source: Wall Street Journal, Brett Arends (9/16/10)

Mortgage Rate Even Lower

Those of you looking to purchase a home here in Idaho mortgage rate even lower now…. If you are waiting for the bottom of the market I feel that we are scraping it about now barring giving away homes it is getting awfully tempting make a splash in this home market. Now there is always going to be winners and losers but now with so many Idaho short sales and Idaho REO’s (bank owned) properties there is a very good opportunity to come out ahead. Investors are picking up properties for pennies on the dollar, first time home buyer’s are jumping into some great homes in desirable areas while people that can sell with some equity are having the chance of a lifetime to get their “it” home the one they have always dreamed of. For Help in Boise,Eagle,Meridian,Nampa,Caldwell,Star,Middleton,Kuna call Josh 208-353-7131

Mortgage rates have hit a new record low for the 10th time in 11 weeks as investors continue to turn to Treasury bonds as a safe haven; the shift in money is cutting yields, which mortgage rates tend to follow.

Freddie Mac reports that 30-year fixed loans averaged 4.32 percent, down from 4.36 percent a week ago; and the 15-year fixed rate fell to a new low of 3.83 percent, down from 3.86 percent.

These rates are outstanding now combine that with low home prices: BUYERS BEWARE YOU MAY JUST FIND THE HOME YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR!

Joshua Groesbeck or josh@homeswithjosh.com and of course 208-353-7131


Another Home Buyer Tax Credit

That’s right rumor on the street is there may be another tax credit for Home Buyer’s- Could consist of money for First Time Home Buyer’s, Move Up Home Buyer’s and the new twist could be incentive to purchase REO (Bank Owned) and Short Sale properties. If this happens we will be combining low, low, low I mean lowest interest rates on record with homes being sold crazy low prices. Idaho has long been ranked high for best places to live and work and I expect that the Boise Valley will rank high again when this economy turns around. Let’s see what happens but maybe the 3rd time is the charm! Josh Groesbeck 208-353-7131 or josh@homeswithjosh.com and www.homeswithjosh.com

Owning Your Idaho Home

Everyday we here more bad news about the housing fallout and while that cannot be ignored there are some major benefits of home ownership. A lot of the times home ownership are more than the financial dividends.  The best things about owning a home have a lot more to do with personal comfort and satisfaction. I was golfing with a retired professor from Notre Dame. He followed his wife and kids over to Idaho and told me if it weren’t for his job at the University of Notre Dame he would have been here years ago.  He had been coming to Boise, Idaho since the late 1960′s telling me that he always knew that he would end up owning a home here. In closing “I love Idaho” and good game :)

Here are five of them:

· Be your own landlord. The bank can only kick you out if you don’t pay; a landlord can be much less dependable – deciding to sell the property or choosing to live there themselves.
· Paying the principal is forced savings. Yes, it’s possible that home prices will fall further. It is also possible that your 401k will go down, but in the end both should provide you with an upside.
· Fixed-rate mortgages never rise – and eventually you pay them off. With mortgage rates at record lows, people who buy now are locking in real bargains.
· Good schools. Family-sized rentals are harder to come by in areas with excellent public schools.
· Spacious properties in pleasant neighborhoods. Sizable homes in attractive communities are almost always owned – not rented.

Source New York Times: Ron Lieber

Short Sales For Real People Not Just Big Business

I have been saying this for awhile now, “If new bank is built for 200 million and it is now worth 100 million it becomes a bad asset and they will walk away and call it a good business decision, and yes they actually have the money to pay for it.”  This has been going on for years and now that home owners are getting beat up by there upside down mortgage or loss of employment and income they still struggle to hang on.  Sometimes starting over just makes sense emotionally and financially, if big business can strategically do this than why can’t you? Free consultation if keeping your home is no longer an option- Josh Groesbeck 208-353-7131 or josh@homeswithjosh.com

www.homeswithjosh.com and www.idshortsale.com

More and more commercial real-estate companies are doing what many indebted homeowners would like to do: Walk away from mortgages on properties that are now worth a lot less than they paid for them.

Today’s Wall Street Journal highlights three major developers - Macerich,Vornado Realty Trust and Simon Property Group - that have recently decided to default on mortgages.

When companies do this, no one bats an eye–it’s just “smart business.”

When ordinary homeowners think about doing it, meanwhile, the mortgage industry and government begin moaning that a mortgage is more than a business contract. It’s a social contract, in which homeowners have a “moral obligation” to pay.

That’s bunk. An individual mortgage is no different than a corporate mortgage. If corporations are allowed to walk away from mortgage obligations without feeling shame and guilt, then individuals should be able to do so, too.

The contract homeowners sign when they take out a mortgage spells out exactly what happens if the homeowner stops making payments on the loan.  The lender has the right to foreclose on the house, taking the homeowner’s downpayment with it.  In addition, the borrower’s credit rating will usually get destroyed, and, in some states, the lender can come after his or her other assets to recoup the capital the lender has lost.

Those are big penalties.  They provide a major incentive for the borrower to continue making his or payments.  And that’s why the lender, a corporation, put them in the contract.

Importantly, the lender voluntarily entered into the contract–and it did so because it thought doing so was a smart business decision. That it actually turned out to be a lousy business decision is not the homeowner’s fault. It’s the lender’s fault. And the borrower, who is already feeling plenty of pain his or herself, should not have to bear the burden of guilt and shame on top of everything else.

www.homeswithjosh.com

Boise Idaho Approved Short Sale

NO WAITING–FULLY APPROVED SHORT SALE AT ASKING PRICE! Open living area with vaulted ceilings, recessed lighting, large guest bedrooms, an abundance of closet space & neutral paint colors throughout. The kitchen is open & bright containing a plethora of storage. Oversized master suite situated on main level & upstairs bonus/media room with closet could easily be used as a 5th bedroom. Stamped concrete and curbing, auto sprinklers, oversized garage and a North facing back patio—perfect for Summer BBQ’s! Contact Josh Groesbeck to set up your private showing 208-353-7131 or josh@homeswithjosh.com

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