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Buying a home is Cheaper than Renting

Owning is cheaper than renting, so why do so many people choose to rent?

Historically, and even today, buying a home is still cheaper than renting, but it appears that isn’t what many people believe, according to new data from mortgage giant Freddie Mac.

According to recent survey, a full 70% of renters currently feel that renting is more affordable than home ownership, and 55% have no plans to buy in the next three years. Those percentages are pretty close across all demographic groups, from young to old.images98735Many people choose to rent for lifestyle reasons, citing age, and freedom from home maintenance as large factors. Lifestyle considerations for buying or renting aside, affordability is obvious. According to Trulia’s last Rent vs. Buy report, buying remains cheaper than renting nationally. Buying is an average of 23% cheaper than renting. Buying shows to be cheaper in almost every market, which owning being the winning choice in 98 of the 100 largest U.S. metro areas, according to Trulia’s survey.

The survey shows most renters still have favorable views toward homeownership, and many still spire to own a home, but more than ever before, many choose to rent because they view it as more affordable and a better fit for their lifestyle right now.

Many renters, even those who indicated they plan to buy, believe they face hurdles in down payment, and carry too much debt. While this may be true for some, the myth is not based in reality. Maybe you can’t buy the dream house, but they can easily afford a starter house.

Starter Homes

Starter homes lost their luster, especially in the boom years of 2000 – 2006, when many first time home buyers jumped right into large new construction homes, probably above their realistic affordability range, when they probably should have followed their parents path of buying a starter home, and moving up to bigger nicer homes as age, family size, and income dictated.

As a Mortgage Loan Officer, I speak to people everyday with the champagne taste of a new home, but the beer budget.  This attitude of “I deserve” prevents many of them from buying, when historically, real estate ownership has created more wealth for the average person in this country than anything else.

Finally, the survey indicated almost half of all renters whose rents rose in the last two years say they like where they live, and will likely stay stay regardless of rent increases, low mortgage rates, and home affordability.

 

Minnesota has Highest Credit Scores

Minnesotans have nations highest credit scores.

According to a survey by credit agency Experian, the highest average credit scores for both sexes are found in Minnesota, where men score 703 and women score 710, out of a range of 300 to 850.  The numbers reveals Minneapolis is home to the men with the highest average scores, at 705 in the nation. Women in Green Bay, Wis., do even better, with an average score of 709.

Average scores nationwide for men is 670, and for women 675.  A full 1/4th of people fall in the 600 to 699 range, with the higher 600 scores being considered average, and the lower 600 scores being considered poor.

Nevada has the lowest men’s score average at just 645, while the lowest for women is Mississippi with a 640 average score.FICO scores

Many factors determine your credit score, with the biggest one being payment history. Learn more about what makes your credit score.  The score needed to get a mortgage loan, or getting a mortgage loan with a credit score below 640 is very difficult, and getting a loan with a score below 620 is virtually impossible, regardless of what you may read.

Tips for a Smooth Mortgage Application

Tips for a Smooth Mortgage Application

Shopping for a new home can be fun.  Looking at new homes, seeing different style homes, see how others decorate and starting to imagine what the home would look like when you moved it.

Getting a home mortgage loan – not so fun. But you can make it a much easier and smoother process if you start by working with a good Minnesota, Wisconsin, or South Dakota mortgage professional. Quickly followed by being realistic, cooperative and responsive to the paperwork requirements of the loan process.

First step, be realistic. Are you ready to buy a home?  Is your credit OK?  Do you have stable employment?  Do you have some money for down payment?  Assuming YES, the first step is to complete a loan application.

How to Pick A Lender / Loan Officer

Always use a local lender.  There is nothing better online than you can down the street. More often than not, it is actually the other way around. For example, no big internet lender can offers your “local” down payment assistance programs.

Always work with an experienced and fully licensed Loan Officer (read my previous article on learning how to tell the difference).

Mortgage Application Documents

images98725The mortgage application process is cumbersome and paperwork intensive.  Everyone needs to supply basic documents, but depending on your individual situation, you may need more – sometimes a lot more.

Gather and have your basic document ready as listed below. Please do not argue with your Loan Officer. When they call asking for something, it is not them picking on you, it is required. Arguing will get you no place except denied if you don’t supply what is being asked for

Checklist:

  • Photo ID
  • Two most recent pay stubs for each person signing the loan.
  • Last two months bank statements (real statements, not printout or screen shots, all pages)
  • Your most recent 401(k) or other retirement account statement.
  • W2’s (all jobs, last two years)
  • Most recently filed Federal Tax Return (all schedules) State return NOT needed

Common Additional Items

  • Documentation to verify additional income, such as child support, alimony or a pension (recent award letters, and divorce decrees)
  • Last TWO years business and personal federal tax returns if self-employed or own rental property
  • Full copy of bankruptcy papers, including the discharge notice
  • Old Foreclosure? – Need the Sheriff Certificate of Sale (available from the county)
  • Old Short-sale?  Copy of HUD1 Settlement Statement from the actual sale

Get pre-approved, not just pre-qualified

Everyone knows it is smart to get lender Pre-Approved before starting to look for a home, yet many people are actively looking at homes thinking they are Pre-Approved, when in reality, they are only Pre-Qualified.

Pre-Approved or Pre-Qualified? So what is the difference?

welcome2_FTHB_1As a Loan Officer for over 20-years, I can tell you story after story of people who thought they were Pre-Approved, signed a purchase agreement, gave notice on their apartment, only to be told a week before closing that they were denied.  The vast majority of these people, calling me to see if I can magically help them had two big items in common:

  1. They applied at a bank or credit union
  2. They NEVER supplied the lender with all (or even any) basic supporting documents up front.

Simply put, if you didn’t supply current pay stubs, bank statements, W2’s, and Tax returns, YOU ARE NOT PRE-APPROVED – No matter what they tell you!

Looking to buy a home in Minnesota, Wisconsin, or South Dakota? Don’t have your dream fall apart at the last minute, get properly Pre-Approved for a home loan today.

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1 Million Homeowners Regain Equity in 2015

An estimated one million homeowners regained significant equity in 2015.

house_moneyThis is according to a report from CoreLogic,  The report indicated the total number of mortgaged residential properties with equity at the end of 2015 was about 46.3 million, or a full 91.5% of all properties that also have a mortgage loan.

Nationally, borrower equity showed a year-over-year increase of $682 billion in the fourth quarter.

The same report indicated the number of upside down properties (negative equity) stood at 4.3 million, or about just 8.5% of all mortgaged properties – at the end of 2015, according to CoreLogic.

That’s a 19.1% decrease year over year, and great news for homeowners!

Of the estimated 50 million home with a mortgage, the survey found that about 9.5 million, or 18.9%, had less than 20% equity, and 1.2 million, or 2.3%, had less than 5%.

The number of homeowners with more than 20% equity is rising rapidly, according to CoreLogic. Higher prices driven largely by tight supply are certainly a big reason for the rise, but continued population growth, household formation and low mortgage interest rates are also factors.

Looking ahead in 2016, pretty much everyone is expecting home equity  levels to continue to build, which is a good thing for the long-term health of the U.S. economy.