| |
| |
|
Mortgage & Refinancing Information |
|
|
Buying a Home when Rates go Up
Many people fret the rising tide of interest rates. You'll hear things like, "Did I miss the boat? Is it too expensive now to buy a home? How can I afford the house of my dreams? Maybe I should wait! Maybe I should just rent for a while! Maybe the rates will go down in a few weeks. " Stop! Nonsense, I say! I bought my first home at close to 9%. Buyers from the 80's told me I was getting in at a bargain, and anyway, who cares? I don't. I refinanced long, long, long ago. 9% is just a part of history now. So, here's 5 important points you need to keep in mind, when the ebb and flow of interest rates, ebbs up, more than it flows down? 1. There's no better time, then NOW! 2. Long Term Investing 3. Creative Financing 4. Uncreative Financing 5. Buying a Home when Rates go Down 1. There's no better time, then NOW!: I know it sounds cliché, but it's true. There's no better time to buy, then now. Why? a) Because if rates are going up, then the law of supply and demand insists that the rising price of homes will likely slow down. b) Since appreciation slows down when rates go up, this is an opportunity to buy at a perceived discount c) Remember, rates fluctuate, and nothings forever. So, it's more important to get your darned foot in the door, right now. You can always refinance later, as rates ebb and flow back down. You'll still have the benefit of having gotten into the house, at a lower, discounted price, and you can then enjoy both a low rate when you refinance, alongside knowing that you got the house when prices slowed down, maximizing the gain when appreciation revs back up again. See what I mean? Don't wait. It only gets more expensive. There's always, no better time, then NOW! 2. Long Term Investing: If this is your first home, then you have to think beyond the next year or so, and move your frame of reference into a longer futuristic point of view. a) Are you going to live in the same house, for at least 5 years? b) Most of us would answer yes, therefore, you need to be more concerned with real estate in the long term, let's say beyond 5 years, and you need to be less concerned with the short term rise and fall of rates. You'll drive yourself nuts otherwise. c) 5 years is a pretty solid range of time, for rates to go both up, and down. In other words, history proves that for the most part, you'll live through the ebb and flow of rising and falling rates, as a homeowner, and you know what? You'll survive; in fact, you'll thrive, because you'll enjoy a net gain in appreciation over the long term. So rates go up and down in the short term, but in the long term, real estate always appreciates, and that means that homeowners always win. 3. Creative Financing: This is the good stuff. When rates go up, opportunities abound. You see, many homeowners, builders, and developers, find themselves in more negotiable positions because of the laws of supply and demand. Surplus rises, and buyers slow down. a) If financing is an issue, then you may be able to negotiate with the owner to carry the note, and completely bypass more conventional lending institutions. b) If affordability is an issue, then perhaps you'll find many more re-sales out there, perhaps fixer-uppers, ready to negotiate for a lower price (Can you say, built in equity?) c) If discounts and incentives are your game, then perhaps you'll locate some developers anxious to move inventory, with a flare for adding a rebate, or doing you're landscaping, or building that retaining wall you wanted. The key here (and this is very important), is to find an excellent real estate agent. I can't stress enough, how important it is to have someone on your side, who understands the lay of the land. Don't go at it alone. Just go find someone knowledgeable, who you can trust, and who is ready and willing to roll up their sleeves, and go to work for you. 4. Uncreative Financing: As of the writing of this article, rates are still very, very low. Anything below 7%, for a fixed rate, in my opinion, is totally workable. a) Between 1979 and 1990, fixed interest rates ranged from 11% to 16% on average. This is highly unusual historically, of course, but it is an excellent benchmark, when you evaluate how good, or bad, things are right now. b) So as you're exploring your choices, don't lose sight of the big picture. Getting your foot in the door is more valuable, then being left out in the cold. c) One other important point. For all those homeowners that purchased in the 80s, do you think they're terribly concerned now about the ebb and flow of rates? Do you think they kept their 11% fixed rate loan, or do you think they refinanced when it dropped down to 6% (or paid the house off by now). I'd venture a guess, that virtually all of them; have a nice, hefty, bulky, attractive pot of equity sitting on their front porch step today. 5. Buying a Home when Rates Go Down: When rates go down, of course, it's obvious that getting a loan and buying a house is extremely attractive. a) But when rates go down, there is a lack of homes on inventory. b) Can you say, "Non-negotiable", or "bidding war", or "oops, sorry?Already sold!" c) When rates go down, the seller is in the driver's seat, and the buyer is running around with checkbook in hand, yelling "Where do I sign?" Keep that in mind. Which would you prefer? Personally, I dislike high rates, but I LOVE being in the drivers' seat. I guess in the end, you've just got to work with whatever environment exists today. Any way you look at it, you can't stop and wait until the cards stack up in your favor. You just have to dive in, and get started. If you like to be creative, if you like opportunities, and if you like to be in the drivers seat then rising rates shouldn't bother you in the slightest. Renting is more of a crime to your finances, in the long run. We've enjoyed providing this information to you, and we wish you the best of luck in your pursuits. Remember to always seek out good advice from those you trust, and never turn your back on your own common sense. Publisher's Directions: This article may be freely distributed so long as the copyright, author's information, disclaimer, and an active link (where possible) are included. Disclaimer: Statements and opinions expressed in the articles, reviews and other materials herein are those of the authors. While every care has been taken in the compilation of this information and every attempt made to present up-to-date and accurate information, we cannot guarantee that inaccuracies will not occur. The author will not be held responsible for any claim, loss, damage or inconvenience caused as a result of any information within these pages or any information accessed through this site. Copyright 2005, by http://www.Loans-Directory.Org, This article is available in full format at: When Rates Go Up, Tom Levine provides a solid, common sense approach to solving problems and answering questions relating to consumer loan products. His website seeks to provide free online resources for the consumer, including rate-watch, tips and articles, financial communication, news, and links to products and services.
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Why Choose a Home Improvement Loan? Many people choose to take out home improvement loans so they can give their house a new look before selling.Home Improvement Loans can help you if you have been considering doing some home improvements to your home and have now decided to look for a loan to turn those home improvement ideas into reality. The Best Tactics for Getting a Quick Homeowner Loan Trying to find a quick homeowner loan can seem difficult at times, especially considering the days or even weeks that it can take for some banks and other lenders to approve or deny a loan.The worst part is that if you're denied your loan, then you have to start over at another bank and go through the same wait again!Luckily, there are other options available that speed up the process of getting a quick homeowner loan? you just have to know where to look for them. Top 10 Things to Consider on Home Loans Here are our Top 10 most important things to consider when shopping for a Home Loan, Equity Line of Credit, or Refinance, courtesy of Loans-Directory.Org:Down-PaymentFixed Versus Adjustable RateAPRLoan TypesLoan Amount Qualification, IncomeLoan Amount Qualification, ExpensesEmployment and Credit HistoryPointsSub-Prime LoansShort-Forms1. Need a Mortgage, Refinance or Equity Loan? Learn What it Takes, Before Applying Do you know what it takes to qualify for mortgage and refinance loans? There are several factors involved with qualifying for a purchase, refinance or equity line of credit, and having an in-depth understanding of these could make the difference in you being accepted or turned down by a bank loan officer.Here are some things loan underwriters use in seeing if you qualify for a loan: your credit rating; your income; the amount you wish to borrow vs. Mortgage Soup Looking for home mortgage loans can get confusing with the alphabet soup of mortgage loans programs available today. Most of these programs are just variations of fixed rate and adjustable rate mortgage loans. The Power of a Home Equity Loan to Pay Down Debt Households across the country are finding themselves in a similar situation. They lack the financial funds to make the necessary changes to their home and need to find a way to fund upgrades and eliminate debt. Avoiding Foreclosure If you fall behind in your mortgage payments, you face the threat of foreclosure.Foreclosure means your lender can take over your home, and you must move out. Is the Inverse Mortgage a Scam? New Program Promises Mortgage Payoff inside of 5 Years If a mortgage could be paid off in five years or less, without it costing homeowners an extra cent, why wouldn't every homeowner in America be doing it? Because they don't know, or because they're too wise? Although the former may be the case for many, I certainly hope the latter is the answer for most.A real estate finance consultant company, who shall remain nameless here, claims it has the secret to paying off your mortgage in five years or less, without you paying any more on your monthly payment or adding to the principal mortgage of your real estate loan. Residential Mortgages - a Step Ahead on the Property Ladder Doesn't Residential mortgage give the impression that they are a different breed of mortgages? They are often thought at the first instance to be a complex term, which they aren't. They are actually the regular mortgages that we hear of so often. Refinancing Your Mortgage Can Open Up A Lot Of Options For You And Your Family It can happen to anyone, the roof is leaking, the credit card bills are pilling up and it is almost time for a new car. But where are you going to get the money to do all of these things? The need for extra cash can be very frustrating and worrisome, however if you are a home owner you have a variety of financial options available to you that you may not even be aware of. Using a Mortgage Refinance Company Online Online mortgage companies make refinancing convenient and competitive. By researching mortgage rates and lenders online, you can be assured that you have the best refinancing rates. Home Construction Loans You can maximize your savings by shopping for a lender that can provide you with a combination loan. The combination loan starts as a construction loan. To Refinance or not to Refinance -- Here is the Answer I have written many articles on refinancing a fixed rate mortgage to an adjustable rate mortgage. I have helped people cut as much as $800 off their monthly payments by turning their high fixed rate mortgage loan into a much lower ARM. Option One Mortgage Loans - Getting an Option ARM or Option One Mortgage Loan Have you heard about or been interested in finding out more about option one mortgage loans? They are becoming very popular, but its important to understand how they work before you apply for one. I will describe, in this article, an overview of the most common type of option ARM mortgage loan or option one mortgage loan. Home Equity Increases $1 Trillion in Five Years - Is the Market Peaking? A new survey reveals that in the last five years, the equity in the California real estate market has increased by more than one trillion dollars. A trillion dollars is a large number to ponder, but put in concrete terms, it can be represented by a stack of one hundred dollar bills that is six hundred thirty one miles high! This astronomical increase in California home values isn't all that unique, however. Getting The Best Home Equity Loan Owing to the popularity of home equity loans, there are numerous lending agencies offering a variety of mortgage products. A bad choice of mortgage can lead to disastrous effects, as there is a risk involved of foreclosure and losing one's home. Non-conforming Home Loans vs Conforming Loans The simple definition of a "non-conforming home loan" is: You have a job and can make the payments. Your credit is used only to determine your interest rate and the loan amount to value of the home ratio. How to Find the Best Mortgage The purchase of a new home is one of the most important decisions you will ever make, and finding the best type of financing for you is crucial. Mortgage financing is a very competitive industry and lenders are currently offering extremely low interest rates and a variety of flexible loan programs. Home Mortgage Refinancing - What's in Your Contract? Are you one of the millions of Americans who will be refinancing their home mortgage loan this year? When you sign your contract and the other papers for your refinance, will you know what your signing?Your Contract: This one is simple, but I would guess very few people do it. READ THE ENTIRE CONTRACT. Mortgage after Bankruptcy - Bankruptcy Discharged Yesterday? Purchase a Home Today! So you have been through a bankruptcy and surely have beentold to wait at least two years before applying for a homeloan. Waiting two long years without any guarantee of beingapproved for a mortgage after bankruptcy can bedisheartening.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 TIGER MEDIA |
