Happy Holidays for Home Sales

Happy Holidays for Home Sales

US existing home sales jump to 11-year high

Reuters reports that U.S. home sales increased more than expected to 5.6 percent in November.  Existing home sales hit their highest level in nearly 11 years - since December of 2006.  This is the latest indication that housing has bounced back after almost stalling this year. 

Despite the recent gains, existing home sales remain constrained by a chronic shortage of houses at the lower end of the market, which is keeping prices elevated and sidelining some first-time buyers, who accounted for 29 percent of transactions last month.  Economists and Realtors say a 40 percent share of first-time buyers is needed for a robust housing market.

You can read all the details HERE.  Our experience on the Easterbrook Team mirrors this article with our current amount of purchases closing now and in the New Year for Sacramento, El Dorado, and Placer Counties. We have created HomeLoanWorkshop.org to keep up with demand and provide an educational outlet for potential homebuyers.  For reservations, call (916) 850-6050 or visit the website HERE

FICO scores: good, bad and ugly

FICO scores: good, bad and ugly

The Fair Isaac Corporation – developer of the FICO score and a pioneer in the field – groups credit score results into five basic tiers.

• Exceptional – 800 and above.
• Very good – 740 to 799.
• Good – 670 to 739.
• Fair – 580 to 669.
• Poor – 579 and lower.

These numbers have a very real meaning to lenders. According to Fair Isaac, only 1 percent of those with credit scores of 800 and above are likely to become delinquent. To get more information, check out the article: CLICK HERE.  The Easterbrook Team focuses on the best home loan value for every individual borrower.  Call us at (916) 850-6050. 

First Time Homebuyers Flood Market

First Time Homebuyers Flood Market

First time homebuyer demand surged to its highest level in 17 years during the third quarter of 2017, according to the First-Time Homebuyer Market Report from Genworth Mortgage Insurance.  The report, which is drawn from a data set of 21 million first-time homebuyers over a 24-year span, showed first-time homebuyers purchased 601,000 single-family homes in the third quarter. This is up 6% from 567,000 homes during the third quarter of 2016, and the highest quarterly purchase volume since the third quarter of 2000. Check out the article CLICK HERE.  The Easterbrook Team focuses on the best home loan value for every individual borrower.  Call us at (916) 850-6050. 

Holiday Hazards Avoided

Holiday Hazards Avoided

The winter holidays are a time for celebration, and that means more cooking, home decorating, entertaining, and an increased risk of fire and accidents. Check out the article and make your holiday season a safe and happy one - CLICK HERE.  The Easterbrook Team is working during the holiday season - call us at (916) 850-6050. 

Self-Driving Cars Could Change Real Estate

Self-Driving Cars Could Change Real Estate

Commercial real estate experts predict that in the near future automated vehicles could dramatically change the landscape of how urban areas are utilized.  The biggest impact will likely be felt by a reduction in the use of parking within the urban area and more space devoted to shopping and office space.  Check out the article HERE.  What are your predictions?  The Easterbrook Team would love to hear from you - call us at (916) 850-6050. 

First Time Home Buyers Lead Market in 3rd Quarter

First Time Home Buyers Lead Market in 3rd Quarter

First-time home buyers purchased 601,000 single-family homes compared to 567,000 during 3Q’16, an increase of 6%, resulting in the highest quarterly purchase volume since September 30, 2000, according to the Genworth Mortgage Insurance First-Time Homebuyer Market Report

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for the third quarter of 2017. It was the highest level of first-time home buyer demand since the third quarter of 2000. First-time home buyers accounted for 40% of all single-family homes sold and 56% of all purchase mortgages financed.  Have the Easterbrook Team show you all your options to buy for 2018.  Call us at (916) 850-6050. 

How to Find a Face-to-Face Lender

How to Find a Face-to-Face Lender

When you buy a home, you’re in it for the long haul. You’ll have a mortgage payment for 15, 20 or 30 years, after all, so it’s smart to shop around to find the best mortgage lenders out there. Keep reading for tips on how to shop around.
Finding a mortgage lender involves more than just getting a good interest rate; you want to work with the best mortgage companies, staffed by professionals who will guide you through the process.

1. Get your credit score in shape. The higher your credit score, the more bargaining power you’ll have.
2. Know the mortgage lending landscape. We’ve done some of the homework for you below.
3. Get preapproved for your mortgage. Boost your chances of having your offer accepted by getting preapproved.
4. Compare rates from several mortgage lenders. You can search for the best mortgage rates online.  Make sure that you are comparing rates on the same day - rates change daily. 
5. Ask the right questions and read the fine print. Find out about requirements and fees, including costs beyond principal and interest payments

The good news is that the Easterbrook Team is holding free classes starting in January of 2018.  Go to HomeLoanWorkshop.org to sign up for classes.   

The Easterbrook Team

916.850.6050

EasterbrookTeam@spmc.com

FHA Raises Limits for Sacramento, El Dorado, & Placer Counties

FHA Raises Limits for Sacramento, El Dorado, & Placer Counties

and what it means to you…

Following the FHFA announcement last week, HUD announced Friday that they were raising their maximum loan limits for Sacramento, El Dorado, and Placer Counties.  The 2017 limit for conforming was 422,100.  For 2018, it is now is $453,100.  For high balance, we now can take a single family FHA loan all the way up to $517,500.  For duplexes, the maximum loan is $662,500 – that’s right!  An owner occupied homebuyer can buy up to $686,500 with only 3.5% down payment. 

Call the Easterbrook Team for all your lending solutions.  Also, check out our website for classing coming soon for homebuyers in January at HomeLoanWorkshop.org. 

The Easterbrook Team

"We Make the Loan Process Easy!"

916.850.6050

EasterbrookTeam@spmc.com

Homebuyers: Save Money on Your Taxes Ahead of Tax Reform

• Depending on your situation, prepaying 2018 property taxes this year could make sense.
• You also could prepay January's mortgage and write off the interest in 2017.
• Both the Senate and House versions of tax reform would require you to live in your home for five years instead of two to get an exemption from paying taxes on any capital gains generated by the sale.

Homeowners might want to consider prepaying certain house-related expenses this year in advance of tax legislation that could clear Congress as early as this month. CLICK HERE for article.

The Easterbrook Team

916.850.6050

EasterbrookTeam@spmc.com

Mortgage Fraud is Rampant in China

This one didn't surprise us, but it is interesting.  One reporter said, "the fraud is so rampant, it's mind-bending".

• China home prices tripled from 2000 to 2015
• In 2016 prices rose 12.4%
• Some estimates say house prices have doubled in major cities in the past two years
• A veteran property agent said 50% of his sales featured clients committing some kind of fraud
  China's current real estate environment sounds familiar.  Experts agree that regulators are preparing to spring into action.  CLICK HERE for the article. 

The Easterbrook Team

916.850.6050

EasterbrookTeam@spmc.com

Our Predictions for 2018

Our efforts to plan for 2018 have already started.  We’ve initiated our class schedules, created a website, and started marketing our Home Loan Workshop.  We continue to reach out to our client base and our real estate partners.  All these efforts will pay dividends 4 - 6 months from now.  We do not put too much emphasis on what the future will provide, but we do try to base our strategies and marketing on the trends.  Rentals, for instance, are at an all-time high and rental rates are as well.  We feel this will force some folks that otherwise would comfortably stay in their rental to look at buying a home.  We are sending 2,500 full page mailers to high rent tenants in the area by the end of the year. 

We’ve scoured the Internet, and there seems to be a consensus on the following:

1. Inventory shortages will drive the housing market. There are 12 percent fewer homes to choose from nationwide than there were a year ago, and 51 percent of for-sale properties are in the top one-third of home values, which are out of reach for first-time buyers.

2. Builders will turn their focus to entry-level homes. Housing starts have been well below the 50-year average of 1.2 million, builders are expected to finally hearken to the call of first-time and lower- to middle-income buyers yearning for more affordable options.

3. New homes will lead the pack for growth.  Experts predict that new home starts and sales will increase 7% over 2017

4. Millennials will move to the suburbs. Although most millennials would prefer to live in urban areas, they can’t afford to live in these areas.  25- to 34-year-olds will begin moving to the ‘burbs in search of more affordable home prices.

5. Many homeowners will remodel rather than sell. Low inventories will force many homeowners, despite having high confidence about being in a seller’s market, to stay put. Homeowners will invest in their existing home to make it feel new.

6. Homes prices will continue to grow, but at a slower pace. 2017 has been full of record-breaking home price growth, with economists calling it nearly unstoppable.  Home prices are expected to climb 4.1 percent in 2018 — 1.1 percentage points higher than the “normal” annual appreciation closer of 3 percent, but slower than the current annual pace of 6.9 percent.

7. Rates will continue to rise, but at a slower pace. Here’s an interesting fact: rates are actually lower in December of 2017 than they were in December of 2016!  You wouldn’t hear this from the main stream media.  The Mortgage Bankers Association expects rates to be at about .375% - .75% from where they are right now – CLICK HERE for article.  The nice thing about rates is that they are usually in balance with the economy.  Where, if the economy is doing well, rates will be higher.  If there are more people with jobs and disposable income, there will be more homes sold. 

We would love to hear your predications.  We would also welcome the opportunity to show you what The Easterbrook Team can do to help make your 2018 your best year ever. 

Should I Buy a New Home or Resale?

Home buyers today are faced with a fundamental choice: should they buy a home in an established neighborhood? Or is it better to go for a never-lived-in home in a new development? Each has its advantages and drawbacks. Here are some of the top decision points.

An “older” home—a better term would be “resale home”—will typically be in a neighborhood that is well-established. Many of the neighbors may've lived there for decades. The character of the neighborhood may be evident: for example, do most of the other homeowners have teenagers, or small children, or are many nearing retirement age?

Older homes were built when land was less expensive, so they tend to have larger lots than today’s newer developments, which places larger homes on small lots, with very little space between buildings.

Trees, lawns and other vegetation will be mature compared to new developments, which can seem comparatively sparse and open. 

Want more new and used comparisons?  CLICK HERE for the article.

The Easterbrook Team

"We Make the Loan Process Easy!"

916.850.6050

EasterbrookTeam@spmc.com

What is the #1 Trait Homebuyers Want in Their Realtor?

This article is one of the most interesting that we've read lately.  Today’s home buyers primarily want their real estate agents to be helpful, according to a new study from Open Listings. The study, which looked at the volume of certain keywords across five-star agent reviews on its proprietary platform, found “helpful” appeared the most out of all terms tracked.  The #1 trait isn't knowledge, communication, or a record of past success - HELPFULNESS is the #1 desired quality for new homebuyers.  To find out what #'s 2,3,4, and 5 are, CLICK HERE for the article.

The Easterbrook Team

"We Make the Loan Process Easy!"

916.850.6050

EasterbrookTeam@spmc.com

Should You Use Your Agent's In-House Lender?

Nothing peaked our interest more than this piece on choosing a lender.  We didn't write it, but we could have.  If your real estate agent suggests that you use an in-house lender, should  you automatically assume that the lender is looking out for your best interest.  First know that there is no obligation to use them.  What is the reason for having an in-house lender?  Several.  The first is an MSA (mutual service agreement) that some real estate offices and lenders share.  There are incentives paid to the real estate company for every loan transaction they fund together.  This often results in higher costs to the consumer.  The money paid to the real estate company has to come from somewhere. 

This does not mean, however, that the in-house lender is automatically disqualified as your best option.  Just know that you do have other options.  Check online reviews.  Ask friends and relatives that recently purchased.  Ask them how their experience was and if they could get a recommendation.  For the whole article, CLICK HERE. 

The Easterbrook Team

"We Make the Loan Process Easy!"

916.850.6050

EasterbrookTeam@spmc.com

Control of CFPB is the Latest Political Football

There was a big shakeup at the CFPB.  A battle for the soul of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) played out Monday inside a federal building in Washington. The real estate industry watched with fascination as White House budget chief Mick Mulvaney sought to wrest power from the agency’s acting director.  Click HERE for article.

The Easterbrook Team

916.850.6050

EasterbrookTeam@spmc.com

Holiday Toy Drive for Families in Need

Bring holiday cheer to neighbors in need by participating in the Annual Christmas Toy Drive. The toy drive is organized by Folsom's Citizens Assisting Public Safety (CAPS), in partnership with the Folsom Police and Fire Departments and the Folsom Police Foundation. Toys and gifts collected are delivered to Folsom families in need by Folsom Police and Fire personnel in the days before Christmas.

Help make the holidays special for local families in two ways:

Make a wish come true. Select an ornament from the trees in the lobby of the Folsom Police Department or Folsom Fire Department Station 35 to fill the specific wish of a child. Return the ornament and new, unwrapped gift to the Police or Fire Department.

Bring a gift of your choosing for a child, teen or adult. New, unopened and unwrapped toys, as well as new clothing or gift cards, may be dropped off at the Folsom Police Department or at the Folsom Fire Department Station 35.

The Folsom Police Department is located at 46 Natoma Street and Folsom Fire Department Station 35 is located at 535 Glenn Drive. Donated gifts can be delivered between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. through December 8. For more information contact Jessica Hess at 916-351-3409 or jhess@folsom.ca.us.

The Pros and Cons of a 15 Year Mortgage

Only about one in six borrowers of conventional mortgages have used a 15-year mortgage so far in 2017. No doubt many borrowers shy away from the shorter home loans when they learn that it requires a payment that’s considerably larger.  In the long run, though, a 15-year mortgage saves money.  The cons include, the buyer has more equity tied up and will qualify for a less expensive home than if they’d stretch the loan over 30 years. Our friends at Builder Magazine wrote a nice comparison between the benefits and drawbacks.  Check out the article HERE.  Looking to buy or refinance? Now may be the time to do it as opposed to waiting until next year.  Call the Easterbrook Team at (916) 850-6050 or email us at easterbrookteam@spmc.com.

Mortgage Subsidies Take Center Stage

The future of the mortgage-interest deduction and other federal housing incentives has proven to be one of the hot spots in the debate over tax reform.  But while Realtors and some industry groups say Republican proposals to scale down tax perks meant to spur homeownership could severely damage the market, other analysts say mortgage subsidies should be restructured or eliminated altogether.  Check out the article HERE.  Looking to buy or refinance? Now may be the time to do it as opposed to waiting until next year.  Call the Easterbrook Team at (916) 850-6050 or email us at easterbrookteam@spmc.com. 

The Great Unwind Begins

The Federal Reserve has announced that they will start to unload their massive $4.5 trillion balance sheet of bonds.  The Fed began buying bonds in 2009 to ease the mortgage crash.  What does this mean to the everyday consumer? Higher rates across the board. We will see rates go up from credit cards, to car loan, to home equity lines and of course mortgage rates.  Check out the article HERE.  Looking to buy or refinance? Now may be the time to do it as opposed to waiting until next year.  Call the Easterbrook Team at (916) 850-6050 or email us at easterbrookteam@spmc.com. 

Are Lenders Making It Easier to Buy?

Here’s an important question for anyone who is hoping to buy a home next year but who isn’t quite confident about qualifying for a mortgage: Is it true that lenders have eased up on certain key requirements, making it simpler for first-time buyers and others who can’t pass all the strict tests to get approved?  The Washington Post writes that the good-news answer is yes. A recent survey of banks and mortgage companies by giant investor Fannie Mae found that a record number of lenders report that they have relaxed at least some requirements for mortgage clients. Click HERE for article.

The Easterbrook Team

"We Make the Loan Process Easy!"

916.850.6050

EasterbrookTeam@spmc.com