Choosing a Lender: Local VS Online

When it comes to finding a lender for a mortgage loan, many borrowers take the same approach as with most other needs – they resort to the internet. This approach can be very fruitful, but it can also have some pitfalls. Today, we’re going to discuss some of the advantages of working with on-line lenders as well as advantages of working with local lenders.

Often times an on-line search for mortgages will result in finding mortgage brokers that are advertising very competitive rates. While getting the lowest interest rate is a goal for most borrowers, it may come with some unforeseen costs. Mortgage brokers usually have access to multiple investors so that they can “shop around” for low rates when it is time to lock in a loan for their borrowers. Generally speaking, the more investors they have access to, the better chances of getting a very competitive rate.

ONLINE LENDERS
lender computer research jsrealty4uSo why not go on-line to find a mortgage broker that can offer a low interest rate? Because the rate is only part of the equation. Is the broker charging discount points to be able to offer such a good rate? If there are points involved, the lower rate could results in a worse financial scenario for the borrower.

Most mortgage brokers do not participate in the processing or underwriting of the loan. The mortgage broker is just a “middle man” that is paid to link a borrower with an investor and is left out of the most critical part of the loan approval process. They often gather the information from the loan application, along with supporting documentation, and then send it off to the investor so that they can process and underwrite the loan. Many times, the loan will have some “issues” that require additional documentation or explanations from the borrower. In some cases, the broker is not aware of any issues with the loan. Even worse, if they are aware of the issues, they have no control as to how the issues can be corrected or how long it may take to get the problem resolved.

Another important aspect of any loan is the appraised value of the property that is being used as collateral. If your mortgage broker is from a different part of the country, how do you know that they are using appraisers that have a keen understanding of the nuances of property values in the DC Metropolitan area? Just in Northern Virginia alone, property values for similar type homes can vary greatly by zip code, school district, and city. It is important that the appraisers understand these differences when compiling an appraisal report.

LOCAL LENDERS
lender business people interview sell homeSometimes it is important to be able to have a face-to-face meeting between the lender and the borrower. Many borrowers would prefer to hand deliver valuable and sensitive personal financial information versus sending it via email or some other electronic format. In addition, it is also comforting for some borrowers to be able to shake hands with the people that will be making the determination of whether a loan of hundreds of thousands of dollars will be approved.

There are mortgage programs that are specific to a general area or state. Recently, VHDA was offering to pay 3% of a sales price to qualified borrowers purchasing a home in Virginia. The benefit to borrowers qualifying for this program could be as much as $15,000! Having knowledge of these types of programs is essential when determining the best loan solution for borrowers. It is unreasonable to expect a mortgage broker from another part of the country to know about specific programs in your area.

OUR PREFERRED LENDER
JS Realty Intercoastal MortgageIntercoastal Mortgage Company is a local lender with headquarters located in Fairfax, VA and has been providing residential loan solutions for the DC Metro area since 1987. Intercoastal Mortgage Company will fund loans that have been processed and underwritten “in house” at our Fairfax, VA location. Similar to mortgage brokers, Intercoastal Mortgage Company (ICM) has access to multiple investors which allow us to look at various outlets when locking in a rate for a borrower. If the borrower has good credit and income, it may be as simple as seeing which investor has the lowest rate at time of the loan lock. If the borrower has experienced credit challenges, a short sale or foreclosure, ICM has access to investors that will service loans of this type. Perhaps there are programs such as the VHDA grant program that can save thousands of dollars for the borrower. We work very hard to keep updated on all local loan programs.

Because the processing and underwriting is completed “in house”, ICM is able to meet closing dates that many mortgage brokers are unable to meet.

The appraisal process is completed by having access to multiple “local” appraisers that know the DC area very well. The “pool” of certified appraisers that ICM uses have all shown their knowledge of the local area for an extended period of time.

The chart below sums up the advantages of working with a local lender versus an online lender.

Lenders

As you can see, a local lender can access multiple investors to offer very competitive rates, along with excellent service and timeliness that is extremely important in today’s lending environment.

 

JS Realty Keith Harris
Keith Harris
NMLS # 838973


Keith Harris
Senior Loan Officer
Office: 703-259-0788
keithh@icmtg.com

 

 

 

Tax Advantages of Buying a Home

For many people, purchasing a home, or homes, is the single largest investment they will make in their lifetime.  It is a decision that will affect their finances, lifestyle, and family for years to come.  Because of this impact, it is important to consider all aspects of home buying, along with the pros and cons of the choices that are being made. Aside from the actual home buying process, a question most homeowners have is: “What are the tax advantages of buying a home?”

The answer is: DEDUCTIONS, DEDUCTIONS, DEDUCTIONS!

When considering a home purchase, one very big pro is the favorable tax JS Realty Mortgage Tax Advantagestreatment you are able to take advantage of on your individual tax return.  Deducting mortgage interest and real estate taxes is often what makes it more beneficial for taxpayers to itemize their deductions (rather than using the standard deduction); along with state income taxes paid.  This makes itemizing more advantageous. These deductions reduce taxable income, which in turn, reduces taxes due. Typically, personal interest, such as credit card or car loan interest paid is not deductible, but qualified residence interest (with a few restrictions) is fully deductible.

You can deduct the interest paid if you meet the following criteria:

–Your home is your principal residence (meaning that’s where you spend the majority of your time)
–The loan is $1 million or less, and secured by your home
–The loan proceeds were used to acquire the home, or were used to substantially improve your home

JS Realty lender man mortgage contractYou can also deduct the interest on a second home mortgage (such as a vacation or mountain home), as long as the second home mortgage amount, when combined with the principal residence mortgage, does not exceed a combined total loan amount of $1,000,000.  For example, if your principal residence mortgage equaled $700,000, and you purchased a second home with a mortgage of $600,000, you would be able to deduct the interest on your $700,000 principal residence mortgage and you would be able to deduct the interest on $300,000 of your second home mortgage ($1,000,000 – $700,000) for a total interest deduction on $1,000,000 of your mortgage balances.

JS Realty Mortgage Tax AdvantagesThe interest on home equity loan debt is also deductible.  The home equity loan interest deduction is the interest on a loan amount that is the lesser of the loan balance, up to a $100,000 loan, or the fair market value of the home minus acquisition indebtedness.  This interest is deductible for regular tax purposes, no matter the use for the money.  If the loan is not used to acquire the property or make substantial improvements to the property, then careful consideration should be made before securing consumer debt with your home.  If it is the right option for you, home equity loan debt can be used to purchase a new car, a vacation, a hot tub, consolidate credit card balances — whatever your heart desires.  The interest will be deductible for regular tax purposes, however the amounts are not deductible when calculating alternative minimum tax (AMT) .  The ability to deduct home equity loan debt interest allows individuals to effectively exceed the $1 million loan limit by an additional $100,000, thus making the interest on combined home-secured loans up to $1.1 million, deductible.

The table below illustrates how various income levels and age groups would likely be affected if the mortgage interest deduction were not allowed.  For, example, average homeowners with income over $250,000+ would generally see an increase in their tax bill of $5,408, if the mortgage interest deduction were not allowed.  Another way to look at it, is that homeowners with income over $250,000 on average will see a $5,408 reduction in their tax bill when taking the mortgage interest deduction.  The ultimate benefit to a particular taxpayer is a case by case analysis that depends on the timing of the home acquisition, the interest rate of the loan, the principal of the loan, income level, other itemized deductions, etc.

JS Realty Tax Eliminating the MID

Points paid that are associated with initial acquisition indebtedness or are associated with the substantial improvement of a principal residence may be fully deductible.  Points paid that are associated with the acquisition indebtedness of a second home must be amortized over the life of the loan.  Points paid on all refinances must be amortized over the life of the loan.  All other settlement costs are required to be capitalized and added to the basis of the property.

Every home has real estate taxes and those are deductible as well.  And unlike qualified residence interest that can be deducted on a principal residence or second home, the real estate taxes paid on all of your properties is deductible, even if you own more than two properties!

Home Sale Sell JS RealtyA final major tax advantage comes when it is time to sell your home.  If you own and live in your home for two of five years and you haven’t sold another home within the two years prior to the sale date, the gain on the sale, up to $250,000 ($500,000 for married filing jointly), is excluded from income tax.  The con side to this exclusion is that any loss on personal residence is not deductible.

There are significant tax advantages to owning a home, and several rules and restrictions in place on the tax treatment of various items.  Consult your tax advisor on the proper treatment for your situation.  Should you need a tax advisor, Thompson Greenspon is happy to assist with your tax preparation and planning needs.

JS Realty Thompson Greenspon logo4035 Ridge Top Road #700, Fairfax, VA 22030
(703)385-8888  |  www.tgccpa.com

DO I NEED A DOWN PAYMENT?

Being a homeowner has lots of perks – you get a nice tax deduction, you are building equity in your home, and hey – you can paint the walls whatever color suits your taste!

There’s quite a lot of data to be found about loans, interest rates, and insurance costs. And it’s pretty easy to find out what a home will cost in the area you’d like to purchase in. But there’s not a lot of information on how much money you will need to pay “out of pocket” in order to actually buy a house. Everyone’s circumstances are different and you may have thousands of dollars saved up – or maybe just a few hundred.JS Realty No down payment Blackboard with 3d house

Typically, a borrower (that’s mortgage lingo for “person who applied for a loan”), will have to make a payment at closing which consists of a down payment and closing costs. There are instances where this amount can be zero – or very close to it! Let’s look at some cases where this would be true.

JS Realty House, Veteran, Military.The U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) guarantees VA loans and are available for eligible veterans, service members and surviving spouses (provided they do not remarry). VA loans can provide 100% financing and will even allow the VA funding fee to be added to the loan amount. This takes care of the need for a down payment. Closing costs can be covered by seller credits, lender credits or realtor credits which can result in a closing where no money is needed on the buyer’s part. VA loans don’t have the need to pay mortgage insurance.

JS Realty Mortgage application form with a calculator and house.Another scenario where a buyer can escape the need for a down payment is a loan from the Federal Housing Administration, known as an FHA Plus loan. Most FHA loans require a down payment of 3.5%. With the FHA Plus loan, there is a first mortgage based on 96.5% of the sales price and a second mortgage of 3.5% to 5% of the sales price. Again, if third party credits are available to pay the closing costs, no money is needed at closing. Unlike the VA loans, FHA loan have both upfront mortgage insurance premiums as well as monthly mortgage insurance payments.

JS Realty Farmhouse in a pastoral environmentA third loan option that has no down payment is a USDA loan. USDA loans are designed for lower-income borrowers and there are geographical restrictions regarding the purchased properties. The home purchased must be a primary residence and in a rural area that with a general population limit of 20,000 or less.

JS Realty Refinance Monney Calculator BillsConventional, conforming loans of $417,000 or less can be obtained for as little as a 3% down payment. Keep in mind that with a loan that has a loan-to-value of 97%, the cost of mortgage insurance will be higher on both single premium mortgage insurance as well as with monthly mortgage insurance when compared to loans with a down payment of 5% or more.

With conventional loans, mortgage insurance will be needed with any single mortgage loans with less than a 20% down payment.

Every borrower has unique loan scenarios based on credit scores, cash available for down payments and closing costs, eligibility for various loan types, etc. As a loan officer, I take great pride in fully understanding the specific needs of borrowers to allow me to offer the best possible mortgage loan solution. Please contact me for further information or assistance!

JS Realty Keith Harris
Keith Harris
NMLS # 838973

Keith Harris
Senior Loan Officer
Intercoastal Mortgage Company
Direct: (703) 259-0788
NMLS ID # 838973


 

WHEN TO CALL A LENDER

When should I call a lender in the Buying process?

jsrealty4u business lender menContacting a lender to get pre-approved for a loan should be the first action item for anyone that is interested in buying a home. The pre-approval process will typically begin with a phone conversation or a face-to-face meeting between the borrower and the loan officer. The prospective borrower will need to fill out a loan application and give the loan officer permission to run a credit report.

Why are these steps important?

The initial conversation will allow the loan officer to get valuable information such as:

-The number of people on the loan
-Will there be a non-occupant co-borrower
Meeting Realtor Contracts-Permission to run a credit report
-How much cash the borrower has for closing costs and a down payment
-Time-frame for purchasing a home
-Is the borrower self-employed?
-Is the borrower paid by salary, commission, overtime etc?

The loan application provides a great deal of information as well such as:

JS Realty Mortgage Loan Application-Does the borrower own any properties currently
-Employment information
-How long the borrower has been employed at current job
-Monthly income
-Assets such as checking accounts, savings accounts and retirement accounts
-Past credit issues: bankruptcy, foreclosures, short-sales etc.

The credit report provides additional information that is valuable in the pre-approval stage.

JS Realty credit score variableCredit score which will determine the type of loans available
-Score also determines interest rates that the borrower qualifies for
-Amount of monthly debts that need to be factored into the borrower’s debt-to-income ratio
-Are there any collection accounts that need attention prior to final loan approval
-If scores are low, many times a loan officer can offer help in raising the borrower’s credit scores

jsrealty4u js realty stampAfter gathering information from the initial conversation, loan application and credit report, the lender may need additional documentation in order to provide a pre-approval letter. Once this information is received and reviewed, a lender should be able to let a borrower know the amount of a monthly housing expense payment they would qualify for. A pre-approval letter is a written commitment by a lender to provide a mortgage loan to a borrower. With a pre-approval letter in hand, potential buyers are able to look for properties in their price range with a high degree of confidence that they can purchase a home that fits their needs.

JSRealty4U new homeIf you are curious about how the process works, check out our previous blog on the entire Loan Process or download our Loan Process Flyer.

JS Realty Keith Harris
Keith Harris
NMLS # 838973

If you have any questions about a loan, or would like clarification on any of the information we have provided thus far, please contact our preferred Lender, Keith Harris at Intercoastal Mortgage Company.

 

 


JS Realty Free Analysis Contact Us

The JS Realty Team – not only serving Brambleton, serving all of Northern Virginia.

WHAT IMPACTS A CREDIT SCORE

How does my credit score affect my mortgage loan application?

Today we will look at credit reports for a potential mortgage borrower, what impacts the score, and how to improve your score.

When a lender runs a credit report on a potential borrower, there are three National Repositories that will report a credit score. They are:
1. EquifaxJS Realty Credit Equifax Experian TransUnion
2. Experian
3. Transunion

Most lenders will use the middle of the three credit scores to determine what type of loan and what interest rate a borrower qualifies for. Generically speaking, the higher the score, the lower the interest rate a consumer will be offered.

JS Realty approved creditThese three reporting entities will provide a credit score that is used to determine the risk associated with a particular borrower regarding repayment of the loan. A number of credit related variables are used to calculate the credit score. The credit score is used as a predictor as to the likelihood that the consumer will have late payments in the next 24 months. The lower the score, the greater likelihood that the borrower will be late on a payment or payments.

What are the variables that have the greatest impact on the credit score and their relative weight in the scoring?

JS Realty credit score variablePast Payment History – 35%
 -Late payments are shown for payments that are 30, 60 and 90 days late.
Current Account Balances – 30%
-Any account that has a balance of greater than 30% of the available credit limit will reduce the credit score. Balances of more than 50% will result in even lower scores.
Credit History – 15%
-How long have you had the account? Typically, the longer the better.
New credit cards will lower your score at first.
-Closing out an account will have a negative impact on your score.
Types of Credit – 10%
-The most heavily weighted type of credit is those with finance companies
Credit Inquiries – 10%
-Too many inquiries will result in lower scores

The following table will provide information on the length of time that your credit will be impacted by certain events.

JS Realty creditPayment History………….7 years(Date of last activity)
Collection accounts………7 years(Date of origination)
Judgments………………..7 years (filed)
Chapter 7………………10 years (entry)
Chapter 13……………….7 years (entry)
Inquiries………………….2 years /90 days
Tax Liens…………………7 years / (PAID)

By law, there are some factors that cannot be used in the scoring model.

Race/NationalityJS Realty Credit Ethnic
Gender
Age
Religion
Marital status/Sexual Preference
Employment/Length of Employment/
Position or Title
Income
Address
I
nterest rate charged on a particular credit card

In summary, to receive the highest credit scores, you should have 3-5 credit lines that you pay on time and keep a balance of less than 30% of the credit limit. Spread out the use of multiple cards so that you have a low balance on all of them.

Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in learning more about how to increase your credit score or if you have any questions regarding credit and/or mortgage loans.

JS Realty Keith Harris
Keith Harris
NMLS # 838973

 

Keith Harris
Senior Loan Officer
Intercoastal Mortgage Company
Direct: (703) 259-0788
Cell:    (703) 395-6601

 


JS Realty Free Analysis Contact UsThe JS Realty Team – not only serving Brambleton, serving all of Northern Virginia.

Homeowners Insurance

Homeowners insurance is a very important part of home ownership. The JS Realty Team @ Samson Properties guides our clients through the entire home buying process, but there are 2 items that the Buyer must handle themselves: obtaining their loan and purchasing homeowners insurance.

Homeowners insurance will be required by your Lender if you have a mortgage on your home, and they will require a minimum level of coverage to protect their interest in the property.

Homeowners Insurance is actually comprised of two different types of protection: hazard and liability coverage.

JS Realty House Fire Attic RoofHAZARD INSURANCE
This protects you should any damage and/or destruction happen to your home and contents. It will cover fire, theft, and certain natural disasters. If you live in a flood zone or in an area that could potentially have earthquakes you will need to purchase additional coverage to include these natural disasters.

LIABILITY COVERAGE
If someone gets injured on your property, the liability coverage is in place to protect you from medical costs and possible lawsuits.

There are also several factors to consider when choosing your insurance:

COVERAGE MINIMUM – Depending on how you feel about insurance, the minimum level that your Lender requires might not provide you with enough peace of mind. Although you may want to keep your homeowners insurance cost down, you also want to make certain you have all the coverage you need.

JS Realty Insurance Policy DocumentWHAT IS INCLUDED – Be very clear about what is covered and more importantly what is NOT covered. You don’t want to lose something and later find out it wasn’t included in the policy.

DEDUCTIBLES – Most policies come with a $500 or $1,000 deductible, but speak with your insurance agent to see what works best for you – and your budget!

PERSONAL PROPERTY – Be sure you know exactly what personal property is covered. You’ll also need to determine whether you want replacement value or depreciated loss value. You should also review the value of your possessions yearly. You don’t want to spend money for coverage you don’t need if the value of certain items has decreased.

JS Realty Home Office WorkingBUSINESS NEEDS – Do you have a home office? There are both property and liability business exposures that most standard homeowner policies don’t address, as well as low levels of coverage. The typical policy appears to be around $2,500 for in-home office equipment. And while that may sound like enough, by the time you add the costs of your computer, software, tablet, printer, scanner, phone, furniture, etc., it could very well exceed that amount. You’ll need to find coverage that can include all of your home office equipment and supplies.

Remember, your home is usually your largest investment. This is not the time to save a few dollars and possibly expose your family to hardships if the unthinkable happens. Perform your due diligence, be comfortable knowing what your homeowners insurance covers, and ensure that you have enough protection in place.Happy Couple Keys Home JS Realty

Contact a JS Realty Team member to answer any questions about any facet of the home buying or selling process or if you need a referral for a reputable insurance agent.

JS Realty Free Analysis Contact Us

The JS Realty Team – not only serving Brambleton, serving all of Northern Virginia.

MORTGAGE LOAN REFINANCE

Generally speaking, a loan refinance is a new loan to replace an old loan. Let’s look at the various reasons why a refinance would be appropriate.

JS Realty Business Man Text Save How

LOWER MONTHLY PAYMENTS – If your current interest rate high, refinancing at a lower rate can save you significant money each month. For example, if your loan amount was $300,000 and your rate is 5%, your monthly Principal and Interest (P&I) payment would be $1,633 per month. If you refinance the same $300,000 at a rate of 4%, your monthly P&I payment would be $1,432 or a savings of $201 per month. This equates to a savings of $2,412 per year and will save you $12,060 in five short years!

JS Realty Interest RatesLOWER INTEREST RATES – Interest rates can be lowered due to a change in the industry as a whole, such as the example above. Interest rates can also be lowered by shortening the term of the loan. 15 year rates will be lower than 30 years loans. Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARM’s) are loans that are fixed for a specific time period such as 3, 5 7 or 10 years and will typically be offered at rates lower than a 30 year fixed loan.

SHORTEN LOAN TERM – A loan refinance can be considered as a way to reduce the length of your loan. Changing from a 30 year loan to a 15 year loan can greatly reduce the number of payments needed to pay off your loan. This is often used by borrower’s who have increased incomes since the beginning of their initial loan and can afford the higher monthly payments.JS Realty Loan Terms Paperwork

CHANGE FROM ‘ARM’ TO FIXED – Adjustable Rate Mortgages are fixed for a period of time and then they begin to adjust or change rates on an annual basis. Refinancing to a fixed rate term alleviates potential rate increases that can occur with the ARM’s.

COMBINE TWO LOANS INTO ONE – When purchasing a home, many borrowers obtain two loans to reduce the amount of down payment or to keep from paying mortgage insurance. As the value of the home increases, a single mortgage can replace both loans at a lower rate than the original two loans.JS Realty Refinance Application Form Pen

ELIMINATE MORTGAGE INSURANCE – Initial loans with a down payment of less than 20% will often have monthly mortgage insurance payments as part of the mortgage payment. Also, FHA loans include monthly mortgage insurance payments that you continue to pay for as long as you own the loan. As the loan balances decrease and property values increase, refinancing into a new loan with a loan-to-value of  at least 80% will eliminate the need for mortgage insurance payments.

CASH OUT –With enough equity in a property, refinancing is a great way to get cash that can be used for virtually any reason.
Some examples may be:JS Realty Refinance Monney Calculator Bills

-Home Renovations/Additions
-Auto purchase
-Boat purchase
-Medical bills
-College Education
-Pay off other debts that carry higher interest rates such as credit cards

If any of these scenarios seem to match your situation, please feel free to contact me to discuss how a mortgage loan refinance can benefit you.

JS Realty Keith Harris
Keith Harris
NMLS # 838973

Keith Harris
Senior Loan Officer
Intercoastal Mortgage Company
Direct: (703) 259-0788
Cell:    (703) 395-6601

 

 

 


 

JS Realty Free Analysis Contact Us

The JS Realty Team – not only serving Brambleton, serving all of Northern Virginia.

MORTGAGE LOAN FEES

What Fees are Associated with a Mortgage Loan?

There are a number of fees that a borrower may encounter when finalizing a mortgage loan for a real estate purchase or a refinance. We’ve compiled a list of fees that are part of the settlement for a JS Realty Mortgage application form with a calculator and house.mortgage loan. The fees can be separated into several categories: lender fees, escrow deposits, prepaid items, title fees, government recording and transfer fees, and additional settlement fees.

LENDER FEES

-Origination Charges – these are comprised of fees charge by the lender to process and underwrite the loan
-Discount Points – these are charges to the borrower for a particular loan interest rate or certain loan program
-Credit Report – fees charged to run a credit report for the borrower
Appraisal fee – cost to have a licensed professional provide a market value of the property
-Flood Certification Fee – this is needed to determine if your property is located in a flood zone and if flood insurance is needed on the property

PREPAID ITEMS

Daily Interest Charges – interest is paid from date of settlement through the end of the same calendar month
Homeowner’s Insurance – initial premium is paid upfront
Mortgage Insurance (if necessary)

INITIAL ESCROW DEPOSITS

Property Tax Fee JS RealtyMost loans require the borrower to pay for property taxes and homeowner’s insurance on a monthly basis as part of the mortgage loan payment. When property taxes are due (typically twice a year), and homeowner’s insurance (annually) the lender will pay the bills out of the escrow funds.

TITLE FEES

-Settlement fee – Charged by the settlement company for preparation of closing documents and conducting the closing.
-Lender’s title insurance – cost of insurance covering the amount of the loan. This is required by the lender and covers title issues for the life of the loan.
-Owner’s title insurance – OPTIONAL coverage for the owner’s to protect against any tile claims on the property. This policy will protect the owner’s forever.

GOVERNMENT RECORDING AND TRANSFER FEES

JS Realty Calculating Money Finance FeeGovernment Recording Fee – fee charged by government to record the deed of trust
Transfer Taxes – basically a sales tax that is paid to the local government as well as the state government

ADDITIONAL SETTLEMENT CHARGES

There can be several “additional” fees associated with a loan. Here are a few:

-Pest Inspection
-Survey
-HOA/Condo Transfer fees
-HOA/Condo dues

JS Realty Keith Harris
Keith Harris
NMLS # 838973

If you have any questions about a loan, or would like clarification on any of these charges or fees associated with mortgage loans, please contact our preferred Lender, Keith Harris at Intercoastal Mortgage Company.

 

 


JS Realty Free Analysis Contact Us

The JS Realty Team – not only serving Brambleton, serving all of Northern Virginia.

MORTGAGE RATE MARKET UPDATE

Recently I provided an overview of what makes mortgage interest rates fluctuate. Today, I want to provide an update of the mortgage industry in a general sense.

In the summer of 2013, the Fed announced that they would begin tapering the purchase of mortgage backed securities (MBS). The practice of buying MBS’s was intended to help keep mortgage rates low. That announcement caused a spike in JS Realty Interest Ratesinterest rates from the low 3% to over 4.5%.

At the beginning of 2014, rates on 30 year fixed rate conventional loans continued to remain in the high 3% to the low 4% range. At that time, you would be hard pressed to find anyone who thought rates at the beginning of 2015 would be as low as the year before. Well, that is exactly what happened! During the second full week of January, rates dropped to their lowest point in over a year with 30 year rates hitting the 3.625% mark. Rates have fluctuated between 3.625% and 4% for the past few months. As we begin the month of June, we have seen rates rise the first few days of the month.  But what does that mean for the future?

JS Realty increase mortgage rateNo one can tell for sure what rates will do, but everything I hear and read indicates that interest rates will rise gradually through 2015.  We may see rates approaching 4.5% or even higher by the end of the year.

From an historical perspective, rates are lower now than they have been for the last 10 years and are only slightly higher than the lowest point in 30 years, which was near the end of 2012 and the beginning of 2013. It is only reasonable to JS Realty Mortgage Loan Applicationbelieve that rates will gradually increase. It is also reasonable to assume that rates may rise to the 5% mark by the end of 2015 or the first half of 2016.

We have been very fortunate to have had such low rates for the past five years. It is a great time to purchase a home and it is a great time to consider refinancing if you haven’t done so since 2010. As the saying goes “There’s no time like the present.

JS Realty Keith Harris
Keith Harris
NMLS # 838973

Every borrower has a unique need, as far as their loan is concerned. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact our preferred Lender, Keith Harris at Intercoastal Mortgage Company.

 

 

The JS Realty Team – not only serving Brambleton, serving all of Northern Virginia.

WHY MORTGAGE RATES CHANGE

What causes changes in mortgage rates? There are any number of reasons for mortgage interest rates to fluctuate and we’ve broken down some of the more common reasons to help you gain a better understanding of this ever-evolving market.

Mortgage Bond Prices:
JS Realty Opposite directionsInterest rates and mortgage bond prices are inversely related. If mortgage bond prices go up, interest rates go down.

Economic Conditions:
Generally speaking, when economic reports/conditions are positive, interest rates will rise. Just this week, the report on retail sales was flat versus the expected .2% increase. This helped keep interest rates down. Last week the jobs report was positive, unemployment was lower than expected and more jobs were added to the economy, which caused interest rates to spike. These are subtle changes that can greatly affect the mortgage industry.

Federal Reserve Building JS RealtyFederal Reserve System:
Janet Yellen
, Chair of the Federal Reserve System, plays a large role in the interest rates for the mortgage industry. For a number of years the Federal Government was purchasing large amounts of mortgage backed securities in an effort to keep interest rates low. The Fed monitors the economy and will influence the interest rates to control the economic growth of the US. By decreasing interest rates, the Fed is attempting to spark growth in the economy and encourage borrowing. If the economy is growing, they will use rising rates to control the growth.

Inflation:
Inflation is a prominent economic factor and a key concern for the industry. Inflation increases prices and decreases the spending power in the economy. As inflation rises, interest rates will also rise.

JS Realty Lock Interest RateIn summary, there are many factors that influence mortgage interest rates. All of these factors are outside of our personal control. When it comes time that you need a loan to purchase or refinance a home, you will be faced with making a decision to lock in your interest rate or let the rate “float” in hopes that the market improves and you can get a lower rate. Here is my advice in regards to that decision:  It is much better to be locked in with rates falling than floating with rates rising.

JS Realty KHarris Lender
Keith Harris     NMLS # 838973

Every borrower has a unique need, as far as their loan is concerned. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact our preferred Lender, Keith Harris at Intercoastal Mortgage Company.

 

 

The JS Realty Team – not only serving Brambleton, serving all of Northern Virginia.