Home Owners Recoup More with Exterior Replacement Projects, REALTORS® Report

Home Owners Recoup More with Exterior Replacement Projects

December 16, 2010 - The latest cost vs. value report on remodeling a home is now out. What will get you the biggest bang for your buck? A steel entry replacement door averaged a return of 102% of what you spend. Most of the other projects will return you less than 100% of what it costs you, according to this report.

 This report comes out each year and gives the average return on investment for many common home remodeling projects across the US, and is broken down by region. This year, remodeling projects done in New England don't return as much as project done in some other parts of the country, such as the west coast and south Atlantic coast. Lower labor costs seem to make the difference in the southeast, while higher return values is the reason that the west coast's remodeling projects net more money at resale.

Now the problem I have with the report is not so much the value returned, but with the costs of the projects. Maybe that's because I do the majority of my own remodeling projects, or maybe because I get more than one estimate when it comes to hiring a contractor.

For example, I had an exterior fiberglass door installed in my home last year, replacing the original cracked wooden one. According to the report, for the New England area, I should have paid $3,662 for the project. I purchased a good quality door for $349.00 at Home Depot, and the labor to remove the old door and install the new one was $500. I got 3 estimates for labor and this was the middle one. So the total cost for the job was $849, a far cry from $3,662. The value of replacing my front door is $2,079, a figure I would agree with. That means my return on investment (or cost vs. value) is 245%! Quite a difference from the 56% return that the Cost vs. Value report states. 

I believe that many of the cost estimates are overstated. The cost for replacing a roof is put at $23,232. That is around the estimate I got for replacing my roof...but included adding on a full dormer in the rear and 2 doghouse dormers in the front of the house! Just replacing my roof (admittedly, not a large job because it is a cape) was $4,500 to $7,000 (4 estimates received) including removing the existing 2 layers. I did have one client pay over $20,000 for a new roof, but that included removing and disposing of the existing clay tile roof - not an easy job. Yes their are roof out there on McMansions that will easily run in excess of $20,000, but that is not the norm. Most roof replacements I have seen have been in the neighborhood of $5,000 to $15,000. Then again, replacing your roofing isn't really an upgrade. But in a home buyer's mind your home is significantly less valuable if the roof has to be replace within the next few years. They just expect to buy a home with a good roof that will last for years.

Some of the biggest returns are changes made on the exterior of the house. First impressions are extremely important when selling a property, and if you have pealing paint, a cracked front door, shingles falling off the roof and a rotted garage door, the buyers may never go inside to see your beautiful newly remodeled kitchen and bath.

If your home needs some updating, read the Cost vs. Value Report. It contains some good information. But remember that you can probably do better than what is claimed by doing the work yourself, or by making sure you get multiple bids/estimates for any remodeling project.

 Jim Armstrong

Mortgage Rates Back on the Rise

Mortgage Rates Back on the Rise

Rates for 30-year fixed mortgages rose to 4.39 percent this week from 4.17 percent a week ago, and average interest on 15-year loans moved to 3.76 percent from 3.57 percent, said Freddie Mac.

Interest for five-year adjustable-rate mortgages jumped to 3.4 percent from 3.25 percent, meanwhile, and one-year ARMs held at 3.26 percent. Rates have climbed along with long-term Treasury yields as traders unloaded Treasurys purchased before the Federal Reserve announced a $600 billion bond purchase program.

Source: Chicago Sun-Times (11/19/10)

September Home Prices Declined 2.79 Percent Year Over Year

September Home Prices Declined 2.79 Percent Year Over Year

CoreLogic (NYSE: CLGX), a leading provider of information, analytics and business services, today released its September Home Price Index (HPI) that shows that home prices in the U.S. declined for the second month in a row after rising slightly for the first seven months of the year. According to the CoreLogic HPI, national home prices, including distressed sales, declined 2.79 percent in September 2010 compared to September 2009 and declined by 1.08 percent* in August 2010 compared to August 2009. Excluding distressed sales, year-over-year prices declined .73 percent in September 2010.
Highlights as of September 2010

• The top five states with the highest appreciation, including distressed sales, were: New York (+2.67 percent), North Dakota (+1.73 percent), California (+.86 percent), Nebraska (+.78 percent), and Virginia (+.77percent).
• The five states with the greatest depreciation, including distressed sales, were Idaho (-14.04 percent), Alabama (-8.9 percent), Mississippi (-8.3 percent), Florida (-7.68 percent) and New Mexico (-7.47 percent).
• Excluding distressed sales, the top five states with the highest appreciation were: New York (+3.82 percent), North Dakota (+3.19 percent), Rhode Island (+1.71 percent), Vermont (+1.64 percent), and Alaska (+1.53 percent).
• Excluding distressed sales, the five states with the greatest depreciation were: Idaho (-11.06 percent), Nevada (-6.86 percent), Arizona (-6.01 percent), Michigan (-5.67 percent) and Oregon (-4.61 percent).
• Including distressed transactions, the peak-to-current change in the national HPI (from April 2006 to September 2010) is -29.13 percent. Excluding distressed properties, the peak-to-current change in the HPI for the same period is -19.96 percent.

“We’re continuing to see price declines across the board with all but seven states seeing a decrease in home prices,” said Mark Fleming, chief economist for CoreLogic. “This continued and widespread decline will put further pressure on negative equity and stall the housing recovery.” Full-month September 2010 national, state-level and top CBSA-level data can be found at http://www.corelogic.com/About-Us/ResearchTrends/Home-Price-Index-Report---September-2010.aspx.
About CoreLogic
CoreLogic (NYSE: CLGX) is a leading provider of consumer, financial and property information, analytics and services to business and government. The company combines public, contributory and proprietary data to develop predictive decision analytics and provide business services that bring dynamic insight and transparency to the markets it serves. CoreLogic has built the largest U.S. real estate, mortgage application, fraud, and loan performance databases and is a recognized leading provider of mortgage and automotive credit reporting, property tax, valuation, flood determination, and geospatial analytics and services. More than one million users rely on CoreLogic to assess risk, support underwriting, investment and marketing decisions, prevent fraud, and improve business performance in their daily operations. Formerly the information solutions group of The First American Corporation, CoreLogic began trading under the ticker CLGX on the NYSE on June 2, 2010. The company, headquartered in Santa Ana, Calif., has more than 10,000 employees globally with 2009 revenues of $2 billion. For more information visit www.corelogic.com.

Will Your House Be Worth More in the Spring?

Will Your House Be Worth More in the Spring?

This is a question anyone thinking about selling must ask. Should they sell now or should they wait for the spring? Most years that would be an interesting question. There is a belief that many buyers come out in the spring and, with that increase in demand for housing, prices may appreciate. This year is unlike any year in recent memory. Most experts believe there will be continuing depreciation of home values throughout the next 18 months.

See the rest of the article:
http://kcmblog.com/2010/10/29/will-your-house-be-worth-more-in-the-spring/

5 Reasons You Should Sell Your House TODAY!

5 Reasons You Should Sell Your House TODAY!

Selling your house in today’s market can be extremely difficult. It is for that reason that every seller should take advantage of each and every opportunity that appears. Each fall, such an opportunity presents itself. This fall, that opportunity may be just too good to pass up.

Below are five reasons you should consider when pricing your house to sell in the next 90 days. Meet with your real estate agent and mortgage professional today and see whether it is the right move for you and your family.

Read the rest of the article at:
http://kcmblog.com/2010/10/19/5-reasons-you-should-sell-your-house-today/

Unemployment/Foreclosure Petitions Drop in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts unemployment rate dropped from 8.8 percent in August to 8.4 percent in September, the steepest drop since January 1976, state labor officials said this morning.
"The rate, which has been trending downward from the 9.5 percent rate in January and February, remains below the 9.6 percent national rate," the state's Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development said in a press release.

Also, the number of Massachusetts foreclosures started by lenders last month dropped about 23 percent from August 2010, and nearly 7 percent from a year ago said the Warren Group, a Boston firm that tracks local real estate activity.

In recent weeks, several big lenders, including Bank of America Corp. and GMAC, temporarily halted foreclosure proceedings in various states over allegations that they erred in processing documents, but now they have restarted the foreclosure process. (Click here to read an AP story on that subject that appeared in this morning's Boston Globe.)
"We will have to wait until the October statistics are tabulated to see the impact from Bank of America's decision to halt foreclosures in Massachusetts, pending a review of its paperwork and procedures," Warren Group chief executive Timothy M. Warren Jr. said in a statement. "From what we can see at the present time, Bank of America is involved in about 2,000 pending foreclosure cases in the Bay State."

Title companies want promises from 'robo signing' lenders

In addition to satisfying federal and state regulators that they're following the letter of the law, lenders embroiled in the "robo signing" scandal may soon have to provide warranties to title insurers in order to continue selling foreclosed homes.

Bank of America has already agreed to provide warranties to Fidelity National Financial Inc. that cover the title insurer's costs if employees processing foreclosure documents for the bank make mistakes, Bloomberg News reports, and is in talks with other title insurers to do the same.

See the rest of the article at Inman News

Mortgage Rates Continue to Fall According to Freddie Mac's Weekly Survey

Mortgage Rates Continue to Fall According to Freddie Mac's Weekly Survey

October 8, 2010, McLean, VA – Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), which found that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate dropped yet again to break the survey's all-time low; the 15-year fixed-rate did the same. The 5-year ARM also set an all-time survey low.
30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.27 percent with an average 0.8 point for the week ending October 7, 2010, down from last week when it averaged 4.32 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.87 percent.
15-year FRM this week averaged a record low of 3.72 percent with an average 0.7 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.75 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.33 percent.
5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 3.47 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.52 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 4.35 percent.
1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 3.40 percent this week with an average 0.7 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.48 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 4.53 percent.
Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist at Freddie Mac report, "The 12-month growth rate in the core price index for personal consumption , which the Federal Reserve closely tracks, has been drifting lower over the past six months ending in August and suggests inflation is running at a tepid pace at best. This allowed mortgage rates to ease to new or near record lows this week."
"Housing affordability increased for the second month in a row in August to tie April's level, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). As a result, pending existing home sales also rose for the second consecutive month in August to the strongest pace in four months, the NAR also reported. Furthermore, since the end of August, mortgage applications for home purchases were up over 14 percent for the week ended October 1st."

Beware of Resale Fees on Home Purchases

Resale Fees If you haven't heard about resale fees, then it's time you did. They are making headlines across the nation, and for good reason.


When you buy a house, how often do you read every line of your sales contract? If new legislation fails to pass, you'll need to read before signing anything.


Resale fees, also known as capital recovery fees or private transfer fees, are fees that a seller pays to the developer, each and every time the home sells for a specified period of time.
A recent article by the New York Times, detailed the story of one family who bought their dream home, only to find that resale fees allowed the developer to collect 1 percent of the sales price from the seller every time the property changes hands -- for the next 99 years.


This particular detail is typically hidden deep inside the sales contract. And homebuyers simply sign away their rights to that 1 percent, without ever having knowledge of it. Why would a builder or developer want to use this questionable practice?


The New York Times explains it this way, "Many developers see the resale fee as a creative way to get new financing. They are hoping to one day use the trickle of cash from these fees as collateral for a loan, or to get cash up front if pools of the fees are packaged into securities to be bought and sold on Wall Street." As they see it, developers are desperate.


How are resale fees legal? They may not be for long.


In September of 2010, US House Representatives Maxine Waters and Albio Sires introduced a bill called the "Home Equity Protection Act of 2010." The bill seeks to amend the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) by prohibiting the collection of resale fees.
Proponents of the bill and changes to the legality of resale fees, believe the fee robs homeowners of their equity when they sell their property.


In addition, the Federal Housing Finance Agency proposed a similar rule to curb use of resale fees. Their proposal would keep Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from insuring or purchasing mortgages that include such fees.


These fees have been such a point of contention, that The Coalition to Stop Wall Street Home Resale Fees has been formed. They responded to the news of the proposed legislation, saying, "This bill is an important step in enhancing consumer protections against these for-profit fees and safeguarding our already fragile real estate market from further abuse." They continued, "These fees add no benefit or value to a property, and are little more than a predatory scheme meant to take advantage of unsuspecting homeowners. Our Coalition thanks Congresswoman Waters and the bill's co-sponsors for recognizing the danger that these fees pose to homeowners and the real estate market."


Evan Fuguet, Senior Policy Counsel at the Center for Responsible Lending, noted, "The Home Equity Protection Act of 2010 is a strong step forward that would help consumers across the country, preventing unwarranted and spurious increases in the costs of homeownership. Unlike conveyances that support the community, affordable housing or the environment, these private transfer fees have no added benefit for homeowners and home buyers, and are reminiscent of the irresponsible fee-packing behavior we witnessed during the heyday of abusive subprime home lending ."


Though I have not run into resale fees so far on the north shore. be sure to talk to your agent about your contract and if resale fees could be an issue for you.    

30-Year Mortgage Rate Ties Low While 15-Year Sets New Record

30-Year Mortgage Rate Ties Low While 15-Year Sets New Record McLean, VA – Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®). The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate dropped to tie the survey’s all-time low and the 15-year fixed-rate set another record low. 

30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.32 percent with an average 0.8 point for the week ending September 30, 2010, down from last week when it averaged 4.37 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.94 percent. 

15-year FRM this week averaged a record low of 3.75 percent with an average 0.7 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.82 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.36 percent.
5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 3.52 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.54 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 4.42 percent. 

1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 3.48 percent this week with an average 0.7 point, up from last week when it averaged 3.46 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 4.49 percent.
Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist at Freddie Mac, says, "Confidence in the state of the economy fell among consumers and businesses, which led to a decline in long-term bond yields and brought many mortgage rates to record lows this week. The September Consumer Confidence Index by the Conference Board fell to the lowest level since February of this year, while the Business Roundtable CEO Business Outlook for the third quarter was the weakest in the past four quarters. Consequently, rates for the 15-year fixed mortgage and the 5-year hybrid ARM reached new all-time lows and rates for 30-year fixed mortgages tied its record set just four weeks ago." 

"Homeowners have regained $1.0 trillion in home equity as of the second quarter of 2010 after losing more than $7.5 trillion over the three-year period ending in the first quarter of 2009, the Federal Reserve Board reported. This, in part, strengthened household balance sheets and reduced serious mortgage delinquencies. For instance, first mortgages 90-days delinquent or worse fell to 3.16 percent in August from 4.76 percent a year prior and was the lowest rate since June 2008, according to the S&P/Experian Consumer Credit Default Indices ."

September Real Estate Round Up

September Round Up: Rates Back Down In Freddie Mac's results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate dropped to tie the survey’s all-time low and the 15-year fixed-rate set another record low.
30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.32 percent with an average 0.8 point for the week ending September 30, 2010, down from the previous week when it averaged 4.37 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.94 percent.
15-year FRM this week averaged a record low of 3.75 percent with an average 0.7 point, down from the previous week when it averaged 3.82 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.36 percent. 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 3.52 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, down from the previous week when it averaged 3.54 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 4.42 percent.
1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 3.48 percent this week with an average 0.7 point, up from the previous week when it averaged 3.46 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 4.49 percent.
According to Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist, Freddie Mac: "Confidence in the state of the economy fell among consumers and businesses, which led to a decline in long-term bond yields and brought many mortgage rates to record lows this week. The September Consumer Confidence Index by the Conference Board fell to the lowest level since February of this year, while the Business Roundtable CEO Business Outlook for the third quarter was the weakest in the past four quarters. Consequently, rates for the 15-year fixed mortgage and the 5-year hybrid ARM reached new all-time lows and rates for 30-year fixed mortgages tied its record set just four weeks ago."
"Homeowners have regained $1.0 trillion in home equity as of the second quarter of 2010 after losing more than $7.5 trillion over the three-year period ending in the first quarter of 2009, the Federal Reserve Board reported. This, in part, strengthened household balance sheets and reduced serious mortgage delinquencies. For instance, first mortgages 90-days delinquent or worse fell to 3.16 percent in August from 4.76 percent a year prior and was the lowest rate since June 2008, according to the S&P/Experian Consumer Credit Default Indices."
Four Tips for Setting the Right Sales Price
Sellers think their homes are worth more than their real estate professional recommends, and buyers think these same homes are worth less.
It’s a difficult disconnect that makes selling properties a challenge. Successfully marketing a home requires that the price be set carefully -- or it will languish on the market. Among the considerations:

How many homes are for sale in the neighborhood? The more homes on the market, the more important it is to list at the lower end of the scale. "I want buyers to ask why is this house priced so competitively," said NAR President-elect Ron Phipps. "I want the answer to be an offer."

Take short sales and foreclosures into consideration when pricing. If the competing properties are in lousy condition, they are less of an issue, but if they are well taken care of, yet priced 25 percent below market, they can be a serious factor.

Negotiate decisively. "Buyers are not interested in back-and-forth negotiations these days," Phipps said. "They are less emotional and more disciplined. They will walk away."

Cut the price when you have to. If no one shows up for an open house, if no one calls and if there are no offers, then the price is too high. That means it's time to make a meaningful price cut. What's New in New Housing Design Below are the products grabbing the attention of the home building and remodeling industries:

Appliance Drawers. Small warning drawers, modest-sized dishwasher drawers for small loads, refrigerator drawers and microwave drawers.

Counter-depth refrigerators. Some are only 24 inches deep.

Motion-detecting faucets. Like you'd find in the restrooms of businesses.

LED lighting. These are used under cabinets and in ceiling fixtures as a longer-lasting, more efficient alternative to compact fluorescent lamps and incandescent bulbs.

Electric heated floors. A nice touch in bathrooms,

Showers with multiple heads and body sprays. Bathtubs are out. Sellers Quickly Transform Property with Paint
The best way to update a property is to paint it. It’s a job that many sellers can do themselves. Here are six suggestions for making the work go quickly.
1. Move the furniture. Get as much furniture as possible out of the way, and then cover what’s left with plastic drop cloths held in place with masking tape.
2. Buy good paint. Top-quality latex interior paint will hide what’s underneath and make the job go faster.
3. Tape the edges. Taping the edges with painters tape will speed up the job and make the results more professional.
4. Work top down. Paint the ceiling first, then the walls, then the windows and trim and finally the baseboards. This will cut down on time spent repairing drips and splatter marks.
5. Cut in the corners. Applying a three-inch band of paint around the edges will allow you to fill in the middle with a paint roller.
6. Apply paint generously. Trying to stretch the paint won’t save sellers any money if they have to repaint.

How Buyers Compete in a Sellers' Market

How Buyers Compete in a Sellers' Market No matter the market, sellers can find a competitive edge, whether it be through pricing, staging, or even negotiating closing costs.
What about buyers? Do they have any hope for an edge during a sellers market?
A sellers market is one which favors the seller. Perhaps you find yourself in a hot area where homes garner multiple offers and bidding wars. Or perhaps you live in an area where prices are appreciating or there is only a small inventory of homes for sale. No matter the situation, buyers can still find ways to gain an advantage.
Here are a few tips that might do just that.
1. Pre-approval: Be sure to start your home buying process by getting pre-approved for a mortgage. This will prove to your potential seller that you are ready, willing, and able to buy their home. A pre-approval will also give you an exact number of how much money you can borrow, and thus spend.
2. Be ready to buy: There can be no hesitation during a sellers market. There will be other buyers waiting to to grab up the same deal you just found. If the numbers work out in your favor for a home you like, then be ready to put in a strong offer.
3. Know your budget: You may be approved for a loan of up to $300,000, but you only want to spend $250,000 as your max. Be sure to know ahead of time what your budget really is.
4. Make a strong offer: In a sellers market, homes can expect to receive nearly if not all of their asking price. And in many cases, you may even find a home sells for more than the asking price. So, in order to make both a good impression on the seller so they take your interest seriously, as well as to beat out the competition, be sure to present a strong first offer.
5. Be willing to negotiate terms: This means if a seller needs 60 days until closing, do what you can do accommodate them. Or maybe they are unwilling to make a repair before you move in, but are willing to pay you the repair costs instead. Be willing to work with a seller, if it means getting the home you desire.
These simple tips can make a big difference when it comes to buying in a sellers market.

New Short Sale Bill Submitted to Congress

New Short Sale Bill Submitted to Congress U.S. Representative Robert Andrews (D-N.J.) and Tom Rooney (R-Fla) offered up new legislation to Congress last week. H.R. 6133, "Prompt Decision for Qualification of Short Sale Act of 2010," is an effort from Congress to help keep potential buyers from walking away from short sales, simply because lenders take months to respond to their offers.
The National Association of REALTORS are a strong supporter of the bill. Their President, Vicki Cox Golder, said, "The short sale, which requires lender approval, is an important instrument for homeowners who owe more than their home is worth. While the lending community has worked to improve the size and training of their short sales staffs, they still have a long way to go on improving response times."
And in a sticky financial situation such as a short sale, where time really counts, this bill comes as welcome news to many homeowners and buyers.
This legislation aims to "require the lender or servicer of a home mortgage, upon a request by the homeowner for a short sale, to make a prompt decision whether to allow the sale." (Library of Congress)
In this bill, the terms "short sale" means the sale of the dwelling or residential real property that is subject to the mortgage, deed or trust, or other security interest that secures a residential mortgage loan that:

• will result in proceeds in an amount that is less than the remaining amount due under the mortgage loan; and
• requires authorization by the securitization vehicle or other investment vehicle or holder of the mortgage loan, or the servicer acting on behalf of such a vehicle or holder.

Ms. Golder continued, "Unfortunately, homeowners who need to execute a short sale are severely hampered because lenders (loan servicers) are unable to decide whether to approve a short sale within a reasonable amount of time. Potential homebuyers are walking away from purchasing short sale property because the lender has taken many months and still not responded to their request for an approval of a proposed short sale price. Many consumers have mentioned that the delay in short sale price approval exceeds 90 days, and in many cases never arrives."
Hopefully, if this bill passes into law, homeowners will find relief from their mortgage woes, and will be able to sell their home without having to be foreclosed upon.

Written by Carla Hill

Pay Extra Attention To Mortgage Financing Contingency Clauses During Today’s Credit Crunch

by Rich Vetstein 

 
Today’s strict lending and underwriting environment has resulted in quite a few delays and even losses of buyers’ financing for home purchases. Loan commitment deadlines are being pushed back due to underwriting delays, regulatory compliance and appraisal issues, among other delays. The worst case scenario for any borrower is the wholesale rejection of financing in the middle of a transaction.
What Is The Typical Mortgage Contingency Clause?
The Massachusetts “standard” form purchase and sale agreement contains a mortgage contingency clause which protects the buyer (and his deposit) for the period of time until he can obtain a firm loan commitment. The date is negotiated by the buyer and seller, and is usually around 30 days from the execution of the purchase and sale agreement, depending on the closing date. If the buyer cannot get a firm loan commitment by the deadline, he can opt out of agreement with a full refund of his deposit. Here is how a typical Massachusetts mortgage financing contingency clause operates:

In order to help finance the acquisition of said premises, the BUYER shall apply for a conven­tional bank or other institutional mortgage loan of $300,500.00 at prevailing rates, terms and conditions. If despite the BUYER’S diligent efforts, a commitment for such a loan cannot be obtained on or before October 15, 2010, the BUYER may terminate this agreement by written notice to the SELLER in accordance with the term of the rider, prior to the expiration of such time, whereupon any payments made under this agreement shall be forthwith refunded and all other obligations of the parties hereto shall cease and this agreements shall be void without recourse to the parties hereto. In no event will the BUYER be deemed to have used diligent efforts to obtain such commitment unless the BUYER submits a complete mortgage loan application conforming to the foregoing provisions on or before 3 days from the execution of this Agreement.

What If There Are Delays In Obtaining My Loan Commitment?
The buyer really has only two choices if the lender cannot deliver a firm loan commitment by the mortgage contingency deadline: (1) ask the seller for an extension of the loan commitment deadline, or (b) terminate the transaction. There is, however, a smart way to handle this situation.
I always couple a request for a loan commitment extension with notice that if the seller does not agree, then the buyer will exercise his right to terminate the agreement. That way, the seller has to make a tough choice: grant an extension or lose the deal. If the seller does not want to grant an extension, the buyer really has no other choice but to move on to the next home for sale.
Parties need to make mortgage contingency deadlines workable and don’t wait until the last minute to ask for extensions. See this post about a recent case for what happens when you don’t do this.
What If There Are Conditions In My Loan Commitment That I Cannot Control or Meet?
Loan commitments are often riddled with conditions which must be reviewed carefully with counsel. Sometimes, there are conditions that a buyer simply cannot meet or control. To account for this I always insert this clause in my Massachusetts purchase and sale agreement rider:

Application to one such bank or mortgage lender by such date shall constitute “diligent efforts.”  If the written loan commitment contains terms and conditions that are beyond BUYER’S reasonable ability to control or achieve, or if the commitment requires BUYER to encumber property other than the subject property, BUYER may terminate this agreement, whereupon any payments made under this agreement shall be forthwith refunded and all other obligations of the parties hereto shall cease and this agreement shall be void without recourse to the parties hereto.

This protects the buyer in case there are those uncontrollable conditions, and also limits the buyer’s efforts in applying for a mortgage to 1 application.
What If There Are Title Defects Which Delay The Transaction And My Rate Lock Expires?
Under paragraph 10 of the Massachusetts standard form purchase and sale agreement, the seller has the option (or the requirement, depending on the negotiation of the agreement) to cure any title defects, and has up to 30 days to do so. Sometimes, during this 30 day cure period, the buyer’s rate lock will expire. In this situation, I insert the following clause into the purchase and sale agreement:

MODIFICATION TO PARAGRAPH 10: Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if SELLER extends this Agreement to perfect title or make the Premises conform as provided in Paragraph 10, and if BUYER’S mortgage commitment or rate lock would expire prior to the expiration of said extension, then such extension shall continue, at BUYER’S option, only until the date of expiration of BUYER’S mortgage commitment or rate lock.  BUYER may elect, at its sole option, to obtain an extension of its mortgage commitment or rate lock.

This gives the buyer an “out” of the transaction if his rate lock expires.

Reprinted with permission. 
http://www.massrealestatelawblog.com/pay-extra-attention-to-mortgage-financing-contingency-clauses-during-todays-credit-crunch/

5 Reasons Why Massachusetts Home Sales Will Continue To Rise

 Debunking The July 2010 Housing Report: 5 Reasons Why Massachusetts Home Sales Will Continue To Rise

by Marc Canner on August 27, 2010

in Massachusetts Property Values

A National Association of Realtor’s report released Wednesday indicated that home purchases fell 27% in July, a drop that jolted the real estate industry, according to the Wall Street Journal, and sent shock waves through the broader economy. As a result, a number of economists provided dire warnings of a continued down slide in real estate prices.
At first blush, this news could have the “echo chamber” effect of  turning the purported downturn into a self-fulfilling prophecy, discourage consumer confidence, and sidelining a number of prospective Massachusetts home buyers from the fall housing market.  Here are 5 reasons why the national housing report won’t impact the Massachusetts real estate market.
1.  Massachusetts Has a Strong Housing Market.
Massachusetts has bucked the national trend as its housing market has remained strong. Indeed, parts of the Massachusetts housing market actually saw a surge in activity in July 2010:

• From July ’09 to July ’10, these towns had an increase in sales:

1. Norwood (+117%)
2. Bedford  (+78%)
3. Easton (+27%)
4. Brookline (+20%)
5. Melrose (+20%)

• Several towns saw an  increase in year-to-date median home prices in July, including:

1. Cohasset (+25%)
2. Marblehead (+12%)
3. Dennis (+6%)
4. Norwood (+5.9%)
5. Melrose (+4%)

2.  The June 1^st Time Tax Buyer Credit Caused An Artificial Decrease in July Purchases.
The government stimulus program brought out the seasonal first time buyer’s in full force during June. Thus, the normal sales cycle was altered which skewed the July numbers
3.  Massachusetts Is Always Out In Front Of The National Numbers
The national housing report gives equal weight to markets blighted with foreclosures and economically hard hit areas like Detroit, Las Vegas, Florida, Arizona and parts of Southern California. Greater Boston has historically been a unique “inelastic” market along the lines of Washington, D.C. and San Francisco. Negative national trends do not necessarily correlate to the Massachusetts real estate market.
4.  “It’s the Economy, Stupid.”
Massachusetts has a strong and diverse economy, a number of high paying jobs (no, I’m not running for governor), a very limited number of new housing starts, and several industries that have constant employment turnover- a tried and true recipe for a hot housing market.
5.  Historically Low Interest Rates
The average rate for a 30 year mortgage has fallen to 4.5%, a 50 year low! Prospective borrowers who pass on this- caveat emptor “buyer beware.” A number of economists predict that the Fed will gradually ease rates back up to counter inflation.

Reprinted with permission from The Massachusetts Real Estate Blog

Fewer Home Owners Are Under Water

Fewer Home Owners Are Under Water

 
In the second quarter of 2010, 21.5 percent of borrowers owed more than their homes were worth. That’s down 7.7 percent from the first quarter of the year when 23.3 percent of home owner with mortgages were under water.

Much of the improvement came from homes falling into foreclosure, wiping away negative equity. Rising home values also improved the situation in 45 of the metropolitan statistical areas, including the northeast region of the United States.

Mortgage Rates for Massachusetts at All-Time Lows...Again!

Mortgage Rates are at all-time lows right now; 30 year fixed, 20 year fixed, 15 year fixed and even Jumbo Rates, and they're showing no signs of rising! I don’t see them going any lower, but staying down at these levels for a while.

What’s moving Mortgage Rates? No one really knows right now but this is usually what happens, bonds go up, stocks go down.  Stocks go up, bonds go down. It’s really pretty easy to understand. However this mortgage market that we are in  is no where near normal.  In fact, it’s the total opposite, it’s like nothing we’ve ever experienced.

Refinance loans account for the majority of all present loan production, but home buyers are getting these incredible rates, too! What I don't understand is why there are not more home buyers placing offers, and why some properties just languish on the market when they are priced competitively. I have to think that the home buying consumer just does not have enough confidence in the overall economic outlook yet. I'm just afraid these same people may miss out on a rare real estate buying opportunity...low home prices and rock bottom mortgage interest rates.

30 year fixed mortgage rates remain in the 4.375% to 4.625% range.  The 30 year fixed rate mortgage is 4.375% for a qualified borrower.

Do I Need a Buyer’s Agent for Home Purchase?

 Do I Need a Buyer’s Agent for Home Purchase?

Q: We own a home now in town for 14 years. We’ve done a drive-by and are interested in a different home in a rural setting. We have made an appointment with the listing agent to see the house on our own. If we are still interested after seeing the house, we will need to sell ours in order to buy it. We may or may not continue looking if that one is not “the one.” A friend is urging us to have our own REALTOR® now to represent our interests before our appointment next week. I don’t see the need until we’ve decided that we’re ready to give up our current home for another. What do you advise?
~ Brenda
A: Brenda, there are a couple of problems with looking at homes without your own Realtor (working as a Buyer’s Agent). First, the listing agent is representing the seller, and cannot give you any information on the property other than what the seller would allow.

The other issue is that the compensation for representing a buyer typically goes to the agent who first showed the property to the buyer. So, if you go to see a home with the listing agent, then your agent could possibly be cut out of receiving any compensation from the transaction if you decide that you want to make an offer. Your agent may not even want to represent you because of that fact, or you may have to pay your agent out of your own pocket.
If you want to see homes without your agent, then you could go to open houses. If you need to make an appointment to see a property, then you should go through your own Realtor. As a Realtor, this is part of our job. So don’t hesitate to give him/her a call.
~ Jim Armstrong


Jim Armstrong is a Realtor-Broker with Armstrong Field Real Estate in Essex County, MA.

Are you interested in having a qualified REALTOR® answer your questions? Click through to Ask a REALTOR® now.

June 2010 REALTOR® Market Index Down but Price Index is Up

June 2010 REALTOR® Market Index Down but Price Index is Up

The June 2010 REALTOR® Market Index Down Compared to the Same Time Last Year. REALTOR® Price Index up for the 11th time in the past 12 months.   WALTHAM, Mass. – The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) announced that after 16 straight months of annual increases, the June REALTOR® Market Index (RMI) is down for the first time since February 2009.  Despite the drop, the June REALTOR® Price Index was up compared to the same time last year. “The combination of the post-tax credit lull and buyers who may have moved up their plans for a summertime purchase to take advantage of the tax credit which expired in April, is having an impact on how REALTORS® are feeling about the current market as reflected in the low Market Index number,” said 2010 MAR President Kevin Sears, broker/co-owner of Sears Real Estate in Springfield.  “Despite this combination of events, REALTORS® do see home prices starting to move up over the next 12 months, which indicates to me that members believe the market will continue to improve.” In June 2010, the REALTOR® Market Index was 28.36, which was 24.8 percent lower than the 37.70 score recorded in June 2009.  On a month-to-month basis, the June 2010 RMI was down 28.19 percent from the May 2010 score of 39.49.  Measured on a 100-point scale, a score of 50 is the midpoint between a “strong” (100 points) and a “weak” (0 points) market condition.     The REALTOR® Price Index was up 6.34 percent in June 2010 compared to the same time last year (44.06 in 2009 to 46.85 in 2010).  On a month-to-month basis the June index number was up 22.07 percent from the Home Sales Price Index number in May 2010 (38.38). When REALTOR® members were asked how they would describe their clients’ ability secure financing in the current lending environment, 60 percent of respondents reported that it was either “somewhat” more difficult (37 percent) or “significantly” more difficult (23 percent).  Thirty-two percent of respondents reported that securing financing had “remained the same”, while 11 percent reported that financing was “somewhat” easier to secure.  Zero percent of the respondents reported that financing was “significantly” easier to obtain. About the REALTOR® Index Methodology: The Massachusetts REALTOR® Market Index (RMI) and Price Index (RPI) are based on monthly responses from a random sampling of Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® members on the state of the housing market.  More specifically, the survey asks members two basic questions pertaining to the real estate business in their market area in Massachusetts. 1. How would you describe the current housing market? 2. What are your expectations of home prices over the next year? In addition to these standard questions, the survey each month includes one wildcard question that changes each month and is based on an industry hot topic. The RMI is calculated in the following way.  Respondents indicate whether conditions are, or are expected to be “strong” (100 points), “moderate” (50 points), and “weak” (0 points).  The results are the average score for each question.  A score of 50 is the threshold between a “strong” and a “weak” condition.  Similarly, the question about home prices over the next year (REALTOR® Price Index) is calculated using five categories: “Rise 0-5%” (75 points), “Rise 5%+” (100 points), “Level” (50 points), “Fall 0-5%” (25 points), and “Fall >5%” (0 points).

Closing Deadline Extended for Tax Credit

July 1, 2010 - Last night, Congress passed an extension of the closing deadline for the Homebuyer Tax Credit, the Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act (H.R. 5623). The extension applies only to transactions that have ratified contracts in place as of April 30, 2010, that have not yet closed. The legislation is designed to create a seamless extension; the new closing deadline for eligible transactions is now September 30, 2010. There will be no gap between June 30 and the date the President signs the bill into law. Extending the tax credit closing deadline will help provide additional stability to real estate markets across the nation.
Our Government Affairs team worked closely with Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle to enact this important legislation.
NAR is still working on restoring the 502 single-family rural housing loan guarantee program. Language is included in H.R. 4899, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill, that is currently in conference between the House and Senate.  We expect the House to pass that bill shortly and are hopeful the Senate will do the same when they return the week of July 12. When that bill passes, the program will be restored through the end of the fiscal year.



Additionally, the Senate passed the National Flood Insurance Program Extension Act of 2010 (H.R. 5569), an extension of the National Flood Insurance Program until September 30, 2010. This will allow transactions to move forward. The bill is retroactive and covers the lapse period from June 1, 2010, to the date of enactment of the extension. The National Association of REALTORS (NAR) members sent more than 250,000 letters to Members of Congress encouraging them to extend the program.

For additional information on the tax credit extension, the flood insurance program and rural housing, please visit www.realtor.org/government_affairs

Senate approves extension to qualify for homebuyer tax credit

The proposal pushes the closing deadline back to Sept. 30, 2010, from the previous June 30 deadline.
By a 60-37 vote, the Senate on Wednesday approved a measure extending the closing deadline for qualifying for the homebuyer tax credit. The proposal is expected to be added to a slimmed-down tax extenders bill that Senate Democratic leaders are expected to unveil Wednesday.

To qualify for the credit, homebuyers have until June 30 to close on the purchase. The proposal pushes the closing deadline back to Sept. 30, 2010.

  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Senate Banking Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) and Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) authored the proposal. The senator from Georgia tried but failed to offset the amendment's cost with unspent stimulus dollars. His proposal failed by a 45-52 vote. The proposal that is expected to be added to the extender bill is offset by denying the tax deduction for certain punitive damages, which raises $315 million over 10 years. The cost for extending the closing date is $140 million, which means the provision reduces the deficit by $175 million over 10 years.

Congress originally passed an $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers as part of the stimulus bill President Barack Obama signed into law in February of 2009 (In fact, the original tax credit was in 2007 for $7,500, but had to be paid back). Lawmakers extended and expanded the measure last November to include a $6,500 tax credit for buyers who have already owned a home. Both of these measures expired at the end of April for buyers that enter into a contract to purchase a home. Wednesday's measure only extends the cut off date for closing on the property.

If You Missed Out on the Tax Credit - Don't Complain!

To all of you who are complaining that you don't qualify because you haven't place a home under contract yet or went under contract after April 30, 2010:

You have had over 2 years to take advantage of the tax credit. The 1st deadline was in 2008, then 2009 and finally April 30, 2010. We all knew that it wouldn't be extended forever. There were many, many great bargains on homes out there, and we had dozens and dozens of clients buy them and take advantage of the credit. We had many other buyers who didn't take advantage of it because they procrastinated too long.

But as the final April 30th deadline approached, I told my buyers that it made no sense to buy a property they weren't happy with just for the sake of getting the tax credit. By waiting they have the opportunity to purchase the home they really want and, with all the short sale/bank owned properties on the market, save much more than the $8,000 they would have received.

Yes, the tax credit is over, but the savings are still here. Buyers are picking up short sale properties and with a little work they are getting instant equity.

Jim Armstrong

Real Estate Economic Report for 1st Quarter 2010

The Economic and Market Watch Report was just released by MLS Property Information Network - the largest real estate multiple listing service in Massachusetts.

For Essex County, it is still a buyer's market, but it is moving towards the neutral zone. The average sale price is steady, with the number of homes on the market predicted to rise giving buyers more to choose from. The average number of days that a home is on the market before going under contract has risen to 119, and is expected to rise more from there as more seller place their homes up for sale.

Though the tax credit incentives are over, there is still strong activity as buyer take advantage of prices that have bottomed out, and the excellent mortgage rates. For people who are thinking about moving up to a larger, higher priced home there are significant price reductions happening every day.

Here is a link to the complete report:

http://www.mlspin.com/mlspin/downloads/economic_market_watch_reports_current/MLSPINQ12010.pdf

Jim Armstrong
President/Broker
Armstrong Field Real Estate
978-394-6736

Zillow Reports that Boston Area Home Values Up

Zillow.com Reports that Boston Area Home Values are Up

The Boston metro area is one of the few places in the United States that have year over year home home value increases for the 1st quarter of 2010. Some other areas that had increases are Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Green Bay, San Diego, San Francisco, Tulsa, Dayton, Denver and New Orleans. Of the 135 areas tracked by Zillow, only 29 had increases in home values.

See the full stats at: http://www.zillow.com/local-info/

Jim Armstrong

Too Late for the Tax Credit!

Too Late for the Tax Credit!

The April 30th deadline for placing a property under agreement in order to qualify for the Fed's $8,000 tax credit has come and gone. If you did not have an offer accepted in time, does that mean you should stop looking for your first home?

Of course not! There are so many good deals out there right now there it makes no sense to discontinue your home search. Just in Essex County there are 400 single family homes priced under $250,000. Three years ago you would be hard pressed to find 25 homes in that price range. If you are looking for a condo there are 285 priced under $150,000 in Essex County.

Don't overlook short sale properties now that you don't have the tax rebate deadline looming over you anymore. You can get some fantastic deals on all types of properties. Don't let the asking price stop you from placing an offer significantly lower. When making an offer, you do have to consider what the property is really worth in today's market, and how long it has been on the market. A newly listed short sale property with aggressive (low) pricing could get offers for more than the list price. Your buyer agent is the best person to help you determine an offer price.

You do have to be a little patient when waiting for a response to your offer, but in the end it could be worth it. The good news is that many lenders are working on cutting the response time down for replying to short sale offers.

Jim Armstrong

Jobless Rate Falls. First Time since 2007

Jobless Rate Falls. First Time since 2007

The state unemployment rate fell last month for the first time in nearly three years as Massachusetts employers added thousands of jobs, the clearest sign yet that the economic recovery is gaining strength, the state reported yesterday.

The job gains were broad based, spreading across sectors from retail to technology to financial services, and apparently strong enough to bring down the unemployment rate even as thousands more residents entered the labor market in search of work.

“It is hard to see anything bad in this,’’ Alan Clayton-Matthews, an economics professor at Northeastern University, said of the report.

See the rest of the article at Boston.com

Posted using ShareThis

Pending Homes Sales up 9th Month in a Row.

WALTHAM, MA. – April 6, 2010 – The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) reported the number of single-family homes placed under agreement in March 2010 was up 27 percent over March 2009, and condominiums were up 38 percent. March is the ninth straight month that the number of both single-family homes and condominiums placed under agreement had increased over the year before.

“It appears that the record rains in March didn’t keep buyers from taking advantage of the market conditions and making offers on homes,” said 2010 MAR President Kevin Sears, broker/co-owner of Sears Real Estate in Springfield. “Whether the rain will impact how many of these deals close is still a question, but the buyers are out there and that is a good sign for the market.”

There were 4,808 single family homes put under contract in March 2010, compared to 3,783 in March 2009. On a month-to-month basis (which really doesn't mean squat because of seasonal & monthly fluctuations), single-family homes put under agreement were up 37.8 percent from 3,489 homes in February.

The number of condos put under agreement in March was 2,1222 compared to March 2009 with 1,543 units.

Jim Armstrong

Boston in the Top Ten Cities for Borrowers

Top 10 Best Cities for Borrowers
Some cities are better than others for borrowers.

The best cities have the lowest percentage of foreclosures and delinquencies, including a low percentage of bank-owned homes. In most of the cities on this best list, home prices are actually rising. Boston ranks 6th in the list of the top ten.

This kind of solid housing market motivates banks to offer lower rates and better terms.

Here are the 10 cities that Forbes ranks as the best for borrowers:
1. Kansas City, Mo.
2. Houston
3. Dallas
4. Virginia Beach, Va.
5. San Antonio, Texas
6. Boston
7. Pittsburgh
8. Denver
9. Seattle
10. Portland, Ore.

Time to Spring Ahead...and Check Those Smoke Detectors!

Tonight is the night (actually, tomorrow morning at 2am) that we turn our clocks ahead by one hour, and when we should be replacing the batteries in our smoke detectors (and carbon monoxide). This year, with the change in the smoke detector regulations, you should consider replacing any of your smoke detectors that are near (within 20ft) a kitchen or a bathroom with a shower with a photoelectric model.

Most smoke detectors that are currently installed in homes are of the ionization type. They work very well, but are prone to going off due to cooking vapors and steam from a shower. When this happens, people tend to remove the batteries to shut them off, and ultimately forget to put them back in leaving everyone in the home vulnerable to a fire. The photoelectric type is not as sensitive to false alarms, therefore the batteries won't be taken out, leaving them ready to do their job at all times.

Though the new law that goes into effect in April only applies to new construction and homes that are being sold, you should take the initiative and install the photoelectric detectors now.

Jim Armstrong

New Massachusetts Smoke Detector Requirements

New State Smoke Detector Requirements

3/8/2010

A new regulation regarding the installation and maintenance of smoke detectors goes into effect April 5, 2010. These new regulations were enacted by the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services and will apply to single and multi-family homes built or most recently substantially altered prior to Jan. 1, 1975 and sold on or after April 5, 2010. Homes built or substantially altered on or after Jan. 1, 1975 are governed by the State Building Code, which already imposes the same requirements & restrictions.

See the rest of the article Here: Massachusetts REALTOR News

Will Congress Extend the Home Buyer Tax Credit?

It’s that time of year again: time for lobbyists to convince Congress to extend the home buyer tax credit.

The National Association of Realtors and other industry groups are beginning to make the rounds on Capitol Hill to press their case, which goes something like this: We know you’ve extended the tax credit two times already, but the housing market is still fragile, the tax credit is working, and don’t forget– you’re up for re-election soon. In other words, do you really want to own the next leg down in home prices?

See the rest of the article at the Wall Street Journal online:

http://blogs.wsj.com/developments/2010/02/22/take-three-will-congress-extend-the-home-buyer-tax-credit/

For Sale, But Not For Long

Karen Daly headed out Sunday to tour a renovated Natick house, confident she would be one of the few home hunters on a cold afternoon during which people were prepping for Super Bowl parties.

But when Daly arrived at the three-bedroom, $449,000 Cape, she found herself among a half-dozen other disappointed prospective buyers who learned that the seller had already accepted an offer. It wasn’t Daly’s first real estate letdown. Last month, she bid more than $20,000 above the asking price for a house in Framingham -- and lost out.

“If you are a buyer, you have to be very decisive, you can’t hesitate,’’ said Daly, 55, who sold her house in two days last summer and has been renting in Newton. “You are looking at very low inventory and very steep competition.’’

See the entire article at Boston.com: http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2010/02/13/for_sale_but_not_for_long/

Homeownership: Still the American Dream

There seems to be a long held American belief currently under attack. For over two hundred years, homeownership in this country was a desire of almost every American family. Recently however, more and more people have been pontificating on the fact that owning your own home should never have been held in such high regard.

I don’t want to overstate my concern as I know that the majority of Americans still hold homeownership sacred. Trulia just did a survey showing seventy seven percent of those questioned still believe that owning a home is a part of the American dream. Yet, it does concern me that, while people are being forced from their home due to economic difficulties, some are claiming that homeownership never should have been the goal anyway.

See the whole article here: Homeownership: Still the American Dream

Massachusetts Home Prices Increase in December 2009

The sale prices of single family homes and condominiums in Massachusetts increase by double digit percentages in December 2009 over the same period in 2008. With help from the home buyer tax credit incentive, the average sale price increased 10.9 percent. This was the first double digit increase in home prices in over 4 years.

The number of units sold in December was also up over the previous year. There were 3007 single family homes sold in Massachusetts, a 14.6% increase over 2008. Condominiums had even higher numbers, with a 31.7% increase in units sold year over year.

Inventory levels have gone done for the 21st month in a row. A year ago we had 9.6 months supply of single family homes and 11.3 months supply of condos. Last month we had 7.2 months supply of singles families and only 5.6 months supply of condos.

Monthly numbers don't mean as much as yearly figures do because of short term fluctuations in the market. But the yearly figures look pretty good also. Sales of single family homes for 2009 were up by 4.1% over 2008. Although the median sale price was down 6.8%, much of the drop in price came from the beginning of the year. The number of homes on the market was down almost 16% over 2008.

Jim Armstrong

http://www.marealtor.com/content/NewsTicker.htm?view=38&news_id=1254&news=31

FHA Mortgage Insurance Premium to be Raised

The FHA will soon raise the UFMIP (Up Front Mortgage Insurance Premium) that they charge on all mortgages.

On any new FHA mortgages after April 5^th, the UFMIP will now be 2.25% of the loan amount, as opposed to the current 1.75%.

Currently a $300,000 purchase with standard 3.5% down payment would have a $289,500 Base loan amount. The mortgage insurance would be $5,066 (1.75% UFMIP). So that makes the Total loan amount $294,566. At 5.00% that would be $1,581 for Principal and Interest.

Same purchase price after April 5^th.

$300,000 purchase with 3.5% down payment would have the same base loan amount of $289,500. The mortgage insurance would go up to $6,513 (2.25% UFMIP). The Total Loan Amount is $296,013. At 5.00% that would be $1,589 for Principal and Interest.

As you can see this change will affect the overall balance of the mortgage, however it should not have a large impact on the monthly payment.

Here is how the change will work time-wise if a homebuyer wants to avoid the increase:

Homebuyers will need to have an FHA CASE number prior to 4/5/10. They will not have to close before that date. So for example, your client puts a property under agreement 3/25/10. They contact their mortgage person to immediately to start the application process and obtain an FHA case number. The buyer will be grandfathered in under the old calculation as long as they obtained their FHA case number prior to 4/5/10. The FHA Case Number is tied to the property as well as the client – so clients who have not identified or put a property under agreement by 4/5 will be subject to the new calculation.

Do I need a REALTOR? A Question From a Home Buyer.

Question: I'm paying cash for a home, so I don't need a REALTOR, right?
- Rachel from Texas

Answer: Paying cash would be even more of an incentive to use a REALTOR. You will not have any other professionals, other than the closing attorney, to help protect your interests and investment. Our job isn't just to show a person properties, but to help out in all aspects of a home purchase. The last thing you want to do when buying a home is to deal directly with the listing agent. That agent represent the seller of the home, and is trying to get the best deal for his/her client. That means he/she is going to try to get as much of that cash from you as possible. A REALTOR Buyer Agent, on the other hand is there to protect you and help you pay the least amount for a home. Your REALTOR also provides a host of other services, also. Best of all, there is no cost to you for the service!

For more information on the advantages of using a REALTOR, please go to:
http://armstrongfield.com/buyers_files/whyrealtorbuying.html

Jim Armstrong

Mortgage Rates Still on the Rise Ahead of Treasury Auctions

Mortgage Rates Still on the Rise Ahead of Treasury Auctions

Mortgage rates took a beating last week. Even the most aggressive lenders are now creeping towards 5.00% (for WELL-QUALIFIED borrowers). See more...

Check Those Smoke Detectors: New Massachusetts Smoke Detector Regulations Go Into Effect Jan. 1

Check Those Smoke Detectors: New Massachusetts Smoke Detector Regulations Go Into Effect Jan. 1

Armstrong Field Real Estate is Moving!

Received notice from Salem Five Bank (the landlord for my office) that they will not be renewing my lease at the end of February because they want to expand their call center. I said "Why don't you use the vacant space that is in your upper floors?" Evidently that is not in their master plan. I should have known when they didn't renew the lease for the other business that was next to me. Why would Salem Five use valuable ground floor space for a call center that does not have walk-in traffic? (doors are always locked). It is against everything that Salem is trying to do with their downtown - First floor space should be for retail or businesses that create foot traffic (ie: my business).

The good news is that I have found what is even better space then we have now. I'm currently negotiating the details of a lease. It has huge south facing windows, more space than what we currently have, plenty of storage, better parking, better visibility, restored antique hardwood floors and more.

The bad news is (besides the fact that I really hate moving) that it will cost a lot of money to build out and set up the space with a phone system, computers, desks, etc. Not to mention changing the address on everything. But with 4 new agents signing on this month (currently 18 agents) and more in the pipeline, it will be good to have the extra space. Plus I can build myself a office bigger than the 6'x7' space I am now using. Plus a game room (guitar hero competitions every Friday!), kitchen area, library, conference room and more.

Watch here for updates and our grand opening.

Jim Armstrong

Real Estate Outlook: Housing Warmer Than Weather

Real Estate Outlook: Housing Warmer Than Weather

If new applications to buy homes are any gauge, the U.S. housing market is warming up, and that's despite the fact that we're now into the traditionally quiet holiday season.

Applications for home purchase loans soared 42 percent last week on a non-seasonally-adjusted basis compared with the week before, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

That burst of activity may have been influenced in part by the long Thanksgiving week layoff. Or it could have been an early reaction to the extension of the $8,000 tax credit or the start-up of the new $6,500 credit.

Either way, it was an exceptional week for mortgage lenders.

But here's another possibility: With the economy gaining a little momentum, interest rates have begun edging up again.

Mortgage rates are still close to historic lows, 4.9 percent on average for 30-year fixed and 4.3 percent for 15 year fixed, but MBA chief economist Jay Brinkmann says they're likely to exceed 5.2 percent by this coming March.

So, maybe the rush to nail down financing by home buyers is a smart move … compared with paying half a point higher rates by early spring.

On other economic fronts, we're looking at a mixed bag of reports this week, though mainly positive:

Freddie Mac's found home prices nationwide up by about one point on average during the third quarter. That's on top of a two percent gain for the second quarter. Clear Capital, a real estate data company, also found prices up marginally - by 1.4 percent - during the month of November, though a few local markets came in with double digit gains.

But not all surveys agree on that. The well-regarded “IAS 360” index came in with a contrarian result. It found that overall prices in the U.S. were down slightly on average -- by about half a percent.

Since there's not a huge variation among the three reports, we can probably safely conclude that -- at the very worst -- prices have stabilized in most markets -- and at the very best, they're up a little.

There were also positive indications on lower delinquencies and foreclosures across the country. Realty Trac says foreclosure filings in November dropped by 8 percent - the fourth consecutive month of declines.

And Trans Union, the big credit bureau, forecasts three percent fewer mortgage delinquencies next year - after three straight years of rising delinquency rates.

Meanwhile,another national study on price reductions on listed properties found that during November the number of price cuts dropped in 27 major markets, a welcome sign of more realistic asking prices.

From: Jim Armstrong's Real Estate Update - December 2009

New FHA Guidelines for Condominiums

New FHA Guidelines Could Amp Condo Sales

"FHA approved" may become the most popular condominium amenity in the United States soon, thanks to the new guidelines established by the FHA to take effect February 1, 2010.

The guidelines addressed the two imperatives facing condominium sales: down payments and the financial integrity of condominium associations. Both are equally important to a condominium recovery.

"FHA approved" used to mean a 3.5% down payment. Starting early next year, "FHA approved" will mean 3.5% down plus a financially stable association approved by your lender. This is huge.

According to Attorney Richard D. Vetstein, who writes the Massachusetts Real Estate Law Blog, the revised FHA Condominium Lending Guidelines include the following requirements:

To qualify for FHA mortgages, associations must:

• Maintain a reserve equal to 10 percent of the annual budget
• Make sure no more than 15 percent of its owners are more than 30 days late with condominium fees
• Allow lenders to review their financials and insurance policies
• No more than 10% of the units may be held by a single investor
• Fidelity insurance must be obtained for 20+ unit projects
• No more than 25 percent of space allowed for commercial use.

"The new FHA guidelines (combined with the almost year old Fannie Mae condominium guidelines) really make it imperative for condominium associations to get their collective acts together with respect to the financial management of the association," counsels Attorney Vetstein. "Condominium boards need to ensure that reserve accounts are adequately funded, condo fee delinquency rates are low and that the association is generally well run financially. If they don’t, they are contributing to a drag on market value for all units due to non-compliance with the new condominium guidelines.

For a new condominium to qualify for FHA financing the following guidelines apply:

Effective February 1, 2010:

• 50 percent of the total units must be presold before FHA financing is approved
• 50 percent of the total units must be owner occupied
• No more than 10% of units may be held by a single investor
• Unit owners must obtain individual HO-6 insurance policies if the master policy doesn’t cover interiors
• Re-certification is required every two years

Projects that received approval between October 1, 2008 and December 7, 2009 will be "grandfathered" and will have to follow the new guidelines’ re-certification process .

The marketing benefits are significant:

1. More buyers will enter the market because they can afford the lower down payment.
2. No single investor can purchase more than 10% of the units, so the idea of a controlled association by one or two investors is no longer a threat.
3. More inventory will offer wider choices tending to keep prices in check, as "FHA approved’ condominiums come on line.
4. More real estate agents will be willing to show condominiums to their buyers, because the lender who provides the mortgage will have to approve not only the condo documents, but the condo association’s budget, reserve account and its fidelity insurance policy.
5. New construction developers have the guidelines needed to create urgency in their pricing strategies, which is key to building and maintaining momentum.
6. Commercial lenders will have a more comfortable level with developers. While the 50% presale requirement may look obtrusive, it is actually a benefit to the developer, because it will create urgency for buyers to purchase.
7. Established associations that have dragged their feet to get their finances in order, now have a valid value-based reason to become "FHA Approved."
8. Real estate agents will show FHA approved condominiums with confidence in the association’s finances, not just because the down payment is low.
9. Forward thinking lenders will hustle to become a "an approved lender’ in resale and new communities alike
10. Knowing the property already has approved lenders will make competition for listings tighter and will attract more buyers and more prospects to the listing.

Brokers taking listings in condo communities without FHA financing will be competing with ones that do, making it important for associations to serious consider becoming FHA approved.

First time home buyers are generally thought of as the primary market for FHA financing. There is something to that, but in today’s world, many who bought their first homes years ago and lost them during this recession will appreciate the FHA financing availability even more than those coming out of rentals.

For now let’s agree that the FHA is being responsive and fair by giving new homes developers livable guidelines, associations a tool to become financially stable, and all associated with the industry, hope.

There will no doubt be other changes as the market calls for them "FHA was given a difficult task under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA) to revamp the approval process for condominium projects, and before it established its latest guidelines, invited and was open to industry experts from organizations like the Community Associations. "As a result, significant improvements to the initial requirements have been made and dialogue continues between CAI and HUD in an attempt to create regulations that will lead to greater stability in the condominium market," Dawn Bauman, vice president of Strategic Initiatives for the Community Association Institute said. CAI is an organization representing more than 29,000 individual members, 60 local chapters, and the interests of the one in five homeowners living in a community association. For more information visit www.caionline.org.

It’s good to see that the buyer’s interest is represented. It shows. And it will pay off handsomely in the days ahead.

Cash for Caulking

Obama Proposes Cash for Caulking

A program has been proposed by President Obama on Tuesday that would reimburse home owners for installing windows, energy-efficient appliances, and insulation.

Under what has been dubbed “Cash for Caulking”, home owners would get a 50 percent rebate on energy-efficient air conditioners, heating systems, washing machines and dryers, refrigerators, replacement windows, insulation and other energy-saving improvements up to $12,000. This equates to a household that spends $24,000 could get $12,000 back.Most likely there would be no income restrictions.

The director at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Steve Nadel, who is helping to create the legislation, says they are considering having contractors and/or retailers pay part of the cost upfront to reduce the need for home owners to come up with lots of cash.