Spring Buying Season Extends Into Summer

Some Highlights:

• Existing Home Sales are up 9.6% over last year.
• Homes Sold on Average in just 34 days!
• Inventory now stands at a 5.0-month supply.
• Distressed Sales made up only 8% of all sales.

Determine the Right Time to Move

Most homeowners will come to a point when they are ready to sell their house and move to a new one. Moving to a new home is not always an easy task. Moving requires a lot of work, time and money. So before you move, consider the reasons below to determine if it’s the right time to move.

1. You have sufficient money to be used for the moving process. When you decide to move, you need your savings of home equity to finance the new home.
2. You can qualify for a new home loan. Meet with a lender to understand your loan options.  If you are qualified for a mortgage loan then start the process by getting a pre approved mortgage.
3. The space of the current house is not enough. Maybe you’re running out of bedrooms because your family is getting bigger or your closets are bursting at the seams.
4. Your house needs an upgrade and is becoming too old. If you notice that your home is experiencing never ending repairs then it is time for you to move.
5. You don't like your neighborhood anymore. Your neighbors may change over time and become less than desirable.

Mentioned above are just few reasons to determine if it’s time to move to a new house. If you’re not happy with your current house, then start the process of buying a new one. If you need help in moving out and finding a new home, talk to Houses for Sale in Frisco TX.

Save Money for the Home Downpayment

According to surveys, rents are projected to outpace the value of a home by the end of this year. Experts suggest that you consider purchasing a home now. Today, the housing market is stable and interest rates are low. Down payments are considered as a part of buying a home and are also considered as a big challenge for most home buyers.

If you are thinking of buying a home, let Houses for Sale in Frisco be your guide. Here are some useful ways to save money for down payment:

1. Reduce and eliminate some of your large expenses.
2. When you are working, ask your payroll department to automatically deduct a specific amount of your monthly salary and deposit it to a savings account.
3. Consider downsizing if your home is too big for you.
4. Sell the things that are not needed anymore
5. Make some investments of your money.

Take these suggestions to help you prepare yourself for the home buying process. If you are serious about buying a home, call Houses for Sale in Frisco TX. We at Frisco TX Real Estate provide useful tips and advice and are available to help you with your real estate needs.

You Want to Raise My Rent How Much?

http://housesforsaleinfriscotx.net/you-want-to-raise-my-rent-how-much/

We recently reported that investment purchases in 2014 fell 7.4% for the year, that combined with a diminished supply of distressed inventory allowing for big profits, has real estate investors looking for a new way to make more money in 2015.

So if they don’t have new properties to buy… how would they make more money? Easy… they are going to raise your rent!

A recent article from Bloomberg Business gave insight into exactly what the CEO’s of major investment firms are thinking.

“We are focusing aggressively on rent bumps,” American Residential Properties CEO Stephen Schmitz said during a panel discussion. “There’s a supply imbalance in some markets. The same thing that keeps occupancy high also drives rents.”

How Much Are They Going To Raise Your Rent?

Rental rates are predicted to increase 4% on renewals and as much as 5.7% for new tenants.

Haendel St. Juste, a Morgan Stanley analyst put it this way:

“The focus is now on optimizing revenue, compared to getting heads in beds,”

So What Can You Do?

If you are one of the millions of renters out there dreading the day that you have to renew your lease, or planning to move into a new rental property, now may be the time to sit with a real estate professional and evaluate your ability to lock in your housing cost, by buying now.

Either Way, You’re Still Paying a Mortgage

There are some people that have not purchased a home because they are uncomfortable taking on the obligation of a mortgage. Everyone should realize that, unless you are living with your parents rent free, you are paying a mortgage - either your mortgage or your landlord’s.

As a paper from the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University explains: 

“Households must consume housing whether they own or rent. Not even accounting for more favorable tax treatment of owning, homeowners pay debt service to pay down their own principal while households that rent pay down the principal of a landlord plus a rate of return. That’s yet another reason owning often does—as Americans intuit—end up making more financial sense than renting.”

Also, if you purchase with a 30-year fixed rate mortgage, your ‘housing expense’ is locked in over the thirty years for the most part. If you rent, the one guarantee you will have is that your rent will increase over that same thirty year time period.

As an owner, the mortgage payment is a ‘forced savings’ which will allow you to have equity in your home you can tap into later in your life. As a renter, you guarantee the landlord is the person with that equity.

Bottom Line

Whether you are looking for a primary residence for the first time or are considering a vacation home on the shore, owning might make more sense than renting since home values and interest rates are still at bargain prices.

Don’t Wait! Move Up to the Home You Always Wanted

Now that the housing market has stabilized, more and more homeowners are considering moving up to the home they have always dreamed of. Prices are still below those of a few years ago and interest rates are still below 5%.

However, sellers should realize that waiting to make the move while mortgage rates are increasing probably doesn’t make sense. 

As rates increase, the price of the house you can buy will decrease.

Here is a chart detailing this point:

5 Reasons to Sell Now!

Many sellers are still hesitant about putting their house up for sale. Where are prices headed? Where are interest rates headed? Can buyers qualify for a mortgage?  These are all valid questions. However, there are several reasons to sell your home sooner rather than later. Here are five of those reasons.

1. Demand is Strong

There is currently a pent-up demand of purchasers as many home buyers pushed off their search this past winter & early spring because of extreme weather. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the number of buyers in the market, which feel off dramatically in December, January and February, has begun to increase again over the last few months. These buyers are ready, willing and able to buy…and are in the market right now!

2. There Is Less Competition Now

Housing supply is still under the historical number of 6 months’ supply. This means that, in many markets, there are not enough homes for sale to satisfy the number of buyers in that market. This is good news for home prices. However, additional inventory is about to come to market.

There is a pent-up desire for many homeowners to move as they were unable to sell over the last few years because of a negative equity situation. Homeowners are now seeing a return to positive equity as prices increased over the last eighteen months. Many of these homes will be coming to the market in the near future. Also, new construction of single-family homes is again beginning to increase. A recent study byHarris Poll revealed that 41% of buyers would prefer to buy a new home while only 21% prefer an existing home (38% had no preference).

The choices buyers have will continue to increase over the next few months. Don’t wait until all this other inventory of homes comes to market before you sell.

3. The Process Will Be Quicker

One of the biggest challenges of the 2014 housing market has been the length of time it takes from contract to closing. Banks are requiring more and more paperwork before approving a mortgage. As the market heats up, banks will be inundated with loan inquiries causing closing timelines to lengthen.  Selling now will make the process quicker and simpler.

4. There Will Never Be a Better Time to Move-Up

If you are moving up to a larger, more expensive home, consider doing it now. Prices are projected to appreciate by over 19% from now to 2018. If you are moving to a higher priced home, it will wind-up costing you more in raw dollars (both in down payment and mortgage payment) if you wait. You can also lock-in your 30 year housing expense with an interest rate in the low 4’s right now. Rates are projected to be over 5% by this time next year.

5. It’s Time to Move On with Your Life

Look at the reason you decided to sell in the first place and determine whether it is worth waiting. Is money more important than being with family? Is money more important than your health? Is money more important than having the freedom to go on with your life the way you think you should?

Only you know the answers to the questions above. You have the power to take back control of the situation by putting your home on the market and pricing it so it sells. Perhaps, the time has come for you and your family to move on and start living the life you desire.

That is what is truly important.