3 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Home

by The KCM Crew on October 27, 2014 in For Buyers

If you are thinking about purchasing a home right now, you are surely getting a lot of advice. Though your friends and family have your best interests at heart, they may not be fully aware of your needs and what is currently happening in real estate. Let’s look at whether or not now is actually a good time for you to buy a home.
There are three questions you should ask before purchasing in today’s market: 

1. Why am I buying a home in the first place?

This truly is the most important question to answer. Forget the finances for a minute. Why did you even begin to consider purchasing a home? For most, the reason has nothing to do with finances. A study by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University reveals that the four major reasons people buy a home have nothing to do with money:

• A good place to raise children and for them to get a good education
• A place where you and your family feel safe
• More space for you and your family
• Control of the space

What non-financial benefits will you and your family derive from owning a home? The answer to that question should be the biggest reason you decide to purchase or not.

2. Where are home values headed?

When looking at future housing values, Home Price Expectation Survey provides a fair assessment. Every quarter, Pulsenomics surveys a nationwide panel of over one hundred economists, real estate experts and investment & market strategists about where prices are headed over the next five years. They then average the projections of all 100+ experts into a single number.
Here is what the experts projected in the latest survey:

• Home values will appreciate by 4% in 2015.
• The cumulative appreciation will be 19.5% by 2018.
• Even the experts making up the most bearish quartile of the survey still are projecting a cumulative appreciation of over 11.2% by 2018.

3. Where are mortgage interest rates headed?

A buyer must be concerned about more than just prices. The ‘long term cost’ of a home can be dramatically impacted by an increase in mortgage rates.
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), the National Association of Realtors, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have all projected that mortgage interest rates will increase by approximately one full percentage over the next twelve months.

Bottom Line

Only you and your family can know for certain the right time to purchase a home. Answering these questions will help you make that decision.

Contact The J Team today for a FREE Buyers Consultation.

Billionaire Says Real Estate is Best Investment Possible

Billionaire money manager John Paulson was interviewed at the Delivering Alpha Conference presented by CNBC and Institutional Investor. During his session he boldly stated:

"I still think, from an individual perspective, the best deal investment you can make is to buy a primary residence that you're the owner-occupier of.”

Who is John Paulson?

Paulson is the person who, back in 2005 & 2006, made a fortune betting that the subprime mortgage mess would cause the real estate market to collapse. He understands how the housing market works and knows when to buy and when to sell. What do others think of Paulson?
According to Forbes, John Paulson is:

“A multibillionaire hedge fund operator and the investment genius.”

According to the Wall Street Journal, Paulson is:

“A hedge fund tycoon who made his name, and a fortune, betting against subprime mortgages when no one else even knew what they were.”

The best investment you can make is to buy a primary residence that you're the owner-occupier of...

Click To Tweet

Why does he believe homeownership is such a great investment?

Paulson breaks down the math of homeownership as an investment:

"Today financing costs are extraordinarily low. You can get a 30-year mortgage somewhere around 4.5 percent. And if you put down, let's say, 10 percent and the house is up 5 percent, which is the latest data, then you would be up 50 percent on your investment."

How many are seeing a 50% return on a cash investment right now?
Paulson goes on to compare the long term financial benefits of owning verses renting:

“And you’ve locked in the cost over the next 30 years. And today the cost of owning is somewhat less than the cost of renting. And if you rent, the rent goes up every year. But if you buy a 30-year mortgage, the cost is fixed.”

Bottom Line

Whenever a billionaire gives investment advice, people usually clamor to hear it. This billionaire gave simple advice – if you don’t yet live in your own home, go buy one.

The J Team is here to help with all of your Real Estate needs.  Contact us today!

#1 Reason You Should Sell Now

The price of any item (including residential real estate) is determined by ‘supply and demand’.  If the supply of an item is larger than the amount of people looking to purchase that item, the price will decrease.

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR),historically there is a natural decline in buyers looking to purchase a home (also known as foot traffic) as the winter months approach. Shown in the graph below:

NAR goes a step further to say that there is a direct correlation between “foot traffic” and “pending contracts/closed sales one to two months later”.

Bottom Line

The real estate market has done well to recover from the slow start we experienced due in part to the inclement weather at the beginning of 2014.  But with those winter months right around the corner, now may be the best time to get the best price.

Contact The J Team today for a real estate consultation today! 

7 Must-Dos for First-Time Homebuyers

RISMedia

Seven Must-Dos for First-Time Homebuyers

(MCT)—Buying your first home can be nerve-wracking. As a first-time homebuyer, you will navigate a process that might include uncertainty, excitement, confusion and frustration.

But preparation and knowledge can help you stay on the right track. Here are seven steps that can improve your chances of having a good homebuying experience.

Know Your Credit
If you think you may want to buy a home in the near future, your first step — and perhaps the most important one — is to watch your credit. Familiarize yourself with your credit history and make sure all the information in your credit reports is accurate.

“The very first thing you need to do is to find out what your credit is and what’s being reported about your credit,” says Pava Leyrer, director of training for Northern Mortgage Services in Grandville, Mich.

This will give you enough time to deal with any reporting errors on your report or improve your credit before you are ready to buy, Leyrer explains.

If all looks good, keep it up and don’t max out your credit cards at the furniture store after you sign a contract for the home.

Hire a Good Team
Buying a home for the first time is supposed to be fun, but it’s actually hard work, and at some point during this process you will feel overwhelmed. You’ll need to be surrounded by professionals who know what they are doing so they can guide you and provide answers to your questions.

“Formulate a good team to help you,” says Rafael Castellanos, an attorney and managing director at Expert Title Insurance in New York. “You don’t want someone who is going to pressure you to buy the one or two exclusive listings that they have.”

Find an experienced real estate agent, a reputable mortgage professional and a real estate attorney if you can.

“You cannot have an inexperienced buyer and an inexperienced agent,” says Patty Da Silva, owner of Green Realty Properties in Davie, Fla. “Who you hire is truly one of the most important things.”

Get Preapproved for a Mortgage
Homebuying does not begin with home searching — unless you are sitting on a pile of cash and won’t need a mortgage. Otherwise, make sure you get a preapproval from a lender before you even begin hunting for a home.

And make sure it’s a true preapproval and not just a prequalification, Da Silva says. Some lenders will tell you that you prequalify for the loan based on the income and credit information you have provided. That’s not good enough for most sellers today.

With a real preapproval, the lender will verify your income documentation and not just check your credit.

“Have your finances really ready,” Da Silva says.

Determine A Budget and Stick to It
Don’t wait until you are shopping for a house to find out how much home you can afford.

Determine your budget and the monthly payments you can afford and qualify for early in the process.

Most importantly, stick to the plan.

“When you fall in love with a house, all common sense goes out the window,” Leyrer says. “Make sure you know what’s going to fit your budget and stay in control.”

Picking your Team of Professionals is very Important!  The J Team with Keller Williams Fort Lauderdale offers a monthly Home Buyers Seminar to help educate and empower anyone looking to Buy a Home!  We have A Real Estate Consultant, Mortgage, Title, Inspections and Insurance all there to answer questions and help you learn what is involved in the Buying process.  Our next session is Saturday November 8, 2014 from 12:00PM to 1:00PM at Keller Williams Realty 3696 N Federal Hwy Suite 101, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308!

Fannie Mae Agrees: Hire a Pro to Sell Your House

October 16 2014

Do you really need an agent to sell your house in today’s market? Here’s what Fannie Mae suggests to sellers on the Know Your Options section of their website:

“Select how you'll market and list the home (e.g., with a real estate agent or for sale by owner). There are pros and cons to each, but unless you are experienced at selling homes, it usually makes financial sense to get professional help—homes sold by agents typically sell at a higher price and spend less time on the market. An agent will also help you determine the best pricing for the house, they'll market the home, and they'll be your advocate throughout the process.”

Let’s go over the points they made:

• Homes sold by agents typically sell at a higher price
• Homes sold by agents typically spend less time on the market
• An agent will help you determine the best pricing for the house
• An agent will market the home
• An agent will be your advocate throughout the process

If Fannie Mae says using an agent probably makes sense, perhaps you should interview an agent before putting your house up for sale.

Thinking of selling yourself?  Contact The J Team today for a free questionnaire to help you decide what your best options are!  954.235.3589 or visit www.jaycermak.us

A Home’s Cost vs. Price Explained

October 14 2014

In real estate there is a difference between COST and PRICE. As a seller, you will be most concerned about ‘short term price’ – where home values are headed over the next six months. As either a first time or repeat buyer, you must not be concerned about price but instead about the ‘long term cost’ of the home.

Let us explain.

Recently, we reported that a nationwide panel of over one hundred economists, real estate experts and investment & market strategists projected that home values would appreciate by approximately 4% from now to the end of 2015.

Additionally, Freddie Mac’s most recent Economic Commentary & Projections Table predicts that the 30 year fixed mortgage rate will be 5.0% by the end of next year.

What Does This Mean to a Buyer?

Here is a simple demonstration of what impact these projected changes would have on the mortgage payment of a home selling for approximately $250,000 today:

If you would like to learn more about buying a home today and in the near future Contact The J Team today!  954.235.3589 or visit www.jaycermak.us

Think You Should FSBO? Think Again [INFOGRAPHIC]

Selling your home is a very big decision.  There are sellers out there who feel they can do it themselves.  There are advantages and disadvantages to selling yourself.  This chart shows some of the proven data from a 3rd Party Source not by Realtors.

If your are considering selling yourself Contact The J Team, we have a handout with questions to help you decide if being a For Sale By Owner is a good decision for you or not.

Buying a Home? Don't Let Fear Get in Your Way

Simplifying the Market

Making Real Estate Easy to Understand

Buying a Home? Don't Let Fear Get in Your Way

simplify

October 8 2014

Today we are excited to have Steve Harney, the Founder & Chief Content Creator for Keeping Current Matters as our guest blogger.  Steve has over 30 years experience in real estate and is a trusted & sought after speaker. Enjoy!

Last week, I was talking to a young couple I know that was about to close on their first home. They were riding the wild rollercoaster of current mortgage rate swings and were not happy about the mortgage process overall. Yet, when the conversation shifted to finally living in a home that they own, their disposition changed dramatically.
A smile came across their faces as they talked about decorating their son’s bedroom and how much he will enjoy the backyard. They talked about inviting friends over for dinner and their family over for the holidays. The more they talked, the more excited they became.
I asked them if many of their friends were also buying. I was shocked to find out that they weren’t. Why not? Their friends believed that homeownership was financially unobtainable right now. Many wanted to own but didn’t think they could afford the monthly mortgage payment. They decided to rent instead.
I said that, with interest rates and prices where they are today, owning a home might not be any more expensive than renting one. The couple agreed but said their friends were afraid; afraid they might not qualify for a loan, afraid to handle negotiations with a seller, afraid of the home buying process itself.
Wow!

People should not make decisions out of fear!

I’m not saying that every young person should own a home. I am saying that anyone that is qualified and wants to buy should not be afraid of the process. I realize the process may seem daunting but realize over 10,000 homes sell every day in this country. Sit down and discuss your goals with professionals from both the real estate and mortgage industries. Get the facts. Make an informed decision. Don’t let the fear of the unknown prevent you from living the life of your dreams.

Contact The J Team at Keller Williams Realty Professionals in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for all of your Real Estate Needs!

 

Buyers Seminar - November 8, 2014

The J Team at Keller Williams Realty Professionals in Fort Lauderdale, Florida offers a FREE Home Buyers Seminar every month.

Joined by Mortgage, Title, Home Insurance and Home Inspectors they are committed to educating buyers about the home buying process!

No requirement to join it is open to everyone!  The next session will be Saturday November 8, 2014 from 12pm-1pm!  Don't miss this amazing seminar!  First portion is explaining everything then we open to floor to hear what others have to say!

For all of your Real Estate needs, do not hesitate to contact The J Team and our all star vendors!  We are here to help!

Why You Should Sell Your House Now1

Simplifying the Market

Making Real Estate Easy to Understand

Why You Should Sell Your House Now!

simplify

October 6 2014

School is back in session, the holidays are right around the corner, you might not think that now is the best time to sell your house.  But with inventory below historic numbers and demand still strong, you could be missing out on a great opportunity for your family.

1. Demand is Strong

Foot traffic refers to the number of people out actually physically looking at home right now. The latest foot traffic numbers show that there are more prospective purchasers currently looking at homes than at any other time in the last twelve months which includes the latest spring buyers’ market. These buyers are ready, willing and able to buy…and are in the market right now!
As we get later into the year, many people have other things (weather, holidays, etc.) that distract them from searching for a home. Take advantage of the buyer activity currently in the market.

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 real estate values have increased over the last two years. 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 by Harris 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. Any delay in the process is always prolonged during the winter holiday season. Getting your house sold and closed before those delays begin will lend itself to a smoother transaction.

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. 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.

Contact The J Team today for all of your real estate needs!

 

Future Homeowners Share American Dream

 

October 1 2014

Two recently released reports indicate that both young adults (Millennials) and teenagers (Generation Z) still see homeownership as an important piece of their future success.
A report by The Demand Institute, Millennials and Their Homes: Still Seeking the American Dream, revealed that the Millennial Generation is optimistic about their financial future and still believe in homeownership. The findings were based on a survey of millennial households (ages 18 to 29).
The report predicted that:

• 8.3 million new Millennial (Gen Y) households will form in the next five years
• $1.6 trillion will be spent on home purchases by Millennials and $600 billion on rent over the next five years

Millennials optimistic about their finances and homeownership

Of those surveyed:

• 74% expect to move within the next five years
• 79% expect their financial situation to improve
• 75% believe homeownership is an important long-term goal
• 73% believe homeownership is an excellent investment
• 24% already own their home and
• An additional 60% plan to buy a home in the future
• 44% do think it would be difficult to qualify for a mortgage

What about the next generation (today’s teenagers)?

A recent survey by Better Homes and Gardens® revealed that Generation Z (teens ages 13-17) is very traditional in their views toward homeownership and is willing to sacrifice to attain the American Dream.
Findings from the survey show:

• 82% of Gen Z teens indicate that homeownership is the most important factor in achieving the American Dream.
• 89% said owning a home is part of their interpretation of the American Dream
• 97% believe they will own a home
• 77% percent chose owning a home over owning a business

Bottom Line

It seems that the belief that homeownership as a huge part of the American Dream still beats in the hearts of the young people of this country.

Thinking of Buying or Selling a Home?  Contact The J Team today at 954.235.3589 or visit www.JayCermak.us!  We are your South Florida Real Estate Experts!