All posts by David G White

Time To Purchase A Home – Low Rates, Buyers Market

The summer of 2010 has become one of the best times to buy a property. There has never been a better time in the real estate market to buy a new property. From the low rates on home mortgage loans to the fantastic prices on the houses on the market, now is a great time to be a home buyer.

Low Mortgage Loan Rates

Mortgage rates are striking record lows and with a lower interest rate comes a lower house payment. If you purchased a home for $200,000 and did a 30-year mortgage, you will save over $55,000 over the lifespan of the home mortgage compared to someone who purchased that same home about a year ago.

The last time rates were this low was back in 2004, but today, the rates are even lower. The amount of money that can be saved is tremendous.

Even with the home loan guidelines tightening, many consumers are still able to get qualified for a mortgage loan. FHA home loans offer lower down payment options.

This opportunity is great for first time home buyers. With the real estate market in the buyer’s favor, a first time home buyer could save thousands!

The Current Real Estate Market – A Home Buyer’s Advantage

The real estate market over the past year has gotten better as many areas are starting to see less foreclosures, but there are still more houses on the market than willing people to purchase these properties. This means that the market is still considered a buyer’s market. Great news if you are looking to buy a new property.

A lot of sellers are paying for buyer’s closing cost or reducing the price of the property. Many home builders have great incentives to buy today. A homebuyer could purchase a new home without even paying closing cost.

Several homebuyers are finding awesome deals on houses that are not short sales or foreclosures. There is a misconception that short sales or foreclosures are the best deals, but in many areas, builders and homes sold by their owner are actually a better option.

The real estate market is in the buyer’s favor, so now is a great time to buy a property. Contact your local Realtor Consultant and discuss what your real estate market is doing. Since each real estate market is not the same, it is important to discuss with a real estate consultant before making a decision.

Keep in mind that purchasing a house is an investment and that you should look at the purchase of a home over the long haul. Properties will gain and lose value in the short time, but over a long time period, properties usually gain in value. Take into consideration the money you will be saving in interest and closing cost, and for those that act quickly, they could save thousands.

David White is a Senior Home Loan Advisor with over 12 years experience. David specializes in home loans. David is a Dallas home loans expect. Unique version for reprint here: Time To Purchase A Home – Low Rates, Buyers Market.

categories: Real Estate,First Time Home Buyers,Buying a Home,Home Buyer,Mortgage Loans

Benefits In FHA Loans

When it comes to qualifying for a mortgage loan, there are many different types of programs available. With the many different mortgage programs available, it is important to choose the best program for your particular home loan needs.

One of the home programs you can choose from is a FHA mortgage loan. This type of program is designed for 1st time home buyers. FHA home loans can be used to purchase a primary residence or refinance an existing mortgage. Below are the many benefits to the FHA program.

Reduce Down Payment

A FHA mortgage loan offers buyers a program with a lower down payment. The current minimum down payment for a FHA home mortgage loan is 3.5%. The source of the funds for the down payment can also come from many different sources including a gift from a family member or church, a 401K loan or withdrawal, and any money saved up in a checking or savings account. By allowing the down payment to come from many different sources, the FHA mortgage program helps buyers purchase their new home.

Seller Paying up to 3% Closing Cost

FHA loans also allow the seller to contribute up to 3% towards buyers closing cost. This is extremely important in assisting a buyer purchase a new house and reducing the amount of money needed for closing. Sellers can pay closing cost, prepaid items like taxes and home insurance as well as interest on the loan. For example, if a buyer purchases a home for $100,000, the seller can contribute $3000 towards the buyers closing cost.

Reduce Mortgage Rates

For many clients, FHA home mortgage loans offer the most competitive rates. FHA home loan rates are not tied to credit scores like the way conventional home mortgage loan rates are. For example, if a homebuyer has a credit score of 660, the FHA home mortgage loan the rate would be same if their score was 740, but on a conventional home loan, the credit score of a 660 compared to a 740 would see an increase of about .75% to the rate.

Mortgage Insurance

Another benefit in the FHA mortgage loan program is the approval of mortgage insurance. FHA home loan mortgage insurance is approved as long as the home mortgage loan is approved. This is not the same when it comes to a conventional home loan. Many times, a borrower can be approved for a conventional mortgage loan, but will not be approved for mortgage insurance. This results in the loan being turned down, but with a FHA mortgage loan, as long as the loan is approved, mortgage insurance is approved. Also, the monthly mortgage insurance payment for a FHA home loan is usually less than the private mortgage insurance offered on conventional home mortgages.

Home Loan Size Limits

FHA home mortgages do have set loan limits that are established by HUD. To determine the loan limit in your area, contact your mortgage loan officer. For example, in the Dallas – Fort Worth area, FHA loan limits are $271,050.

Streamline Refinances

Finally, another benefit to a FHA mortgage loan is the ability to do a streamline refinance. A streamline refinance is when a homeowner refinances an existing FHA home loan into a new FHA mortgage. The streamline refinance program allows the client to refinance with limited paperwork. Though, it might be in the best interest of the homeowner to consider a full refinance over a streamline. Consult a mortgage loan advisor to see which program is best for you!

FHA loans are a great way to refinance or purchase a house. It is important to understand the benefits of each mortgage program that you qualify for and to make sure you are getting the best possible home loan.

David White is a mortgage officer with over 10 years experience. He specializes in FHA Mortgage Loans. Begin the FHA Home Loan process today. This article, Benefits In FHA Loans has free reprint rights.