Archive for the ‘Mortgages’ Category

Signs of Stability

Monday, March 15th, 2010

The U.S. housing market continues to show signs of stabilization with a drop in the number of Multiple Listing Service (MLS)-listed homes for the twelfth consecutive month. The number of single family homes and condos listed for sale according to MLS data decreased in June 2009 from May by 2.1%, bringing the total number of active listings in 28 major U.S. markets to 696,858, according to national real estate brokerage ZipRealty. Real estate for sale in wyoming-star valley-is still experiencing high numbers of listings.

Additionally, ZipRealty tracked an increase in the median list price in the 28 markets to $270,440 in June from $270,027 in May. Despite the sequential increase the median list price still decreased 2.72 percent when compared to June 2008. Real estate for sale in wyoming prices is still holding strong.

Other highlights from ZipRealty’s Housing Inventory Index, compiled from local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) data, for June 2009 include:

-Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Phoenix all recorded a decline in inventory which may have contributed to some homes receiving multiple bids.
-Median list prices have flattened or increased in Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles, pointing toward stabilization in those areas.
-While South Florida has substantially fewer homes for sale than last summer, housing inventory there is plentiful. For example, Miami has 27.1% more homes listed for sale compared to Los Angeles even though Miami has a significantly smaller population than Los Angeles.
-California is seeing the most dramatic inventory declines with massive year-over-year inventory reductions: Los Angeles saw a 53.9% decrease year-over-year while Bakersfield/Fresno tracked a 56.2% decrease.
-Several major metros that have been hit hardest by foreclosures had limited inventory in June 2009, which is at levels not seen or experienced in years.

Homes in Star Valley are starting to see an increase in foreclosures this summer, but we think that the overall percentage in still well below the national average.

“‘Affordability’ has been the buzz word in real estate this summer, and with a significant number of listed homes bank-owned, we’re seeing instances in some areas of banks dropping prices to generate more offers from buyers,” said ZipRealty President and CEO Patrick Lashinsky. “If the number of home listings continue declining and buyer interest and activity remains strong, we should see sales prices and home values increase as we head into the fall. Real estate in Wyoming hopefully will remain strong and will catch the benefits of these states that are rebounding.

””Val D. Pendleton is the premier real estate broker in Star Valley Wyoming. Val’s family has a deep and respected heritage going back several generations in the Star Valley area. Specializing in Thayne, Afton, Bedford, Alpine and surrounding communities please visit the Coldwell Banker Country Estates website at  http://www.cbcountry.comfor a complete list of inventory offered by Coldwell Banker Country Estates or email us at val@cbcountry.com If we can assist you in any way, feel free to contact us directly 307-883-7000″

Posted in Economy, Mortgages, Real Estate | Comments Off

Obstacles of Homeownership

Monday, July 20th, 2009

Most Americans thinking of buying a home still consider having enough money for down-payment and closing costs to be the biggest obstacles to buying a home. That’s according to the 2009 National Housing Pulse Survey, an annual survey released today by the National Association of Realtors®.

The survey, which measures how affordable housing issues affect consumers, also found job security concerns to be the highest in seven years of sampling. Two-thirds of Americans think job layoffs and unemployment are a big problem; eight in 10 cite these issues as a barrier to homeownership. Wyoming real estate is showing signs of these concerns more than usual.

“Homeownership is an investment in your future; however, saving for a downpayment and closing costs is still too great of an obstacle for 82% of house hunters looking to take advantage of the current market,” said NAR President Charles McMillan, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth. “Monetizing the $8,000 first-time buyer tax credit for downpayment or closing costs on FHA-insured mortgages is a positive first step. Our hope is that the tax credit will be extended and expanded to all home buyers and will help bring stability to the housing market and enable more Americans to achieve the dream of homeownership.” Wyoming real estate is utilizing the $8,000 tax credit, but also wishes it would be available to all buyers.

Despite the challenges with the economy and housing market, 83% of Americans still believe buying a home is a good financial decision. Three-fourths of those surveyed also believe now is a good time to buy a home, a number that has increased steadily the past two years. In fact, one-third of renters are thinking more about buying a home than they were a year ago. homes for sale in star valley wyoming are reaching prices close to rent for some people.

While Americans are seeing more stability in the real estate market, uncertainty persists. The number of those who feel buying and selling activity has stabilized or stayed nearly the same has grown significantly, from 18% last year to 26% this year. Wyoming real estate has been fairly stable through out the market changes.

However the majority (58%) report that activity in their market has slowed.
Regarding home sales, nearly eight in 10 say it’s harder to sell a home in their area today than it was a year ago, despite the fact that nearly three-fourths of respondents say home prices are less expensive. Large home inventories could be to blame; 44% cite concerns about the high number of homes and condos for sale in their area.

While nearly three-fourths of Americans are concerned about the local drop in home values, respondents expect to see more stability in the near future. Nearly seven in 10 expect local home prices to remain about the same in the next three months; only 18% expect prices to further decrease. The drop in prices has improved affordability, and consequently, concerns about the lack of affordable housing are the lowest they’ve been in seven years of polling – 34% say it’s one of their biggest worries, down from 41% two years ago.

Foreclosures remain a real concern among survey respondents. Slightly more than half (51%) say foreclosures are a big to moderate problem in their area. However, the rate of foreclosures is generally seen as stabilizing; 41% say the rate of foreclosures in their area is about the same as last year.

Ninety-two percent of respondents said neither they nor members of their immediate family have experienced a foreclosure in the past year, yet it is still a personal concern for many. One in five respondents said they are very or fairly worried that they will have difficulty making their mortgage payments over the next year. Thirty-two percent say it’s a big or moderate worry that they, or a member of their family, may have their home repossessed or foreclosed because they are unable to pay rising monthly mortgage payments.

In 2008, more than half of respondents (54%) were open to the federal government taking a more active role in overseeing mortgage and lending practices – the number dropped this year to 47%. This could be because 42% of Americans believe the country is back on the right track, more than double the number last year (16%).

Regarding financing, seven in 10 Americans cite a lack of confidence in their ability to be approved for a home loan as an obstacle to homeownership. The same number also say that banks are making it too hard to qualify for a loan (71%) and that fewer mortgage options offered by banks have made it harder for them to buy a home (71%). The perception of qualifying for a loan as a huge obstacle is especially high among minorities. We are having trouble getting our buyer qualified in star valley wyoming too!

“Home buyers need protection from risky lending products but also need access to mortgages at a reasonable cost. While there has been some easing of credit in the mortgage market, the availability of credit continues to be an issue for many qualified home buyers,” said McMillan.

The 2009 National Housing Pulse Survey is conducted by American Strategies and Myers Research & Strategic Services for NAR’s Housing Opportunity Program. The telephone survey was among 1,250 adults living in the 25 most populous metropolitan statistical areas. The study has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
NAR’s Housing Opportunity Program, www.realtor.org/housingopportunity, was created in 2002 to encourage local Realtor® associations to create initiatives aimed directly at increasing housing opportunities available to consumers and making affordable housing more readily available in their communities.

“Val D. Pendleton is the premier real estate broker in Star Valley Wyoming. Val’s family has a deep and respected heritage going back several generations in the Star Valley area. Specializing in Thayne, Afton, Bedford, Alpine and surrounding communities please visit the Coldwell Banker Country Estates website at  http://www.cbcountry.comfor a complete list of inventory offered by Coldwell Banker Country Estates or email us at val@cbcountry.com If we can assist you in any way, feel free to contact us directly 307-883-7000″

Posted in Economy, Mortgages, Real Estate | Comments Off

Lien Releases on real estate in wyoming.

Monday, May 4th, 2009

Check on the recording of lien and mortgage releases if you are thinking about selling your real estate in wyoming.
 
You purchase a home and live in it for years.  Now, you’re ready to sell star valley real estate and you are told that the mortgage held by the previous owners was never released.  What do you do?
 
First, it’s very important to always confirm that releases for liens and mortgages are recorded promptly following your closing.  In star valley Wyoming lenders are required to record a release within 30 days of the loan payoff or face some pretty stiff penalties.   For your own piece of mind, you can check the county clerk’s web site to confirm that releases have been processed in a timely fashion.  Remember, you will probably not be able to sell or refinance a property if you have outstanding liens.
 
With all the recent mergers and closures of banks and lenders, resolving an unreleased lien can be both time consuming and frustrating.  This is something that your title company can help you with. Star valley Title and Escrow people know the lingo and the players.  They can often find just the right button to push to get the problem resolved.

This information should help with real estate in wyoming for transactions to go smoothly and timely.

“Val D. Pendleton is the premier real estate broker in Star Valley Wyoming. Val’s family has a deep and respected heritage going back several generations in the Star Valley area. Specializing in Thayne, Afton, Bedford, Alpine and surrounding communities please visit the Coldwell Banker Country Estates website at  http://www.cbcountry.com for a complete list of inventory offered by Coldwell Banker Country Estates or email us at val@cbcountry.com If we can assist you in any way, feel free to contact us directly 307-883-7000″

Posted in General, Mortgages | Comments Off

Understanding Debit to Income Ratios

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

  

 Ask homeowners in star valley wyoming about their DTI, (debit to income) ratios, and they’re likely to respond with something like, “My what ratios?!” However, when distressed homeowners in star valley are sizing up their foreclosure options, they need to brush up on DTI ratios. Lenders will be scrutinizing these ratios to determine homeowner eligibility for loan modification and other debt relief.

Homeowners  in star valley wyoming need to know that their DTI ratios are crucial to determining an affordable house payment. The current government plan defines an affordable house payment as one that is no higher than 31% of the homeowner’s front-end DTI. In other words, the house payment or PITIA (principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and any association fees) on the first mortgage cannot exceed 31% of the household’s gross monthly income.

In Star Valley Wyoming, Encourage homeowners to examine both their front-end and back-end DTI ratios:

Front-end DTI ratio is based solely on the house payment. (Under the current government plan, the front-end DTI target of 31% accounts only for the first mortgage. If the home has other liens against it, such as a second mortgage or home equity line of credit, those are accounted for separately as part of the back-end DTI.)

Back-end DTI ratio is based on all monthly debt payments combined, including the house payment, credit card payments, payments on auto loans, and other loan payments.

Calculating the Front-End DTI Ratio

Although the formulas for calculating DTI ratios are simple, homeowners are unlikely to have encountered them in the past. To calculate their front-end DTI, instruct homeowners to divide their house payment by their monthly household income (gross income):

House Payment / Gross Monthly Household Income = Front-End DTI Ratio

This is easy, assuming the monthly house payment includes an amount held in escrow to pay the property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, and any association fees. Such a payment is often referred to as PITIA (principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and association fees).

If they pay property taxes, insurance, and association fees separately, then they have to perform an extra step. Instruct them to total these additional annual expenses, divide by 12 months, and add the result to their monthly house payment (principal and interest). They can then divide the resulting house payment by their monthly household income to determine their front-end DTI ratio.

Private mortgage insurance (PMI) payments fall outside this calculation under the current government plan. 

Calculating the Back-End DTI Ratio

To calculate the back-end DTI ratio, instruct homeowners to total their monthly debt payments, including: House payment or PITIA, as discussed in the previous section; Any payments on second mortgages, home-equity loans, or home-equity lines of credit; credit card payments; auto loan or lease payments; alimony and other payments on credit accounts or loans.

Now, they should divide their total monthly debt payments by their total gross monthly household income:

Monthly Debt Payments / Gross Monthly Household Income = Back-End DTI Ratio

Exploring DTI Ratios under Obama’s Foreclosure Prevention Plan

The Home Affordable Modification Program accounts for both front-end and back-end DTI ratios. When attempting to reach the 31% target for the front-end DTI, the focus is only on the first mortgage:

For qualifying homeowners, in Star Valley, the lender will have to first reduce payments on the first mortgage to no greater than a 38% front-end DTI ratio. Treasury will match further reductions in monthly payments dollar-for-dollar with the lender/investor, down to a 31% front-end DTI ratio.

Borrowers who qualify for a modification but would have a post-modification back-end DTI ratio greater than or equal to 55%, will be provided with a letter stating that they are required to work with a HUD-approved counselor. The modification will not take effect until they provide a signed statement indicating that they will obtain counseling.

Keep in mind that only lenders, investors, and servicers who choose to participate in this program are bound by its guidelines and that the guidelines may change over time. Different lenders may have their own DTI ratio targets and limitations, so when checking out star valley real estate, make sure what system your lender is using.

When homeowners in your market are in default or in danger of default, encourage them to explore their options. Now that they can calculate their DTI ratios, they have one more tool that will empower them to assess their options, keep their house, and preserve their American Dream of homeownership.

“Val D. Pendleton is the premier real estate broker in Star Valley Wyoming. Val’s family has a deep and respected heritage going back several generations in the Star Valley area. Specializing in Thayne, Afton, Bedford, Alpine and surrounding communities please visit the Coldwell Banker Country Estates website at  http://www.cbcountry.com for a complete list of inventory offered by Coldwell Banker Country Estates or email us at val@cbcountry.com If we can assist you in any way, feel free to contact us directly 307-883-7000″

Posted in Mortgages, Real Estate | Comments Off

Will this help real estate in Star Valley ?

Tuesday, March 24th, 2009

As we get information through the real estate in Wyoming sources, we would like to pass it on to our clients and customers in Wyoming Real Estate, as to give them them tools to plan and prepare for the future of investing in land or homes in Star Valley. 

President Barack Obama rolled out a bold $75 billion, three-part plan to halt the soaring rate of mortgage foreclosures nationwide, one that seeks to encourage refinancing of homes now worth less than their mortgages and provides incentives for lenders to lower the debt load on struggling homeowners. This should help real estate in wyoming, right?

President Barack Obama’s new effort to use Wall Street rescue money to halt the soaring rate of mortgage foreclosures nationwide encourages refinancing of homes that are now worth less than their mortgages and provides incentives for lenders to lower the debt load on struggling homeowners.Some things seem so obvious that simple folks like me have started to question our own common sense. Like the idea that the best way to help the average American, who has lost 40% of the value of his retirement nest-egg and half the equity in his real estate, is to GIVE billions of our dollars to the people who caused this fleecing of America. Huh?

By last report, none of the money had made its way to where it is needed and where it was supposed to be headed. Banks gobbled up the money and refuse to disclose what they did with it; but, they, apparently, haven’t been lending it. They won’t say where it went and tell us they don’t have to. They concluded with the statement that they really couldn’t track it anyway because all revenue goes together and its source is unaccounted for.

Again, huh? If I got even just a single billion from somewhere, I’m sure the IRS would make me account for its source. But, a statement like that raises the even larger question-do these people know even the basics of business? You track where your money comes from so that you can do more of what is profitable and less of what is not. No wonder some are already coming back for more. And, one exec at Bank of America, John Thain, spent $1.2 million on drapes for his office. Drapes! Why aren’t we marching in the streets? Luckily real estate in Wyoiming and our agents are well accounted for!

“Val D. Pendleton is the premier real estate broker in Star Valley Wyoming. Val’s family has a deep and respected heritage going back several generations in the Star Valley area. Specializing in Thayne, Afton, Bedford, Alpine and surrounding communities please visit the Coldwell Banker Country Estates website at  http://www.cbcountry.comfor a complete list of inventory offered by Coldwell Banker Country Estates or email us at val@cbcountry.com If we can assist you in any way, feel free to contact us directly 307-883-7000″

Posted in Economy, General, Mortgages | Comments Off

Economic Stimulus Plan Benefits the Housing and Mortgage Industries

Monday, February 23rd, 2009

What great news for investors in real estate in Wyoming.
Just signed and sealed…a $787 Billion Stimulus Plan made up of tax cuts and spending programs aims at reviving the US economy. Although the package was scaled down from nearly $1 Trillion, it still stands as the largest anti-recession effort since World War II.
Home owners and potential homebuyers stand to gain from key provisions in this stimulus plan. Here is what we know as of today…
Tax Credit for Homebuyers who are looking for real estate in Wyoming.
First-time homebuyers who purchase homes from the start of the year until the end of November 2009 may be eligible for the lower of an $8,000 or 10% of the value of the home tax credit. Remember a tax credit is very different than a tax deduction – a tax credit is equivalent to money in your hand, as opposed to a tax deduction which only reduces your taxable income.
The tax credit starts phasing out for couples with incomes above $150,000 and single filers with incomes above $75,000. Buyers will have to repay the credit if they sell their homes within three years.
Additional Housing-Related Provisions
Tax Incentives to Spur Energy Savings and Green Jobs — This provision is designed to help promote energy-efficient investments in homes by extending and expanding tax credits through 2010 for purchases such as new furnaces, energy-efficient windows and doors, or insulation, which we all could use for homes in star valley.

Landmark Energy Savings — This provision provides $5 Billion for energy efficient improvements for more than one million modest-income homes through weatherization. According to some estimates, this can help modest-income families save an average of $350 a year on heating and air conditioning bills.
Repairing Public Housing and Making Key Energy Efficiency Retrofits To HUD-Assisted Housing—This provision provides a total of $6.3 Billion for increasing energy efficiency in federally supported housing programs. Specifically, it establishes a new program to upgrade HUD-sponsored low-income housing (for elderly, disabled, and Section 8) to increase energy efficiency, including new insulation, windows, and frames.
Expanding Housing Assistance—This provision increases support for several critical housing programs. It includes $2 Billion for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program to help communities purchase and rehabilitate foreclosed, vacant properties.
More Help for Homeowners in the Future of real estate in Wyoming
Another thing to keep an eye on in the coming weeks is President Obama’s plan to help struggling borrowers before they are faced with a default on their mortgage.
According to reports, the Obama administration is discussing plans to help borrowers who are struggling to stay afloat, but who have not yet fallen behind on their payments. At this point, details are scarce; however, reports indicate that President Obama is looking to spend approximately $50 Billion to directly help homeowners before they face foreclosure and financial disaster, which we are starting to see in real estate in star valley.

While this is good news for individual homeowners, it will likely be good for the housing industry as a whole. That’s because, assisting struggling borrowers before they default should help stop the wave of foreclosures, which are estimated to top two million this year. That, in turn, will help stabilize home prices.
The Economic Stimulus Plan is huge, and impacts a number of industries.  Highlighted above are just some of the major provisions that may impact you now and in the future.
 
“Val D. Pendleton is the premier real estate broker in Star Valley Wyoming. Val’s family has a deep and respected heritage going back several generations in the Star Valley area. Specializing in Thayne, Afton, Bedford, Alpine and surrounding communities please visit the Coldwell Banker Country Estates website at  http://www.cbcountry.comfor a complete list of inventory offered by Coldwell Banker Country Estates or email us at val@cbcountry.com If we can assist you in any way, feel free to contact us directly 307-883-7000″

Posted in Economy, Mortgages | Comments Off