Real Estate Investing

Oct. 22, 2014

Save Interest, Build Equity & Shorten the Term

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If you invest in a savings account, you’ll make less than 1% and would have to pay income tax on the earnings. On the other hand, contribute something extra to your house payment and you’ll earn at the mortgage interest rate which is certain to be more than you …

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Oct. 22, 2014

Housing Outlook in Face of Rising Rates

The second quarter GDP figures were highly encouraging, assuring that job creation continues. Jobs will become ever more important in what looks to be a sure rising interest-rate environment. Surprisingly, rates have barely moved this year. But sooner or later (by year end), there is likely to be a jump …

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Oct. 21, 2014

Existing-Home Sales Rise 2.4 Percent in September

After a modest decline last month, existing-home sales bounced back in September to their highest annual pace of the year, according to the National Association of Realtors®. All major regions except for the Midwest experienced gains in September.

Total existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include …

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Oct. 21, 2014

Final Mortgage Ruling Nixes 20-percent Down Payment Requirement

As reported by the AP, new rules adopted yesterday by six federal agencies include the removal of a big stumbling block for would-be borrowers: the 20 percent down payment if a lender didn’t hold at least 5 percent of the mortgage securities tied to those loans on its books.

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Oct. 20, 2014

U.S Regulators Ready for Relaxed Mortgage Rules

Later this week, after several years of back-and-forth debate, U.S. regulators are finally set to finalize a more relaxed set of mortgage standards.

This new set of rules will be a win for the real estate industry, with the projected agreement much more moderate than the mortgage security standards …

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Oct. 20, 2014

Mortgage Rates Hit New 2014 Lows

Freddie Mac recently released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing average fixed mortgage rates hitting new lows for the year as 10-year bond yields briefly dipped below 2 percent. At 3.97 percent the average 30-year fixed rate is at its lowest level since the week of …

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Oct. 18, 2014

Lot vs. Land – Where Should You Build Your Dream Home?

With all that goes into constructing a new house, building a dream home is not for the faint of heart. Undoubtedly, one of your biggest considerations will be whether to build on a developed or undeveloped plot. There are advantages to both: because the home is new, it will likely …

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Oct. 17, 2014

Should I Avoid an Adjustable Rate Mortgage?

A: Because adjustable rate mortgages, or ARMs, fluctuate with the market, they offer less stability than fixed-rate loans. If an ARM is adjusted upward, monthly payments will increase, and for a lot of people that can be too big a risk to take. On the other hand, should rates drop …

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Oct. 14, 2014

Enjoy Your Improvements and Profit by Them

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Homeowners can raise the basis or cost in their home by money spent on capital improvements. The benefit is that it will lower their gain and may save them taxes when they sell their home.

Improvements must add value to your home, prolong its useful life or adapt …

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Oct. 14, 2014

When Is the Best Time to Refinance?

A: Many people flock to refinance while mortgage interest rates are low, particularly when rates are about two percentage points below their existing home loans.

Other factors, like when to finance, will depend on how long you plan to hold on to your home and whether you have to …

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