mortgage – Purchase, refinance, renovation, reverse, Downpayment assistance, VA, FHA

Seller Buydown (For Buyers)

February 1, 2020February 1, 2020 loansbyjoanna

More Tips and Tricks on the LoansByJoanna Guide

Coming soon: Seller Buydown (For Sellers)

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When you qualify for a home loan, you’re actually qualifying for the monthly payments

We know that for a home buyer, nothing takes priority quite like having an affordable mortgage payment. The price you’ll be approved for depends entirely on both your down payment and the maximum payment for which you qualify. And the most significant factor in determining what that payment will be is your interest rate.

For those buyers who opt to use an interest rate reduction mortgage, your real estate agent will negotiate with the seller to accept a fair price if they will give you credit to permanently reduce, or buydown, your interest rate.

Just a reduction of 0.25% in your interest rate could mean tens of thousands of dollars of interest that you will save over the term of your home loan. And this, of course, can mean the difference between affording your dream home and going with option B.

At the end of the day, this is a win-win situation for both the buyer and the seller of a home.

Using this credit (also known as a seller’s concession) to permanently lower your interest rate will lead to a reduction in your mortgage payment, allowing you to afford a higher sales price while keeping your payments right where you needed them to be all along.

The seller benefits as much as the buyer in that the seller gets the offer they wanted, and your below-market interest rate means a lower total payment— even though you offered a fair purchase price at market value.

You may be thinking, “Why don’t I just ask the seller to reduce the price of the home?”

That’s a great question, and most buyers are going to default to assuming this is the way to go. But using an interest rate reduction mortgage means your offer will stand out from the competition. A higher offer gives you a higher chance of sealing the deal.

Because it’s been established you aren’t trying to take any precious money out of the seller’s pocket (by having to make a lower offer), your far more desirable offer will inevitably stand out from all of the other buyers trying to get the lowest price possible.

While a desperate seller may take a low offer, most sellers are going to take the offer that will allow them to make the most money from the sale. Period.

If your offer keeps your payment where you want it to be while the seller also gets what they want, then everybody wins.

A successful negotiation is when all parties feel like they got the best deal. You get your payment. The seller receives their money. Everybody wins when everybody wins.

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More Tips and Tricks on the LoansByJoanna Guide

Coming soon: Seller Buydown (For Sellers)

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Seller Credits: How They Work, How They Benefit you in the Home Buying Process, How Much you Really End Up Spending on Your New Home?

September 30, 2019September 30, 2019 loansbyjoanna

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Imagine trying to buy a Starbucks Frappuccino and having to separately compute what it costs to make the coffee, to pay for the coffee bean collectors, distribute the inventory, and stock the store. Wouldn’t it be nice if houses came with a bottom-line price tag, from upfront fees to ongoing monthly expenses, so that a buyer could easily compare “all-in” costs?

The costs of buying a home can very quickly add up. After you decide that homeownership is your best bet, you’ll need to convince a lender of that too. That means that your credit is in good shape, you aren’t struggling with debt, and you have a sizeable cushion for expenses that may arise.

For financed deals, in addition to a down payment, you pay loan-acquisition costs and for services used during the escrow process. You may ask the seller to credit you a specified amount at closing to help with many of the expenses.

Homeowners anxious to sell their homes will sometimes entice buyers with seller credits. These credits are a loan option that allows buyers to finance their closing costs and be able to purchase their home with less cash down. The seller concession must be included in the sales contract, and the amount and terms of the credit can be negotiated.

Homeowners anxious to sell their homes will sometimes entice you with seller credits. These credits are a loan option that allows you to finance your closing costs and be able to purchase their home with less cash down. Here are 4 things that you should do (and know) as a buyer:

1.) Review closing costs

To settle the transaction, you and the seller will pay your own share of closing costs including escrow fees, title insurance, and property taxes. The allocation of fees depend on market customs. Buyers are typically required to pay only the fees that are considered customary and reasonable for a particular market, and the seller credit covers fees that fit the description. Lenders cap the amount of fees a seller credit may cover at 3-9% of the loan amount.

2.) Negotiate the terms

If you are the buyer, you and the seller will typically negotiate the terms of a seller credit early in the transaction. You will request an amount, as a percentage or dollar amount, in the offer to purchase. The seller may accept, reject, or counter the seller credit. The seller pays the credit as a lump sum at closing, and limitations to what the credit covers may apply.

3.) Enjoy The Benefits

Seller credits can be beneficial to both sides of the transactions. As a buyer, you may be offered seller credit that can reduce your out-of-pocket expenses at closing. You can even request a seller credit, and increase the sales price to entice a seller to accept. A seller credit allows you to finance your closing costs into the new loan amount, however, your lender must approve the credit, and the value of the home must merit the increase in sale price.

4.) Know The Limitations

Limitations on what the buyer and a seller credit can pay for are placed by lenders. Prohibited items are known as non-allowable fees. If you overestimate our closing costs, a credit surplus may occur. Then, you should renegotiate the sale price for the unused amount so that the seller does not end up with more net proceeds at closing for the unused portion.

Whether the seller markets the home with an offer to credit some of your closing costs, or you request that the seller assists in your offer, the process for applying the credit is generally the same: the amount of the credit is noted in the sales contract as a dollar amount or as a percentage of the offer price, then, it’s added to the offer price.

Because the buyer adds the concession to the offer price, he increases the amount he pays for the home. For example, a buyer who needs $3,000 in concessions for a $100,000 home requests 3 percent seller assist and offers $103,000 for the home. Although the buyer is paying $103,000 for the house, the seller nets only $100,000 – the remaining $3,000 is loan money the buyer applies to his closing costs.

Sellers often feel as though they’re “giving” the buyer the amount of the assist. However, the assist amount is built into the offer price. The buyer is offering the seller $100,000 but asking the lender to originate a loan based on a $103,000 purchase price.

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Dreaming of a Second Home

April 26, 2019April 26, 2019 loansbyjoanna

You work hard during the week! Maybe you need a nice relaxation spot to spend your weekends or holidays. Maybe retirement is just over the horizon and you want to start enjoying the perks of owning a second home. Maybe you’ve already retired and are looking for an oasis to visit often. Whatever the case, a second home may be within your reach!

Many of us dream of a beachfront home. California, with its perfect weather, endless activities, and unbelievable seafood, is a frontrunner. Popular So Cal spots include La Jolla, Encinitas, Redondo Beach, and Dana Point. Second homes, however, don’t have to be near a beach. Imagine vacationing in historic areas such as Riverside, Avalon, and Julian. Whatever the case, many choose to live in So Cal full time because of the quality of life, weather, things to do, and is a dream for so many of us.

I hear all types of questions when it comes to owning a second home. Common questions include:

What is the minimum down payment on a second home?
Can I buy a second home that will eventually be my retirement home?
Is flood insurance required?
What are the second home mortgage options?

Okay, let’s break this down.

1.) What is the Down Payment Requirement on a Second Home Purchase?

Many people believe that buying a second home (or even a primary home) requires 20% down. Although buying a principal residence has more low to no down payment options such as VA, FHA, and USDA, lower down payments for second homes are still available if you know where to look.

For example, as little as 10% of the purchase price could be allowed as a down payment. An additional way of keeping the out of pocket funds low would be to include seller paid costs for the buyer. When buying a second home and financing between 75.01% – 90% of the price, the seller is allowed to pay 6% of the sales towards the buyer’s closing costs and pre-paids. If the loan amount is 75% or less of the price, then the seller may pay 9% toward costs.

Low down payment requirements make owning a second home more obtainable, and luckily, there are plenty of sources. Down payment sources (for funds to close) include bank accounts, retirement account withdrawal, retirement account loan, investment accounts, home equity loan/line on the primary, sale of another home or asset, and gift funds (after the minimum requirements are met).

Discuss these possible sources with your mortgage loan officer to find out if there are any other requirements and to discuss whether one option may have advantages over another for your situation.

2.) Can I Buy a Second Home That Will Eventually Be My Retirement Home?

This is an excellent question, and a very popular request these days. Enjoying a home while you can, before possibly moving into the home permanently may be ideal. Occasionally, the question, “Is it okay to buy a property as a second home and then convert it to a primary residence down the road?” The answer is, yes! That is perfectly fine, as long as the intention was to buy as secondary, it was used as secondary, and eventually converted to primary down the road.

As long as you can afford the two homes, this would be a great way to prepare for the enjoyment of a vacation property, learn about the area, maybe vacation there, and then eventually use it a lot!

3.) Is Flood Insurance Required?

A lot of times, buying a second home means living close to a body of water, whether it be a lake, pond, waterway, or ocean. If this is the case, the structure may be in a flood hazard area, and flood insurance is required. If you are considering a home with flood insurance, ask the seller for a copy of existing flood policy, elevation certificate, and survey. These help the buyer’s lender and insurance company determine whether or not the property requires flood insurance.

If flood insurance is required, these could help get the quote, and prove that the home is not in the flood hazard area. If flood insurance is not required, it may still be a good idea to obtain flood insurance, and because the structure is not in a hazard area, the flood insurance premium would be much cheaper. As always, consult with a knowledgeable agent about your best options.

4.) What Are My Second Home Mortgage Options?

This is an excellent question, and a very popular request these days. Enjoying a home While government loans such as FHA, VA, and USDA may be for primary residences, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac conventional loans, as well as jumbo loans allow for second home financing. Plus, there are advantages to using conventional loans, such as flexible guidelines with student loan debt, low mortgage insurance rates for high scores, up to 50% debt ratio, condo financing, and second home renovation loans. Conventional loans are limited to the county conforming loan limits, but that’s where a jumbo loan comes in handy. Jumbo loans provide financing for luxury homes exceeding these limits.

If you’re looking to find your dream vacation getaway, retirement oasis, or just a second home, contact me and I can help you with the process!

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7 Steps to a Stress Free Home: Living Mindfully in Your Own Space

January 24, 2019January 24, 2019 loansbyjoanna

Your home should be a place of relaxation and restoration, not a stress-inducing reminder of your troubles or tasks left undone. While it’s true that people are soothed by different things, and what relaxes one person, might not relax another, there are certain universal ways to quickly boost your home’s good vibes, and put you in a more relaxing mood.

#1 – Make Your Bed

To some, this might seem like the most tedious chore. Maybe you’re replaying your mother’s voice in your head as we speak, “make your bed before you leave.” Well, sorry you have to hear this from me, but maybe she had a point. Experts say that coming home to a made bed has the ability to make you feel calmer almost immediately, and can actually help you get a better night’s rest. Next time you jump out of bed, take a couple of minutes to straighten up the place where you spend at least 7-8 hours a night.

#2 Let Natural Light Be Your ALarm

Speaking of 7-8 hours, this is how much sleep you should be getting a night. People who can get by on four hours of sleep, sometimes like to brag about their endurance, but recent scientific studies show that a lack of sleep causes you to be a risk of many health concerns. Sleeping 7-8 hours a night can decrease risk for health conditions, manage your hunger levels, maintain your immune system, retain memory, and so much more. Turn off your alarm and get into bed nine hours before you need to get up. If you need help with this, iPhones have a “bedtime timer” that will tell you when to go to bed at night, and will calculate how much sleep you actually get in a week.

#3 – Consider Colors

You might not even notice it, but your mind and body react in different ways when you see certain colors. Blue, violet, and pastels have been proven to reduce stress and calm you down. Brighter colors stimulate your brain, energize you, and can sometimes even make you feel a little anxious. When painting your rooms, or applying wallpaper, think about how you’d like to feel when you’re in each room. If relaxation is your goal, especially in your bedroom while you’re trying to get those 7-8 hours, you’ll want to go with a muted pallet.

#4 – Keep What Sparks Joy; Let Go of What is Left

Marie Kondo is all the rage right now. If you haven’t heard of her, she is the Japanese organizer, author and star of the Netflix series “Tidying up with Marie Kondo” who encourages people to “keep only what sparks joy” when getting rid of clutter. Some people like clutter, and that’s fine. Your intention shouldn’t be to throw away everything you’ve got, but to hold each item in your home in both hands and ask “does this spark joy.” If it does spark joy, keep it, and put it out where you can see it every day (not in storage). If it does not spark joy (or is not conducive to your future), thank the item for serving you in the past and let it go.

#5 – Keep Houseplants or Flowers

Most of us have heard that if you talk to, or pray for, a plant, you will help their growth and well-being. Well, did you know that the reverse is also true? Studies have shown that indoor plants improve concentration and productivity by up to 15%, reduce stress levels, and boost your mood. This, along with their visual beauty, makes them perfect for your home and work space too!

#6 – Start each day with morning meditation

Morning meditation doesn’t have to mean two hours of pretzel-y yoga poses, or even morning-long prayers and fifty hail-marty, though if you’d like to do those things, more power to you! All you need is to carve out 10-30 minutes in the morning as time for yourself. Meditation makes you feel good, emotionally and physically, and enhances activity in the area of your brain that is associated with positive emotions and experience. Some studies even suggest that it helps combat depression, anxiety, and improves pain tolerance when done regularly. Take some time to breathe intentionally and let go of everything in your life that is causing you stress.

#7 – End each day with a completion ritual

Ending each day with a ritual is just as important as beginning your days with one, and maybe more. When you end each day doing the same thing, like writing in your journal or planner, reading, listening to relaxing music, or even something as simple as brushing your teeth or washing the last few dishes in the sink, your brain starts to pick up on the pattern and your body will start to automatically wind down. This means less time tossing and turning before you fall asleep.

Most of all, look after yourself. Your home is your sanctuary, and you’ve earned it, so treat your home (and yourself) accordingly.

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10 Things to Consider When Buying a San Diego Home in 2019

January 11, 2019January 11, 2019 loansbyjoanna

Photo Credit: Evolve Vacation Rental Network

#1 – Which San Diego Neighborhood is Right for You?

From Hipster communities, to Business Districts, San Diego has so many unique neighborhoods to choose from. You should carefully consider these communities based on affordability, availability, and just what fits with your lifestyle. Ocean Beach, La Mesa, Mission Valley, North Park each have their own unique personality. Check out our last blog: Neighborhoods in San Diego for help with making your decision.

#2 – Have You Considered Cost of Living?

Right now, San Diego is the 13th most expensive city in America, according to USA Today. In the world, we’re 40th most expensive city. Not to be a Killjoy, but when it comes to money, too many of us consider salary without considering the cost of living. A high cost of living can drastically reduce the effectiveness of your income, and reduce your long-term wealth. Before purchasing a home in San Diego, make sure that your foreseeable day-to-day expenses are manageable.

#3- Do You Have a Mortgage Approval?

Required by the California Purchase Agreement, buyers need to obtain a mortgage approval. Before you go shopping for that great property, get a preapproval letter from a reputable mortgage company or brank. Contact me if you need help with this. It’s important to verify exactly what you can afford rather than waste your time searching for a home that is over your budget.

#4- Higher Loan Limits in 2019

As you’ve probably heard, borrowers in San Diego will enjoy higher loan limits this year. Federal housing officials have increased the loan limits for FHA, VA, and conventional mortgage loans. This means San Diego home buyers could have more properties to choose from without venturing into jumbo mortgage territory. As of January 1st, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loan limits have increased to $453,100 to $485,350 for a single-family home purchase.

#5 – Transportation

If you don’t own a car, or if you just like to take public transportation to sporting events and giant beach festivals, you might want to consider whether there are bus stops or a trolley station nearby. The San Diego Trolley is a great option for getting around the city quickly and avoiding traffic. You’ll also want to consider traffic near your area, especially during rush hours, and whether an Uber or Lyft driver can get to your area without trouble.

#6 – The San Diego Real Estate Market is Competitive

Although sellers have an advantage, San Diego real estate market is competitive for buyers. In a San Diego seller’s market, it’s important that as a buyer, you are realistic about how assertive and responsive you need to be in order to get the house you want. Sleeping on an offer overnight might not be an option this year.

#7 – Have You Chosen a Buyer’s Agent?

In such a heated seller’s environment, an experienced buyer’s agent, who knows this city, can give you that competitive edge. Hire a BA who’s an expert negotiator. It can make all the difference between getting your offer accepted, or losing out to another buyer and having to start again.

#8 – Demand is Higher at the lower end of the spectrum

In San Diego, the local real estate market is particular active at the lower end of the spectrum. By comparison, pricier properties are taking much longer to sell. If you’re buying a comparatively low-priced home in San Diego in 2019, you should be prepared for competition. This is because there is more demand in the “starter home” price range.

In fact, the fastest homes to sell fall between the $250-$500,000 range. If you’re looking for a property in this price range, jump quickly, and save yourself the frustration of losing out to other buyers.

#9 – Increasing Your Low Credit Rating

When it comes to improving your credit, there really is no time to waste. A low credit score may not seem like a big deal until it’s time to leverage your credit for a mortgage. Increasing your low credit rating will help you qualify for a higher-priced home, at a lower interest rate, making it more likely to purchase your dream home.

#10 – Setting Your Expectations and Formulating Your Plan

To recap, homebuyers interested in the San Diego market, are buying into one of the hottest real estate markets in the country. Therefore, it is important that you become informed prior to your search. Hiring help is always a great idea. Contact me so that I can help you set your expectations, formulate a plan, and ace this process, to make the most of your efforts.