Real Estate Information

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) recently released their July edition of the Housing Affordability Index. The index measures whether or not a typical family earns enough income to qualify for a mortgage loan on a typical home at the national level based on the most recent price and income data.

NAR looks at the monthly mortgage payment (principal & interest) which is determined by the median sales price and mortgage interest rate at the time. With that information, NAR calculates the income necessary for a family to qualify for that mortgage amount (based on a 25% qualifying ratio for monthly housing expense to gross monthly income and a 20% down payment).

Here is a graph of the income needed to buy a median priced home in the country over the last several years:

And the income requirement has accelerated even more dramatically this year as prices have risen:

Bottom Line

Some buyers may be waiting to save up a larger down payment. Others may be waiting for a promotion and more money. Just realize that, while you are waiting, the requirements are also changing.

If you're interested in buying a home in the Tampa Bay area, contact The Gary & Nikki Team and put one of our Buyer Specialists to work for you. That's all they do - find your next dream home.

Call The Gary & Nikki Team Today: 727-787-6995

You’ve decided to sell your house. You begin to interview potential real estate agents to help you through the process. You need someone you trust enough to:

• Set the market value on possibly the largest asset your family owns (your home)
• Set the time schedule for the successful liquidation of that asset
• Set the fee for the services required to liquidate that asset

An agent must be concerned first and foremost about you and your family in order to garner that degree of trust. Make sure this is the case.

Be careful if the agent you are interviewing begins the interview by:

• Bragging about their success
• Bragging about their company’s success

An agent’s success and the success of their company can be important considerations when deciding on the right real estate professional to represent you in the sale of the house. However, you first need to know they care about what you need and what you expect from the sale. If the agent is not interested in first establishing your needs, how successful they may seem is much less important.

Look for someone with the ‘heart of a teacher’ who comes in prepared well enough to explain the current real estate market and patient enough to take the time to show how it may impact the sale of your home.

Not someone only interested in trying to sell you on how great they are.

You have many agents from which to choose. Pick someone who truly cares. Contact The Gary & Nikki Team today and discuss your real estate goals with our Listing Specialist. 727-787-6995 or by email.

Highlights:

• The national median home price for Q2 is up 8.2% to $229,400
• The income needed to afford the median home in each region is directly impacted by the amount of the down payment. The larger the down payment the lower the income needed to pay the monthly mortgage payment.
• The West led the way with the highest median home price at $325,200.

The Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University recently released their 2015 State of the Nation’s Housing report. The report concentrated on the challenges renters in this country are facing because of the diminishing supply of quality rental units and dramatically escalating rents. However, there was also information buried within the report that revealed that now is definitely the time to buy your first home or move-up to the home of your family’s dreams. With home prices still below peak values and mortgage rates still near historic lows, the monthly mortgage payment on a median priced home is less than at almost any time in the last 25 years. Here is a graph which helps visualize the data from the report: 

With home prices increasing and mortgage rates projected to increase, now is the time to buy. 

Highlights

• 30-year mortgage rates are projected to increase by a full percentage point in 2016
• Rates are still well below the past four decade averages
• The interest rate at which you borrow the funds to purchase your dream home makes a huge difference on your monthly payment

Freddie Mac is scheduled to start buying mortgages with down payments of only three percent – the first time down payments have been this low on Freddie Mac loans in nearly five years. The program is called Freddie Mac Home Possible Advantage^SM. In a recent Executive Perspectives, Dave Lowman EVP, Single-Family Business Freddie Mac, explained the potential impact this program will have on the housing market:

“There's a new reason Realtors and lenders may expect more qualified borrowers at the closing table during this spring's home buying season. In addition to low mortgage rates and rising job growth, the down payment hurdle is starting to shrink for creditworthy borrowers, including first-time homebuyers.”

And the mortgage industry agrees with Mr. Lowman. In a recent survey of mortgage originators by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), it was revealed that most loan officers believe the move to a lower down payment will increase access to mortgage credit. Here are that survey’s findings:

Bottom Line

Many potential buyers are “ready and willing” to buy a home but have been afraid they may not be “able” because of a lack of adequate savings for a down payment. Check with a local real estate or mortgage professional to understand what the new rules may mean to you. 

What an amazing time in our history where mortgage rates and affordability remain at near historic lows. Mortgage rates are under 4%. In 2014, it only took 15% of a typical family's income to pay their monthly principal and interest payment. What an incredible opportunity to invest in real estate. What an incredible time to buy that first home, sell your current home and move up to your dream home or to simply build your wealth by building your real estate portfolio.

2015 has gotten off to a quick start in the Tampa Bay area. Sales are up by over 20% in Pinellas and Pasco Counties compared to 2014. Active listing inventory is down by 7.5% year over year. Properly priced inventory is creating bidding wars and multiple offers in some price positions. There is demand for inventory as we approach the peak selling months of the year. If you have thoughts of selling your home, now could be a great time for you. 
CALL THE GARY & NIKKI TEAM TODAY. 727-787-6995

Information Graphs

An excerp from a recent article posted on The Real Deal about Zillow and the accuracy of it's home price "Zestimates". 

...Are Zestimates accurate? And if they’re off the mark, how far off? Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff answered that they’re “a good starting point,” but that nationwide Zestimates have a “median error rate” of about 8 percent.

Whoa. That sounds high. On a $500,000 house, that would be a $40,000 disparity — a lot of money on the table — and could create problems. Read full post here.

East Lake Woodlands Homes Sold (text version)

609 KINGSMILL COURT    SOLD FOR    $225,000 
20 IVY TERRACE    SOLD FOR    $237,405 
435 FOREST PARK ROAD    SOLD FOR    $247,000 
530 HICKORYNUT AVENUE    SOLD FOR    $262,000 
4890 AUGUSTA AVENUE    SOLD FOR    $270,000 
450 PALMDALE DRIVE    SOLD FOR    $280,000 
5042 CROSS POINTE DRIVE    SOLD FOR    $299,900 
400 PALMDALE DRIVE    SOLD FOR    $306,000 
440 FOREST PARK ROAD    SOLD FOR    $300,000 
4867 AUGUSTA AVENUE    SOLD FOR    $312,000 
4943 DUNNWOODY PLACE    SOLD FOR    $286,500 
330 PALMDALE DRIVE    SOLD FOR    $330,000 
200 LESLEY LANE    SOLD FOR    $410,000 
125 KELLEYS TRAIL    SOLD FOR    $500,000 
4771 LAKESHORE LOOP    SOLD FOR    $600,000 
50 TURTLE CREEK CIRCLE    SOLD FOR    $550,000 
60 WOODGLEN COURT    SOLD FOR    $599,000 
4919 TURTLE CREEK TRAIL    SOLD FOR    $650,000 
1348 PRESERVATION WAY    SOLD FOR    $742,500 

I'm often asked if this is a good time to buy a home. Some clients are concerned that home prices may fall down the road, while others are convinced that home prices will go up.

Home prices are one factor in determining your cost of ownership, but so are interest rates and financing availability. Even though interest rates have fluctuated, they are still near historic lows. Since your monthly mortgage payment is a combination of paying down your principal and paying the interest owed, a one point rise in interest rates could cost tens of thousands of dollars over the life of your mortgage!

While a home is a major investment, it is also the center of your personal life. It's important to live in a home that reflects your taste and values, yet is within your financial "comfort zone." To that end, it may be more important to lock in today's relatively low interest rates while they are still available.

Please give me a call if I can be of any assistance in determining how much home you can afford in today's market.