Office-to-Residential Conversions: A Partial Solution

Developers are repurposing office spaces into homes due to housing shortages and office vacancies.

Original post here: Office-to-Residential Conversions: A Partial Solution

Tips for Finding a Reliable Mortgage Broker

Mortgage interest rates [↑](color-green) 2X since 2021, now averaging 6.78% for a 30-yr fixed-rate loan.
Choosing the right mortgage lender is challenging due to numerous options and mortgage types.

Original post here: Tips for Finding a Reliable Mortgage Broker

How to Prepare Your Home for Sale?

Depersonalization:

Remove personal items to help buyers see themselves in the space, and hide personal names.

Original post here: How to Prepare Your Home for Sale?

Wildfires Could Drive a Real-Estate Correction

Wildfires are becoming more frequent and impactful in a warming climate.
Insurance companies are struggling to keep up with the rising costs of wildfire damage.
This is leading to a repricing of wildfire risk in the Real Estate market.

Original post here: Wildfires Could Drive a Real-Estate Correction

US Housing Trends Monthly Update

Original post here: US Housing Trends Monthly Update

Understanding Capital Gains Tax on Real Estate

Real Estate sales can trigger capital gains tax based on profit earned.
Capital gains exclusion is available for primary residences.

Original post here: Understanding Capital Gains Tax on Real Estate

Homes Again Selling Near Record Highs

Housing prices remained high in June due to low inventory and increased buyer demand.
Avg home sale price in June was $426K, close to the all-time high.

Original post here: Homes Again Selling Near Record Highs

Understanding the World of Jumbo Mortgages

Jumbo mortgages are non-conforming loans that exceed the conforming loan limits established by the Federal Housing Finance Agency. They are primarily used to finance high-value properties, but come with stricter requirements, such as a higher credit score, lower debt-to-income ratio, and larger down payments. Despite these challenges, jumbo mortgages can be a powerful tool for financing luxury properties and homes in competitive markets. With the right guidance and expertise, navigating the world of jumbo mortgages can be done safely and successfully.

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Mortgage matters: Trading places–The art of timing your home sale and purchase

Buying and selling a home simultaneously can be a difficult process, but with the right planning and strategies, it is possible for many homeowners. There are several options to consider, such as a bridge loan, a contingency, and a post-closing occupancy agreement, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. It is important to consult an experienced professional to determine which option is best for your needs.

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Original post here: Mortgage matters: Trading places–The art of timing your home sale and purchase

The Fed Hits Pause on Interest Rate Hikes

The Fed Paused its key interest rate at at its current range between 5.25% and 5.50%. Meanwhile a rate hike is expected on Fed next meeting on Oct 31- Nov 1.Officials cut forecasts for 2024 rate cuts, suggesting a "higher for longer" policy; benchmark rate above 5% by end of 2024.

Original post here: The Fed Hits Pause on Interest Rate Hikes

How Is the US Rental Market Going On?

Rent prices in the US ↑ 1.7% MoM in June and ↑ 3% since April.
The median rent is $2,029, ↓ 1.8% than the peak in August 2022 but ↑ 5% from February 2023.
The rental industry's slower pace of growth is attributed to new inventory.

Original post here: How Is the US Rental Market Going On?

No End in Sight for Housing Shortage

A survey of 1.3K Real Estate investors reveals that 60% believe the US is facing a housing shortage.
80% of these investors are selling renovated homes at or above asking price, indicating strong demand.

Original post here: No End in Sight for Housing Shortage

Georgia’s Market: High Demand, Low Supply

Georgia's housing market is hot, with Atlanta and Gainesville being two of the hottest metro areas in the country.

Original post here: Georgia’s Market: High Demand, Low Supply

How a conventional mortgage works and how to qualify

Conventional loans are a popular type of loan for home buyers, offered by private lenders and requiring a down payment of 3-5% and decent credit. These loans come in two main varieties – conforming loans with a maximum loan amount set by the government, and non-conforming loans with no limit. Borrowers should consider their individual situations to determine which type of loan is right for them.

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Why Are Many Homeowners Planning to Buy Again in the Next 5 Years?

25% of homeowners plan to buy new homes in the next two to five years.
Homeowners may wait a min of two years to avoid capital gains tax.
They also may rely on the equity in their current home for their next purchase.

Original post here: Why Are Many Homeowners Planning to Buy Again in the Next 5 Years?

Office Sector Forecast

Experts predicts ↓ 35% drop in office values by 2025 due to rising interest rates and reduced demand.
Structural shifts in remote work and reduced physical occupancy contribute to the decline in office space demand.
Vacancy rates have increased, leading to negative rental growth and falling net operating incomes.

Original post here: Office Sector Forecast

Bronx Ranked in US Top 10 for Rental Demand

The August Rental Activity Reports from RentCafe show a shift in renter preferences, with The Bronx rising three spots to #6, Queens jumping six spots to #13, and Manhattan climbing one spot to #37. This is due to decreases in listings and increases in page views, favorited apartments, and specific searches. These trends demonstrate changing housing dynamics and evolving urban landscapes.

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Original post here: Bronx Ranked in US Top 10 for Rental Demand

Should You Sell Your House Or Rent It Out?

 

 

If you’re a homeowner needing to move, you may have considered using your current home as a short-term rental or Air BnB property rather than selling it. A short-term rental (STR) is often offered as an alternative to a hotel, and it’s become a popular investment in recent years.

While a short-term rental may seem appealing, the reality of being responsible for one may be tough to accept. Here are some of the issues you may face if you rent out your home rather than selling it.

Responsibilities Come with a Short-Term Rental

It takes a lot of time and work to successfully manage your residence as a short-term rental. You’ll have to deal with reservations, organize check-ins, and handle cleaning, landscaping, and maintenance jobs. Each of these can be taxing on its own, but when combined, it’s a lot to handle.

Because new guests check in and out regularly, short-term rentals have a high turnover rate. Because of the increased wear and tear on your property, you may need to make more regular repairs or replace your furnishings, fixtures, and appliances more frequently. 

Consider your ability to commit, particularly if you intend to use a platform to publicize your rental property. The majority of them have certain standards that hosts must meet. According to a Bankrate article:

Managing a rental property can be time-consuming and challenging. Are you handy and able to make some repairs yourself? If not, do you have a network of affordable contractors you can reach out to in a pinch? Consider whether you want to take on the added responsibility of being a landlord, which means screening tenants and fielding issues, among other responsibilities, or paying for a third party to take care of things instead.

There are numerous factors to consider before converting your home into a short-term rental. If you are not prepared to put in the effort, it may be better to sell.

Regulations for Short-Term Rentals

As the short-term rental sector expands, so do the restrictions. Limits on the number of holiday rentals in a specific place are regular legal restrictions. This is especially true in major cities and tourist areas where there may be concerns about overpopulation or a lack of permanent housing. There may also be restrictions on the type of property that can be utilized for short-term rentals.

Before renting out their properties, many cities require landowners to obtain a license or permit. Deckard Technologies’ CEO, Nick Del Pego, explains:

Renting short-term rentals is considered a business by most local governments, and owners must comply with specific workplace regulations and business licensing rules established in their local communities.

Before considering renting out your house, you should extensively investigate if short-term rentals are regulated or restricted by the local government and your homeowners’ association (HOA). 

Summing It Up

Converting your house into a short-term rental is not a decision you should make lightly. Get in touch with us if you have questions about whether or not you should sell or rent out your house at (404) 410-6465 or visit Complete Realty Team.

 

Original post here: Should You Sell Your House Or Rent It Out?

Where in America People Search More About Property-Investment?

Wisconsin leads in property investment interest, with 459.4 monthly searches / 100K people.

Original post here: Where in America People Search More About Property-Investment?

Thousands of homeowners can score $50,000 free money to pay off their mortgage

The state of Georgia has launched a program called Georgia Mortgage Assistance which allows eligible residents to receive grants up to $50,000 to help pay off their mortgage. The program is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and applications are now open. There are three different ways the program can assist recipients, including mortgage reinstatement, reducing the total mortgage loan balance, and making payments to vendors to reduce housing expenses. Eligibility requirements include being a resident of Georgia, meeting certain Area Median Income limits, and other conditions.

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Original post here: Thousands of homeowners can score $50,000 free money to pay off their mortgage

Understanding the Pre-Approval Process for First-Time Homebuyers

For first-time homebuyers, understanding and navigating the pre-approval process can be a daunting task. However, with the right knowledge and preparation, it can be a smooth and efficient process. The top 10 tips for first-time homebuyers include understanding the importance of pre-approval, checking your credit score, determining a budget, gathering necessary documentation, researching lenders, getting multiple quotes, being prepared for a hard credit inquiry, being honest about your financial situation, and not overextending.

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Smart Homes: A Significant Factor for Homebuyers

Smart home products and systems are increasingly influential in attracting buyers across different price points.
>34% of likely buyers would pay a few thousand dollars extra for a smart home compared to a non-smart home.
~85% of buyers consider smart home features important, with ~40% expecting to pay no additional cost.

Original post here: Smart Homes: A Significant Factor for Homebuyers

Are refinance rates too high? Here are 3 other ways to get cash out of your home

Homeowners who are looking for ways to access cash in their home without having to refinance to a higher rate than what they currently have can explore their home equity options. These include home equity loans, which come with lower interest rates than other credit types and a tax deduction on the interest paid, and HELOCs, which have variable interest rates and allow borrowers to deduct up to 80% of their home equity.

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Original post here: Are refinance rates too high? Here are 3 other ways to get cash out of your home

Buying a Home With Bad Credit

Clean up your credit:

– Check credit reports, dispute errors
Pay bills on time
Reduce debt, improve credit
Keep old cards
Avoid new accounts
Consider rapid rescore:

Update reports quickly
Request through lenders
Correct misinformation, pay debt
Results and potential fees

Consider rapid rescore:

Update reports quickly
Request through lenders
Correct misinformation, pay debt
Results and potential fees

Original post here: Buying a Home With Bad Credit

Where Are Home Prices Headed? Should You Buy A Home Now Or Wait?

Everyone is talking about home prices and the affordable housing crisis. A lot of people are wondering, or even think home prices are going to crash, mostly thanks to reporting from the media. But where are home prices headed for the end of 2023 and beyond? First, let’s look at where home prices are at the moment and how we got here.

The rate of increase in home values has been massive during the last two years. While this has resulted in enormous equity gains for homeowners, it has also led some home buyers to fear that home prices may decline. It’s critical to understand that the housing market isn’t a bubble ready to burst, and that home price increase is being sustained by solid market fundamentals.

Check out our video about home price forecasts from now till 2027:

 

To understand why price decreases are unlikely, it’s necessary to investigate what caused recent price increases and where analysts believe home prices are headed. Here’s what you should know.

Home Prices Rose Significantly in Recent Years

Mostly thanks to the pandemic prices rose dramatically. Money was cheap, as in you could borrow money at very low rates, at 3% or lower. People suddenly had to switch from working at an office to working at home and these homeowners discovered they needed a home office. Some people either realized or couldn’t deal with the lack of space with the entire family being at home and needed more room just to have some breathing room or private time. As a result, people were buying houses left and right, bidding wars ensued and prices went through the roof. That puts us at where we are today with high home prices but with much higher mortgage rates.

So What’s This Mean If You’re Considering Buying A Home?

If you’re thinking about purchasing a house, you’re probably paying attention to everything you hear about the housing market. You get your information from a variety of sources, including the news, social media, your real estate agent, talks with friends and family, overhearing someone talking at the grocery store, and so on. Most likely, home prices and mortgage rates will rise significantly. 

Let’s take a look at the statistics to help you cut through the noise and get the information you need. As you make your selection, here are the top two questions you should ask yourself about home pricing and mortgage rates: 

Where Do I Think Home Prices Will Go?

Pulsenomics’ Home Price Expectation study – a study of over one hundred economists, real estate specialists, investment and market strategists – is one reputable source of that information. 

According to the most recent release, the experts polled predict a small depreciation this year (see red in the graph below). But here’s the most important context. The worst of the home price drops are now behind us, and prices are beginning to rise again in many cities. Not to mention, the 0.37% depreciation shown by HPES for 2023 is far from the crash that some predicted would occur.

Let’s turn our attention to the future. The green in the graph below indicates that prices have turned a corner and will rise in 2024 and beyond. The HPES predicts that after this year, home price appreciation will return to more average levels for the next several years.

 

 

So, why is this important to you? It means that your home’s worth will likely rise and you will build equity in the years ahead, but only if you buy now. Based on these projections, waiting will only cost you more money in the long run.  

Where Do I Think Mortgage Rates Will Go?

Mortgage rates have risen in response to economic uncertainty, inflation, and other factors over the last year. According to the most recent reports, inflation, while still high, has slowed since its peak. This is a positive indicator for the market and mortgage rates. This is why.

When inflation falls, mortgage rates tend to reduce as well. This could be why some analysts predict that mortgage rates will fall slightly over the following few quarters, settling somewhere between 5.5 and 6% on average, but that remains to be seen with rates now staying above 7% and may very well go to 8% or higher!

 

But no one, not even the experts, can predict where mortgage rates will be next year or even next month. This is because there are so many variables that might influence what happens. So, to give you a glimpse of the potential outcomes, consider the following:

1. If you buy now and mortgage rates do not change: You made a solid decision because home prices are expected to rise over time, so you beat rising prices.
2. If you buy now and mortgage rates fall (as predicted): you will have made a good decision because you bought before home prices increased. You can always refinance your house later IF interest rates fall.
3. If you buy now and mortgage rates rise: If this occurs, you made an excellent decision because you purchased before both the price of the home and the mortgage rate rose.

Summing It Up

If you’re considering buying a house, you should be aware of the current state of housing prices and mortgage rates. While no one can predict where they will go, real estate professionals can provide you with useful information to keep you informed. If you’re considering buying a home in Cobb County or the Metro Atlanta area and have questions just get in touch – (404) 410-6465 or visit Complete Realty Team to contact us by email.

 

Original post here: Where Are Home Prices Headed? Should You Buy A Home Now Or Wait?