Interest Rates

Many people fall out of the home buying market when interest rates start to go up. This is often a mistake. Many of the best mortgages deals become available when lenders are competing for new business and sellers are competing within a smaller buyer pool. You just have to know how to keep the costs down in order to counter the higher interest rates.

One of the best tricks is the buy-down. In a buy-down, a fee is paid at the closing to get a lower interest rate. In a soft market, an anxious seller may be lured into to paying all or part of the buy-down. Another approach is to get the seller to pay some of closing costs, thus lowering the amount of cash a buyer needs to close. Frequently the seller’s costs can be used as a write-off by the buyer. Always consult with your tax advisor if you are considering such an arrangement.

If the market is softening due to rising or higher rates, the price itself becomes an area where a buyer may be able to save a lot of money on a house through skillful negotiating. Lower prices mean lower loan amounts, so don’t be discouraged by higher rates–use them to your advantage.

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You have returned every year to your favorite vacation area, and have finally decided to buy a second home in the special place where you enjoy your holidays. It is an excellent time to apply for a mortgage loan to make your purchase.

The climate for second home mortgages is the most favorable in years. Low interest rates and a recovering economy have attracted more buyers than ever before to purchase a second home for investment and vacation purposes. Many homeowners with a strong credit history have been able to qualify for a home equity loan at excellent rates, and have used their equity cash for down payment and closing costs on a second home.

Lending institutions are offering a wide range of affordable home loans. The rule of thumb is that a buyer can qualify for a loan amount based on 28 percent of their gross income. Often repeat buyers discover that they can borrow more than they assumed possible.

If you wish to take advantage of today’s reasonable interest rates to purchase a second home, consult a real estate professional who can help to make your dream a reality.

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It is important for both new homebuyers and homeowners who want to refinance to understand how to lock in an interest rate when applying for a mortgage loan. Understanding how rate locks work prepares you to evaluate your options.

While you are in the process of applying for your mortgage loan, interest rates will most likely fluctuate from day to day and week to week. If you want assurance that the wonderfully low interest rate on your loan will not increase while you are waiting for loan approval, ask for a rate lock. A conventional rate lock is a guarantee from the lender that your mortgage will carry a particular interest rate, with specific, predetermined points and fees.

The interest rate is “locked in” for a specified period of time, usually thirty days. When you call a lender for a rate quote, ask how long that rate will last for. If you think you might need more than thirty days to complete your home purchase or refinance, tell your lender how many days you will require, and they will give you an adjusted rate quote.

Rate locks are especially useful if interest rates are on the upswing, and you are concerned about ending up with higher monthly payments. If you cannot afford the risk of a further interest rate increase, lock in your loan rate now.

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In the field of home financing, “hybrid” mortgages have grown in popularity with homebuyers. With interest rates gradually rising in today’s market, the hybrid mortgage product saves money, provides a period of fixed-rate security and helps buyers qualify for financing.

Hybrid mortgage loans offer a very low fixed-rate for a period of time, usually from 5 to 7 years, then revert to an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) for the remainder of the term of the loan. The interest rate is typically lower than with a 30-year fixed-rate loan, and the borrower has the assurance that the rate will not change for a period of years. Such a loan works well for buyers who plan on reselling the home within a finite period.

Other specialty mortgages now available include an ARM loan with a provision allowing it to be converted to a fixed-rate loan when that is a practical step for the borrower. Still others offer an interest-only loan that requires payments to be made on the interest only for a specified number of years, then reverts to an amortized loan with interest and principal payments each month. Consult with an experienced mortgage professional to determine whether one of these loan products will meet your needs.

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When you are buying a new home or refinancing your present one, it is wise to do some comparison shopping among lenders. A low interest rate isn’t the only criterion by which to evaluate a loan. You should also consider the terms of the mortgage, what your closing costs will be and the reputation of the lender.

Real estate agents are a good source of information about loans and lenders, whether you are buying a home or just refinancing your present home. We routinely assist buyers when they need a mortgage in order to purchase a home. We know what loan packages are available and the qualifying requirements. The companies with the lowest rates sometimes have very conservative underwriting guidelines, and may not be willing to make loans on certain types of property or to buyers who are marginally qualified. We can tell you which companies and loan officers will go the extra mile to provide excellent service to make sure that the transaction closes.

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A whole new crop of homebuyers emerges every year. With interest rates remaining relatively low, more interested buyers than ever before are applying for home mortgage loans. Affordable loan packages are creating more investment possibilities for second homes. Trade-up or scale-down buyers are free to move into an exciting new home or condo, making more starter homes available for first-time buyers.

The advantage goes to the seller when there are more buyers than homes for sale. But in a market where the inventory of homes is growing, the competition between sellers increases and gives buyers more options. More competition is not a problem if the local market is moving at a lively pace.

Affordable loans and a wide variety of financing options make it an excellent time to buy or sell real estate.

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