Blog – Page 152 of 787 – Fred Gruber - First Rate Financial Group

28

Jun

Mortgage

The Top Things To Know When Refinancing Your Home

The Top Things to Know Whne Refinancing If you are thinking about refinancing your home in the near future, you probably know that this is a great way to shorten the term of your mortgage while also saving money. At the same time, refinancing your home does not come without risks. Take a look at some of the top things you should do and what to avoid before you go through the refinancing process.

Do Check Your Credit Score

Always check your credit score before you begin the refinancing process. A surprising number of credit reports contain errors, and you need to correct any errors on your credit report before you apply for a new home loan. If you do not correct the mistakes ahead of time, you could end up with a higher interest rate on your new home loan than you should.

Don’t Forget To Think About Closing Costs

You need to consider closing costs before you apply for a home refinance. Just because interest rates have gone down doesn’t necessarily mean you will save money. In general, if you can get a home loan that is at least a half of a percentage point lower, you should save money when compared to the closing costs you will owe; however, you should always do the math to calculate your break-even point.

Do Think About The Equity You Will Have Left

If you complete a cash-out refinance, you need to calculate the amount of equity you will have left after the refinancing process is complete. While you might want to conduct a cash-out refinance to cover a major home repair or renovation, you do not necessarily want to completely deplete the equity in your home. You could end up with a very high-interest rate if you do so.

Don’t Forget To Talk To Your Lender About All the Options

When you refinance your home, you have multiple options available. You can tap into the equity in your home, reduce the size of your mortgage payments, or shorten the term of your loan. You should think about your goals and decide which option is best for your needs. Always talk to an expert before completing the refinance process.

27

Jun

By First Rate Financial Group

Financial Reports

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – June 27, 2022

What's Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week - June 27, 2022

Last week’s economic reporting included readings on home sales, Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s testimony on monetary policy to the House Financial Services Committee, and the University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index. Weekly reports on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also released.

New Home Sales Pace Rises as Pre-Owned Homes Sales Pace Slows

The Commerce Department reported a seasonally-adjusted annual pace of 696,000 new homes sold in May; analysts predicted a year-over-year pace of 587,000 new homes sold as compared to April’s year-over-year pace of 629,000 new homes sold. While the year-over-year pace of new home sales increased by 10.70 percent month-to-month in May, the year-over-year sales pace for new homes fell by 5.90 percent.

Increasing materials and labor costs continued to challenge home builders, but high demand for homes fueled sales of new homes even as mortgage rates and home prices rose. The median price of new homes sold in May fell to $449,000 from April’s record high of $454,700. The inventory of available homes fell by 7.20 percent in May, which equaled a 7.70-month supply of new homes for sale.

Regional results for new home sales were mixed; sales of new homes fell by -51.10 percent in the Northeast and were -18.30 percent lower in the Midwest. New home sales rose by 12.80 percent in the South and were 39.30 percent higher in the West.

In other news, Fed Chair Jerome Powell spoke on monetary policy before the House Financial Services Committee and explained the Fed’s strategy to ease inflation through a series of interest rate increases intended to cut into consumers’ purchasing power.

Mortgage Rates Rise; New Jobless Claims Fall

Freddie Mac reported higher average mortgage rates last week as the rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages rose by three basis points to 5.81 percent. Rates for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 4.92 percent and were 11 basis points higher than in the previous week. The average rate for 5/1 adjustable rate mortgages was eight basis points higher at 4.41 percent. Discount points averaged 0.80 percent for 30-ye

ar fixed-rate mortgages and 0.90 percent for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages.

Initial jobless claims fell to 229,000 new filings last week as compared to 231,000 new claims filed in the previous week. Analysts expected 225,000 new jobless claims last week. Continuing jobless claims inched up with 1.32 million continuing claims filed as compared to the previous week’s reading of 1.31 ongoing jobless claims filed.

The University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index fell to an index reading of 50.0 for June as compared to May’s reading of 50.2 and the expected June reading of 50.2. Consumer concerns over fuel prices and rising inflation eroded consumer confidence in the economy. Readings above 50 indicate that most consumers have a positive outlook on current economic conditions.

What’s Ahead

This week’s scheduled economic reports include readings from Case-Shiller on home prices, pending home sales, and construction spending. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims will also be released.

24

Jun

By First Rate Financial Group

Home Mortgage Tips

Can I Qualify for a Mortgage After Declaring Bankruptcy? Yes — and Here’s How

Can I Qualify for a Mortgage After Declaring Bankruptcy? Yes -- and Here's How It may feel like a very daunting task to consider buying a home after you’ve declared bankruptcy, and there’s no doubt that it’s an uphill battle. Fortunately, while you’ll have hard work ahead, there are things you can do in order to make your dream of home ownership a possibility. Whether you’ve just declared bankruptcy or some time has passed, here are some things you should consider before getting into the market.

Wait It Out

It might not be what you want to hear, but it’s, unfortunately, the case that you’ll have to wait at least two years before you purchase a home following bankruptcy. Since lenders will not want to take the risk on someone that has proven to have poor financial habits, they will require a waiting period in order for the credit risk you pose to improve. While this may seem like a long time, take the opportunity to improve your financial habits so you can be amply prepared when the time comes.

Build Up Your Credit

In order to own a home, you’ll need to develop some solid financial habits, and that means getting on top of your finances even in times when it feels like you have no leverage. Ensure you get a copy of your credit report and, if you notice any errors, reach out to the credit bureau for corrections. It’s also a good idea to consider applying for a secured credit card and ensure that you pay all of your bills on time. While it might feel like a lengthy task, developing good habits will have a positive impact on your credit over time.

Prepare For Your Payment

When it comes to a poor credit history, you’ll need to pull out every stop you can to that convince lenders that you’re a solid financial bet. Instead of wasting the time, write up a budget for yourself and save a sizeable sum for your down payment each month. It’s possible that 10 or 15% down will do, but a 20% payment will help you avoid private mortgage insurance (PMI) and will go further in convincing lenders of your reliability.

It’s more than a little disheartening to have to deal with bankruptcy, but by waiting it out and developing good financial habits in the interim, you’ll be well on your way to buying a home. If you’re currently preparing to purchase, contact your trusted mortgage professional for more information.