There is no better time to purchase real estate than in today’s economy as prices have evened out, and the inventory proves that it is indeed a buyer’s market. There are many options in which to purchase a real estate investment, whether it is cash or through the traditional methods of conventional mortgage financing, but there are some instances in which homebuyers cannot obtain either. Because of the challenges due to the economy there may have been instances where individuals have suffered a bankruptcy, foreclosure, slightly blemished credit, or perhaps one has a sporadic income in which lenders raise questions about. Whatever the case, there are indeed other alternatives to obtaining a mortgage to purchase real estate for those who are ready and willing to do so.

1. One can choose to borrow from a whole life insurance policy. Whole life insurance policies are insurance policies in which the cash value accumulates over a period of time and it is possible to borrow against the cash value of the policy. One of the best features in borrowing against a whole life policy is that there is no loan qualifying process to go through. It is important to keep in mind though that by borrowing against a whole life policy it does diminish the face value of the policy. If this is an option, it is important to ask the insurance carrier of the whole life policy several questions such as: is there an interest rate on this loan, is the amount I withdraw taxable, could my policy lapse because of this withdrawal, can I pay back the loan to bring back up the original face value that the policy once had? Be smart and realistic. Ask if the negatives outweigh the positives when thinking of borrowing against a whole life policy.

Continue reading this post

The fact that Veterans Day and Thanksgiving are just weeks apart is a historical quirk.

But it sure feels right, doesn’t it?

As we take time this week to craft a list of family, friends and other things we’re thankful for, consider adding another line item to the list: those who have fought for our freedom. And, of course, those who continue to do so.

During this month of giving thanks, one of the best ways to honor American service members and their sacrifices is to make sure they’re aware of the myriad benefits available to them. From health benefits to education opportunities and beyond, there’s an array of significant benefits that provide some small measure of gratitude to those who have sacrificed so much.

There’s certainly one major benefit in particular worth exploring here — the VA home loan program. This unique purchasing option has helped more than 18 million veterans and their families become homeowners since the waning months of World War II.

Continue reading this post

Freddie Mac says that we have the lowest mortgage rates EVER!!  Well maybe not ever but since they started tracking the rates.   So maybe in the last 50 years or so…..

Additionally, home prices have dropped to some of the best prices in a long, long time.   So now the question is:  Do we wait to see how low home prices may go before we buy?

Here is some food for thought……

1. Many people believe that home prices have found the bottom and are making a turn upward.
2. Mortgage rates are at the lowest rate in 40 or 50 years.  It is hard to believe they will drop any further and are more likely to move upward.
3. We should look at the math.

What if………
Continue reading this post

A strategic default is when a homeowner walks away from their home when they owe more on the home than it is currently worth. In some circumstances, the homeowner can afford to make the mortgage payments, but due to the decreased value of the home under the current market conditions, they feel it is a financially sound maneuver simply to leave their home behind and rent or try to find another home which has also lost value.

Thousands of homeowners have strategically defaulted on their homes and have left the mortgage company holding the bag. The mortgage company now has an asset for which they do not have a revenue stream. Plus, the property is now a liability because the mortgage company is obligated to maintain the property so that adjacent homes do not further lose value.

Due to the enactment of new Fannie Mae regulations, a strategic default will now have more severe consequences for the homeowner than in the past. Continue reading this post

Transportation costs may soon become a recognized expense for mortgage applications if the Natural Resources Defense Council study holds up.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the study showed that higher transportation costs resulted in a higher foreclosure rate:

The draft report looked at trends associated with 40,000 mortgages in San Francisco, Chicago and Jacksonville, Fla.

The release date for the final study has not been announced. The research included borrowers’ income and expenses, credit scores and loan-to-home value ratio.

It focused on the average number of vehicles owned per household in a neighborhood, and through a complex formula, found that the likelihood of mortgage foreclosure increased as neighborhood vehicle ownership rates rose.

If transportation costs were as much as 17% of a household budget, as the study suggests, a $5/gallon price for gasoline could negatively impact a family’s budget. Recent years’ foreclosure activity suggests that compunction towards making mortgage payments has given way to liquidity concerns. Moreover, a legal scholar suggests that any moral consideration associated with a strategic default is passe.

Let’s consider the hypothetical case of a family, with jobs in Los Angeles County, who purchased a $400,000 Riverside, CA home in 2007. The home price has withered to $300,000 and the family has “lost” their $80,000 down payment; they are $20,000 “in the hole”. This has them feeling despondent about the future of the property as an “investment”. Continue reading this post

Last Friday (November 6), President Obama signed legislation into law that both extended the existing $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit and added a new tax credit for some existing home buyers.

Here is a summary of the extended and expanded tax credits:

First time buyer tax credit:

This was extended to May 1, 2010:  A tax credit of 10% of the purchase price of a home, up to $8,000, may be claimed by first-time buyers for the purchase of a primary residence. As long as you are under a binding purchase contract by April 30, 2010 – and close on the transaction before July 1, you can probably claim the credit.

A first-time buyer is defined as someone who has not owned a home in the past three years.

Income limits were increased to $125,000 for singles, $225,000 for married couples filing jointly.

The purchase price of the home can not exceed $800,000.

Existing home owner credit:

If you have lived in your home for five consecutive years out of the last eight years and are buying another primary residence, you may qualify for a tax credit of 10% of the purchase price, up to a maximum of $6,500.

The May 1 / July first time limits apply to the existing buyer credit as well.

The $125,000 / $225,000 income limits and $800,000 max purchase price limits also apply.

The existing home owner credit became effective “on the date of enactment” – November 6.

Of Note: Continue reading this post