Buying is Still a Smart Choice

Buying is Still a Smart Choice

by | Aug 28, 2023 | Buyers, Buying Conditions, Helpful Tips, Interest Rates, Investment Properties, Listings, Market Trends, Mortgage, Property Value, Real Estate, Schools, Security

The high interest rates are discouraging to us and we are not sure we want to purchase – any thoughts?

The decision to buy a house, whether a first home or a new home, is one of the most significant financial choices many individuals will make in their lives. While rising interest rates may seem like a deterrent, there are compelling reasons why the current real estate landscape still offers tremendous opportunities for potential homebuyers.

Real estate has proven to be a strong long-term investment. Even with higher interest rates, purchasing a home today can lead to substantial equity growth over the years. Real estate has a history of appreciating in value, and buying a home now positions buyers to benefit from potential future appreciation.  High rates are also holding some buyers back for the time being, which allows you an opportunity to buy with less competition.

While high interest rates can be a concern for those seeking mortgages, they also present an opportunity for buyers to secure a fixed-rate mortgage while rates are still relatively low by historic standards. A fixed-rate mortgage ensures stable monthly payments throughout the life of the loan, providing a sense of financial security and predictability that renting cannot.  While rates may feel comparatively high, economists and financial experts predict that interest rates may continue to rise in the coming years. By entering the market now, buyers have the opportunity to secure a home and a mortgage at what are still relatively lower rates before they increase further.  If they drop, you can refinance.  But how long do you want to sit on the fence and miss out on opportunities while you hope for a miracle (2.65% will probably end up as a once-in-a-lifetime that we all need to move past, unless you simply never want to move)?

Homeownership also offers a range of tax benefits, such as deductions for mortgage interest and property taxes. These advantages can help offset the impact of higher interest rates, making homeownership more affordable in the long run. While interest rates may be higher, lenders are still offering a variety of financing options to suit different budgets and preferences. Buyers can explore loan programs, down payment assistance, and other resources that can help mitigate the impact of higher interest rates.

In the face of rising interest rates, the decision to buy remains an attractive option for those seeking stability, investment opportunities, and a place to call home. While it’s essential to consider the financial implications of higher rates, the potential benefits of homeownership, including equity growth, tax advantages, and personal satisfaction, can outweigh the short-term impact of slightly increased mortgage rates. Working with a knowledgeable real estate agent and mortgage professional can help buyers navigate the current market and make informed decisions that align with their long-term goals.

Experience Makes

The Difference

If you’re moving across town, from elsewhere in the state, or even relocating
across the country, I can help you find the perfect home! 

Connect With Kathe

Today’s Market is Not A Repeat

Today’s Market is Not A Repeat

by | Jul 16, 2023 | Buyers, Buying Conditions, Interest Rates, Investment Properties, Listings, Market Trends, Mortgage, Property Value, Real Estate, Sellers, Selling Conditions

Is the real estate market repeating 2008 all over again? 

Absolutely not!  I know there is a lot in the news about real estate these days, and the high interest rates and corresponding buyer anxiety are likely the most significant factor influencing what you may be perceiving to be a slow down in our market, but this is not a repeat of 2008! 

Currently, 39% of homeowners in the U.S. own their homes free and clear of all debt (a remarkable number) and another 29% have more than 50% equity in their homes.  That’s a full 68% of homes that are in very “safe” equity positions – the risk of any significant number of foreclosures is very low, unlike 2008.  

In 2008-2011, we had 11-12 months of inventory on the market at any given time.  Today, nationally, we have approximately 1.5 months of inventory on the market, with even less locally.  This is an incredibly important differentiator between then and now that indicates that we are not moving toward a housing crisis.  In 2008 in our area we had about 13000 properties – now that number is closer to 3000.

Additionally, approximately 3million US households earning over $150,000 per year are currently renting, and the average-aged millennials are just starting to buy their first homes.  This provides a steady stream or prospective buyers.  All of these factors indicate that we are not slipping into a housing crisis – the higher interest rates have just paused some of the typical move-up, move-down, move-around buyers. 

Experience Makes

The Difference

If you’re moving across town, from elsewhere in the state, or even relocating
across the country, I can help you find the perfect home! 

Connect With Kathe

A Change for Tax Appeals

A Change for Tax Appeals

by | Feb 10, 2023 | Market Trends, Mortgage, Property Value, Real Estate

Can you explain what is going on in Allegheny with property tax assessments?

It’s big news! For property tax appeals in 2023, the PA State Tax Equalization Board has set the common level ration at 63.6%.  This is dramatically less than the 81.6% in effect for 2022.  What this means is that for homeowners appealing their property taxes in 2023, the tax assessment should be set at 63.6% of the property’s 2022 value.  This is great news for people buying their homes in 2022.  Buyers have grown accustomed to having their property tax assessment appealed after they purchase their home, and these increased assessments can dramatically impact the monthly cost of owning their homes.  This often impacts the sale-ability of a home as buyers often worry about that their monthly payments might increase to, but with new common level ratio, it is a big break for new home buyers.

For example, a home selling for $1million in 2022 should have a tax assessment of $636,000, which is an outstanding possibility.  Likewise, a home selling in 2022 for $500,000 should have a tax assessment of $318,000.

Of course, buyers in previous years could consider appealing their tax assessment as well.  For example, if a home was purchased in 2021 for $500,000, applying the current year percentages, it might have an assessment of $408,000.  We did see dramatic appreciation in 2022, so that home might be worth $550,000 today, but applying the 2022 ratio of 63.6% to 2022 value could result in an assessment of $350,000 which would generate potential tax savings of approx. $1500.   Any recent homeowners may want to consult their tax advisors as to whether it makes sense to appeal their tax assessment based on this new information.

The potential concern here is for the taxing bodies.  The services we all depend upon require tax revenues to be funded.  With the potential erosion of tax bases, this new common level ratio will be a victory for new homeowners, but we may all end up paying more in taxes due to the increased millage rates that may be required to compensate for declining tax bases.

Experience Makes

The Difference

If you’re moving across town, from elsewhere in the state, or even relocating
across the country, I can help you find the perfect home! 

Connect With Kathe

Sounds Too Good To Be True

Sounds Too Good To Be True

by | Dec 1, 2022 | Blog, Buyers, Buying Conditions, Contracts, Helpful Tips, Interest Rates, Market Trends, Mortgage, Property Value, Real Estate

WE WOULD LIKE TO BUY A NEW HOME SOON BUT INTEREST RATES SEEM VERY HIGH – WE SEE ADVERTISEMENTS FOR INTERNET LENDERS OFFERING WHAT SEEM TO BE BELOW MARKET RATES.  IS THIS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE? 

If you were simply refinancing an existing mortgage debt, you MAY be ok choosing an internet lender.  You would just need to be very careful that, before you apply to refinance your loan, you receive from the lender a full disclosure of all the costs and not just the rates.  Often times I see lenders have exorbitantly high fees connected with low rates.  In a sense, you would be buying down your rate by paying high fees upfront.  You would want to be sure to compare them on the same day to a couple of local lenders and understand what you are paying to get the quoted rates.  The reason you must compare rates on a singular date is because rates go up and down continuously and a rate may seem lower simply because you called a particular lender on a date rates dropped.

Since you are buying a new home rather than refinancing, I do NOT recommend that you use an internet lender.  They do not tend to be familiar with area norms and that can cause you more headaches than you can imagine.  There is a long list of particularities to PA Agreements of Sale and the last thing you want to do is have your closing delayed (while your movers are standing at the curb) while you wait for your lender (who does not have a local presence that you can visit personally to address any issues) to sort things out.  As they are not familiar with our Agreements and processes, internet lenders may also impose requirements on you that are not requirements generally imposed by local lenders that may disadvantage you later.  Finally, internet lenders often do not understand that PA Agreements of Sale declare “time is of the essence” inside the contract – what that means to you is that if you miss your closing date because the lender isn’t ready to close, the seller does have the legal right to declare you in default, keep your hand money and sell the home to someone else.

When buying, why take a risk?  Rely on your trusted Realtor to help you find a local lender who offers the most competitively priced loan products and delivers exceptional customer service.  Realtors cannot accept referral fees from lenders, so you can be sure we are motivated only by knowing you will have an outstanding transaction.  Feel free to reach out to me for help finding you the best local lender to meet your financing needs!

Experience Makes

The Difference

If you’re moving across town, from elsewhere in the state, or even relocating
across the country, I can help you find the perfect home! 

Connect With Kathe

The Effects of Rising Interest Rates

The Effects of Rising Interest Rates

by | Feb 10, 2022 | Blog, Buyers, Buying Conditions, Contracts, Investment Properties, Listings, Market Trends, Mortgage, Property Value, Real Estate

What impact do you think rising interest rates will have on the real estate market? 

I can’t tell you how many years the Fed has been warning us that they are going to raise the interest rates, and then nothing happened. But now, it looks like it is finally happening. Less than one year ago, conforming loans with good credit could be procured at rates below 3% fixed. Now they have inched up to 3.75% for conforming loans. While these are still historically great rates, the days of mortgage interest rates in the 3% range appear to be gone and we are slowly inching upward.

What impact will this have on the market? Typically, when rates increase the market slows. Buying power decreases – a buyer will qualify for a smaller mortgage amount when rates are higher. Even if a buyer qualifies for a loan amount, they may not want to pay the added amount each month attributable to the higher rate. Many buyers are cognizant of how much they don’t have available to spend on quality of life purchases, such as dinners out, when they have larger mortgage payments. This boils down to the fact that they may be unwilling or unable to buy at a price they could have last year, and this could depress housing prices.

However, this is counterbalanced by the fact that we are in a market with record low levels of inventory, so it is highly unlikely that interest rates will have any effect on housing prices in the short run. If anything, rising rates should cause buyers to move quickly and lock in homes and mortgages before rates continue to climb. And this would be the most sensible short-term response to rising rates. Buyers – rates are actually going up! The time to act is now!

Experience Makes

The Difference

If you’re moving across town, from elsewhere in the state, or even relocating
across the country, I can help you find the perfect home! 

Connect With Kathe