Real Estate Information Archive

Blog

Displaying blog entries 1-6 of 6

44 Times More Than a Renter

Tuesday, December 4, 2018
by The Mike Parker Team

 

The Federal Reserve Board's Triennial Survey of Consumer Finances recently revealed the net worth of a homeowner was $231,400 compared to $5,200 for a renter.  The net worth of homeowners increased 15% from 2013 to 2016 while renters' decreased by 5%.

Appreciation and principal reduction are the two dynamics that affect a homeowner's equity.  Each payment is applied to the interest for the previous month and the principal reduction to retire the mortgage.

A $300,000 home purchased with a $294,566 FHA mortgage at 5% for 30 years has an average monthly principal reduction $362 in the first year. Two percent appreciation would benefit the buyer by $500 a month.  In this example, the equity grows by $860 a month for the homeowner.  A tenant would have to invest $660 a month over and above the rent they're paying.

Based on the assumptions listed above, the $10,500 down payment would become approximately $85,000 of equity in seven years.Leverage and forced savings contribute to the difference in addition to the appreciation and principal reduction.

The rent paid by tenants help the landlord recoup their investment in the home and a return on their investment.  Some people say, regardless if a person rents or buys, they pay for the house they occupy.  The choice is whether to buy it for themselves or their landlord.

Check out some of the benefits using your own numbers with this fill-in-the blank Rent vs. Own.

Resource Central

Monday, November 16, 2015
by The Mike Parker Team

Homeowners should recognize that the same trusted professional who helped them buy or sell their home can be a valuable resource while they own their home too.

 

Think of your REALTOR® as an indispensable homeowner’s resource who can make recommendations about a variety of services that homeowners will use throughout the tenure in their home. This experience far exceeds personal experience because of the day-to-day activities working in the industry.

  • To recommend reputable and reasonable service providers.
  • To offer information about your community, nearby businesses and local agencies.
  • To solicit general homeowner knowledge such as protesting your property tax assessment, determining fair market value, determining the best improvements and other things.
  • To assist with advice and suggestions about maintenance, protecting value and saving money.

Our goal is to have a long-term relationship with you. We want to help you be a better homeowner not only when you need to buy or sell but all of the year’s in-between. We want to earn a recommendation to your friends. We want you to consider us your REALTOR® for life.

Finding the Best Mortgage

Monday, September 28, 2015
by The Mike Parker Team

As rates are inching up but still very affordable, buyers should remember that there is an alternative to a fixed rate mortgage that can provide the lowest cost of housing for the homeowners who understand the parameters.

 

A $300,000 fixed-rate mortgage at 4% has a principal and interest payment of $1,432.25 per month for the entire 30 year term. A 5/1 adjustable mortgage at 3% has a $167.43 lower payment for the first five years and then, can adjust, up or down, based on a predetermined index.

Another interesting fact is that the unpaid balance on the ARM at the end of the first five years is $4,624 lower than the fixed-rate mortgage. The total savings in the first five years on the ARM is $14,669.00.

Adjustable rate mortgages are not the right choice for everyone but buyers should at least consider the options based on their individual situation. It could be an obvious choice for a buyer who is only going to be in the home for five years or less.

Use the ARM Comparison worksheet to see what possible savings you could have based on your actual numbers. A trusted mortgage professional can help you to understand the advantages and disadvantages based on your situation. You need the facts to make the best decision. 

Cut Mortgage Insurance

Tuesday, September 22, 2015
by The Mike Parker Team

Making additional payments toward the principal of your mortgage will do three things for the homeowner: save interest, build equity and shorten the term on fixed rate mortgages.

These things should be beneficial enough to justify the extra payments but another huge advantage is available to those who have private mortgage insurance on their loan. Mortgage insurance rates vary but can range from seventy-five to two hundred dollars a month on a $200,000 mortgage.

Lenders are required to automatically terminate mortgage insurance when the principal balance reaches 78% of the original value of the property. It is important for homeowners to monitor their balance because sometimes lenders may inadvertently fail to terminate the coverage.

Mortgage insurance is a necessary but expensive requirement for many people who are limited to a down payment of less than 20%. Eliminating the need for it can save thousands of dollars over time.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, CFPB, issued a compliance bulletin on August 4, 2015.

What's It Going to Take?

Tuesday, January 29, 2013
by The Mike Parker Team

What's It Going to Take?

How much evidence is needed to make a decision to get out of the rent race and become a homeowner?

 

Compare your rent with a mortgage payment on a similar size property. If you want a larger home than your current one, use the rent that property would require instead of what you're currently paying. If it's considerably cheaper, you may not need any further encouragement.

By the time you consider the principal reduction, appreciation and tax savings, your monthly cost of housing could be much less than the rent you're paying.

The principal reduction included in each payment is like a forced savings account that increases as your mortgage balance decreases. Your equity in the property will also grow due to appreciation. The equity is part of your net worth and an investment in your family's future.

The income tax savings can be an additional financial consideration if the combined interest and property taxes exceed the allowable standard deduction.

Trends are showing that both tenants and homeowners are staying in their homes longer. It's been said that whether you rent or own, you're paying for the home. Do you really want to buy the home for your landlord? Check out your numbers on a Rent vs. Own.

The Top 5 Pitfalls of Selling Your Own Home

Friday, May 28, 2010
by The Mike Parker Team



While it is certainly understandable why some people would like to avoid paying a real estate agent’s commission—especially in today’s economy—homeowners need to be aware of the serious pitfalls that can occur before they embark on the process of selling their own home.

As a member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I have had many clients enlist my services after losing valuable time and money attempting to sell their own home. What seems like a relatively easy undertaking at first, can become a time-consuming and overwhelming process. I’d like to share with you some of the most significant snags that often occur when selling one’s own home:

1.  Ineffective marketing. Most homeowners simply lack the resources necessary to effectively market their own home. Working with a professional real estate agent, such as a member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, however, usually means your home will be marketed to the widest group of potential buyers possible, both through digital and print advertising, virtual tours, and online listing portals.

2.  Mispricing your home. In order to sell your home quickly for the best possible price, pricing your home correctly is critical. This very nuanced process of choosing the right listing price, however, is always best left to a real estate professional. Most who sell their own homes price too high, resulting in their home sitting on the market for an extended period of time. And, unfortunately, the longer a home remains on the market, the less desirable it becomes for buyers.

3.  Missing documentation. These days, a real estate transaction requires more documentation than ever before. It’s virtually impossible for the average homeowner to be aware of all the forms necessary to complete a real estate deal, and missing paperwork will bring any transaction to a grinding halt.

4.  Overlooking legalities. The risk of overlooking important legalities, such as disclosure and compliance regulations that vary from state to state, is high for most homeowners. The average person is, understandably, not well versed in the many laws that govern the sale and purchase of a property.

5.  Dealing with unqualified buyers. If you accept an offer from an unqualified buyer, you can delay the sale of your home indefinitely. A professional real estate agent will take the necessary steps to work with a lender to ensure a buyer is qualified before accepting their offer.

In most cases, owners end up exhausting more dollars than they would have paid in commission when attempting to sell their own home. If you would like more information on selling your home, please e-mail me. I also encourage you to forward this blog to anyone you know who might be considering taking on the monumental task of selling their own home.

Displaying blog entries 1-6 of 6

Syndication

Categories

Archives

Share This Page

Contact Information

Photo of Mike Parker - CRS Real Estate
Mike Parker - CRS
HUFF Realty
60 Cavalier Blvd.
Florence KY 41042
859-647-0700
859-486-3300
Send an Email