Orlando Real Estate

It’s a question most home buyers are asking themselves right now.  It has been said repeatedly that now is an unbelievable time to buy a home. Home prices are down and interest rates are at historic lows.  Which means that your affordability is greater than ever.  But in this volatile economy, we can’t help but wonder – will home values will continue to decline?  And are interest rates really going to go up?  If so, when is the right time for me to buy and take advantage of the market?  Hopefully, this chart will help you understand the dynamics of your affordability when it comes to home prices and interest rates.  While we can’t determine whether or not home values will decrease, increase or stabilize in the near future, it is pretty much a guarantee that the interest rates will go up.  Trying to time the market is risky – especially when you’ve already got a golden opportunity in front of you!

Zero-down loan programs are few and far between these days, but one that remains available might be of interest to you –especially given some changes that make it more accessible.

USDA Guaranteed Rural Development loans offer 100% financing with no monthly Private Mortgage Insurance. Seriously, I said NO monthly PMI. While there are some geographic limitations for this program, if you are interested in eligible properties, you should take notice.

Income restrictions for this program are based on the number of people living in your household, however these limits were loosened beginning April 20, 2009, which means more people may now qualify and be able to afford higher value homes under this program. Previously, the income limits were based on the exact number of people living in the home. For example, the limit for two people was different from the limit for one person; the limit for three people was different from the limit for two people, etc. As of April 20, the household income limitations are grouped into two categories: 1-4 Person Households and 5-8 Person Households.

This is great news!

It means that higher income earners with fewer people in the household may be more likely to qualify.
In non high-cost counties, where 1-4 people reside in a home, the income limit will now be $70,750. In homes where 5-8 people reside, the limit is $93,400. While these figures serve as a guide, there are certain situations in which people can earn more and still qualify.

Now just because you see the word “rural” in the program name, it doesn’t mean we’re talking farmland here. No, you don’t have to raise cattle or chickens to qualify. Rural generally is defined as areas that are not densely populated and have fewer neighborhoods – but you might be surprised at how many neighborhoods qualify. To check eligibility on a property you may be interested in, email me or visit the following web site.

Is this property eligible for USDA Guaranteed Rural Housing financing?

I am very excited about what this can represent to you. More buyers will have the ability to buy a home without a down payment and that could be you. Also, when it comes to USDA Rural Housing loans, the seller can pay closing costs up to 6%. When you combine these benefits with the available tax credit of up to $8,000 for eligible first time home buyers, buying that “house in the country” – or even the suburbs – is suddenly a lot easier.
To learn more about how this program, give us a call.  This is a great opportunity and I hope you can take advantage of it.

Buying a home is a major investment no matter which way you look at it. But for many homebuyers, it’s an even more expensive process than it needs to be because many fall prey to at least a few of the many common and costly mistakes which trap them into either paying too much for the home they want, or losing their dream home to another buyer or, worse, buying the wrong home for their needs.
A systemized approach to the homebuying process can help you steer clear of these common traps, allowing you to not only cut costs, but also buy the home that’s best for you.

An industry report has just been released entitled “Nine Buyer Traps and How to Avoid Them”. This important report discusses the 9 most common and costly of these homebuyer traps, how to identify them, and what you can do to avoid them.
To hear a brief recorded message about how to order your FREE copy of this report, call 1-800-787-4601 and enter 1018. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Call NOW to learn how to avoid costly buyer mistakes before you purchase your next home.

Orlando, FL – There is a great debate within the inner-mortgage circles these days. Should we, as loan professionals, encourage clients to borrow as much money as possible? Or would consumers benefit more if we helped them to understand the advantages of 15-year amortization schedules and pre-paying principal? Let’s examine the pros and cons of both strategies. Leveraging Your Property. In order to understand why you’d want to borrow as much as possible for your home purchase, you must first grasp the concept that equity has a zero rate of return. Here’s an example: If Consumer “A” buys a home for $300,000, and puts 20% down, then they have $60,000 in equity. Over the next 5 years, the property appreciates $100,000 in value. Consumer “A” now has $160,000 in equity. Consumer “B” buys a home for $300,000, and puts no money down. At the end of 5 years, that same home is now worth $400,000. Consumer “B” has $100,000 in equity, which is the same appreciation as Consumer “A”, a net $100,000. As you can see, your down payment has nothing to do with your rate of return. What becomes important is how you choose to manage the $60,000 you didn’t use as a down payment. If you use it for frivolous activities, such as buying toys or going to Las Vegas, it would be more prudent for you to use that money as a down payment. Especially since this will enable you to obtain a lower interest rate. However, if you were to invest the $60,000 in a vehicle that can out-earn the cost of that debt, then this could be a formula for success. This is why some lending professionals suggest putting as little down as you possibly can, maximizing your tax write-off, and investing the rest. This principle has been applied for many years in the life insurance game. The old saying goes, “Buy term and invest the rest.” The key component is taking the money you would have used as a down payment and creating an asset accumulation account. This account should earn a significant enough rate of return to enable you to pay your mortgage off entirely and achieve the ultimate goal of being debt-free. Paying Your Home Down Rapidly. There are very few times over the course of my career that I have seen a client with zero debt and no financial difficulties. Choosing to pay off all of your debt can reduce stress and help you to gain freedom of cash flow for investment opportunities. A 15-year mortgage or a bi-weekly payment strategy provides structure. It can also put you on track to have your mortgage paid off within a set timeframe. Simply put, it contains built-in discipline. It’s important, however, to understand that regardless of how rapidly you pay your home off, you’re not getting any greater rate of return on your investment than if you paid it off slowly. Conclusion. So how does one determine which scenario is best? The choice depends entirely upon the individual. Savvy consumers who are disciplined, and are comfortable taking chances from an investment perspective, would do well with the first scenario. Over the course of time, it’s been proven that your rate of return over the long-haul will be far greater than the rate you’d pay for a mortgage in today’s rate environment. It’s important to seek the advice of a skilled investment advisor to ensure success with this strategy. The second scenario is best for those who have a difficult time managing their money or who’ll sleep easier at night knowing they have a plan in place to pay their loan off more rapidly. Be sure that your budget can handle accelerated payments. When consumers “bite off more than they can chew” with a 15-year mortgage, they frequently end up having to refinance back into a 30-year schedule. If you find this subject intriguing and would like to know more, I recommend that you read a book titled, Missed Fortune 101, by Douglas Andrew. It’s an outstanding read that is very simplistic and goes into far greater detail than I can cover in this column. Douglas is a financial planner who advises safe-structured investments such as whole life policies and tax-free fixed income instruments.

Many potential first-time home buyers feel it is necessary to save money to buy a home.  This is a great step towards home ownership but you may miss out on today’s opportunities.  With gas prices on the rise, house prices at an all time low, great interest rates, FHA and multiple down payment assistance programs there is no need to wait.  Why not purchase now with someone else paying your down payment for you?  No need to pay someone elses mortgage where they have a tax advantage, pay your own and have a tax write off especially since driving has hit you a little harder in the pocket! 

Down payment assistance programs are here to help you become homeowners today!  You can take advantage of these tax savings, and call your house a home!  Where do you go for accurate and reliable Down Payment Assistance Information?

Benchmark Real Estate Group, Inc. has experience and expertise to help you achieve your homeownership dreams!  Our professional team has put together the information for you!

• Down Payment Assistance Overview
• Home Buyer Education Information
• Live and Online Classes
• Predatory Lender Prevention
• Access to all of the Down Payment Assistance Programs Available
• Resources for Credit Repair
• Access to Lenders with Expertise in Down Payment Assistance

Contact Us Now to find out How

1. W-2 forms — or business tax return forms if you’re self-employed — for the last two or three years for every person signing the loan.
2. Copies of at least one pay stub for each person signing the loan.
3. Account numbers of all your credit cards and the amounts for any outstanding balances.
4. Copies of two to four months of bank or credit union statements for both checking and savings accounts. 
5. Lender, loan number, and amount owed on other installment loans, such as student loans and car loans.
6. Addresses where you’ve lived for the last five to seven years, with names of landlords if appropriate.
7. Copies of brokerage account statements for two to four months, as well as a list of any other major assets of value, such as a boat, RV, or stocks or bonds not held in a brokerage account.  
8. Copies of your most recent 401(k) or other retirement account statement. 
9. Documentation to verify additional income, such as child support or a pension.  
10.  Copies of personal tax forms for the last two to three years.  

1. Investigate local, state, and national down payment assistance programs. These programs give qualified applicants loans or grants to cover all or part of your required down payment. National programs include the Nehemiah program,
www.getdownpayment.com, and the American Dream Down Payment Fund from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, www.hud.gov.2. Explore seller financing. In some cases, sellers may be willing to finance all or part of the purchase price of the home and let you repay them gradually, just as you would do with a mortgage.3. Consider a shared-appreciation or shared-equity arrangement. Under this arrangement, your family, friends, or even a third-party may buy a portion of the home and share in any appreciation when the home is sold. The owner/occupant usually pays the mortgage, property taxes, and maintenance costs, but all the investors’ names are usually on the mortgage. Companies are available that can help you find such an investor, if your family can’t participate.4. Ask your family for help. Perhaps a family member will loan you money for the down payment or act as a co-signer for the mortgage. Lenders often like to have a co-signer if you have little credit history.

5. Lease with the option to buy. Renting the home for a year or more will give you the chance to save more toward your down payment. And in many cases, owners will apply some of the rental amount toward the purchase price. You usually have to pay a small, nonrefundable option fee to the owner.  Be careful of contract clauses, ask your real estate professional for help in understanding them.

6. Consider a short-term second mortgage. If you can qualify for a short-term second mortgage, this would give you money to make a larger down payment. This may be possible if you’re in good financial standing, with a strong income and little other debt. 

1. They don’t ask enough questions of their lender and end up missing out on the best deal.2. They don’t act quickly enough to make a decision and someone else buys the house.3. They don’t find the right agent who’s willing to help them through the home buying process.

4. They don’t do enough to make their offer look appealing to a seller.

5. They don’t think about resale before they buy. The average first-time buyer only stays in a home for four years. 

Not all real estate practitioners are REALTORS®. The term REALTOR® is a registered trademark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. Here are five reasons why it pays to work with a REALTOR®.   1. You’ll have an expert to guide you through the process. Buying or selling a home usually requires disclosure forms, inspection reports, mortgage documents, insurance policies, deeds, and multi-page settlement statements. A knowledgeable expert will help you prepare the best deal, and avoid delays or costly mistakes. 2. Get objective information and opinions. REALTORS® can provide local community information on utilities, zoning, schools, and more. They’ll also be able to provide objective information about each property. A professional will be able to help you answer these two important questions: Will the property provide the environment I want for a home or investment? Second, will the property have resale value when I am ready to sell? 3. Find the best property out there. Sometimes the property you are seeking is available but not actively advertised in the market, and it will take some investigation by your REALTOR® to find all available properties. 4. Benefit from their negotiating experience. There are many negotiating factors, including but not limited to price, financing, terms, date of possession, and inclusion or exclusion of repairs, furnishings, or equipment. In addition, the purchase agreement should provide a period of time for you to complete appropriate inspections and investigations of the property before you are bound to complete the purchase. Your agent can advise you as to which investigations and inspections are recommended or required. 5.  Property marketing power. Real estate doesn’t sell due to advertising alone. In fact, a large share of real estate sales comes as the result of a practitioner’s contacts through previous clients, referrals, friends, and family. When a property is marketed with the help of a REALTOR®, you do not have to allow strangers into your home. Your REALTOR® will generally prescreen and accompany qualified prospects through your property. 6. Real estate has its own language. If you don’t know a CMA from a PUD, you can understand why it’s important to work with a professional who is immersed in the industry and knows the real estate language.  7. REALTORS® have done it before. Most people buy and sell only a few homes in a lifetime, usually with quite a few years in between each purchase. And even if you’ve done it before, laws and regulations change. REALTORS®, on the other hand, handle hundreds of real estate transactions over the course of their career. Having an expert on your side is critical.  8. Buying and selling is emotional. A home often symbolizes family, rest, and security — it’s not just four walls and a roof. Because of this, home buying and selling can be an emotional undertaking. And for most people, a home is the biggest purchase they’ll ever make. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you stay focused on both the emotional and financial issues most important to you. 9. Ethical treatment. Every member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® makes a commitment to adhere to a strict Code of Ethics, which is based on professionalism and protection of the public. As a customer of a REALTOR®, you can expect honest and ethical treatment in all transaction-related matters. It is mandatory for REALTORS® to take the Code of Ethics orientation and they are also required to complete a refresher course every four years.    

 1. Research before you look. Decide what features you most want to have in a home, what neighborhoods you prefer, and how much you’d be willing to spend each month for housing.  2. Be realistic. It’s OK to be picky, but don’t be unrealistic with your expectations. There’s no such thing as a perfect home. Use your list of priorities as a guide to evaluate each property.3. Get your finances in order. Review your credit report and be sure you have enough money to cover your down payment and closing costs. Then, talk to a lender and get pre-qualified for a mortgage. This will save you the heartache later of falling in love with a house you can’t afford.

4. Don’t ask too many people for opinions. It will drive you crazy. Select one or two people to turn to if you feel you need a second opinion, but be ready to make the final decision on your own.

5. Decide your moving timeline. When is your lease up? Are you allowed to sublet? How tight is the rental market in your area? All of these factors will help you determine when you should move.

6. Think long term. Are you looking for a starter house with plans to move up in a few years, or do you hope to stay in this home for a longer period? This decision may dictate what type of home you’ll buy as well as the type of mortgage terms that will best suit you.

7. Insist on a home inspection. If possible, get a warranty from the seller to cover defects for one year.

8. Get help from a REALTOR®. Hire a real estate professional who specializes in buyer representation. Unlike a listing agent, whose first duty is to the seller, a buyer’s representative is working only for you. Buyer’s reps are usually paid out of the seller’s commission payment.