Real Estate Information Archive

Blog

Displaying blog entries 1-7 of 7

Do I Really Need a 20% Down Payment to Buy a Home?

Friday, February 5, 2021
by Christie Cannon

Do I Really Need a 20% Down Payment to Buy a Home?

Do I Really Need a 20% Down Payment to Buy a Home? | MyKCM
 

Is the idea of saving for a down payment holding you back from buying a home right now? You may be eager to take advantage of today’s low mortgage rates, but the thought of needing a large down payment might make you want to pump the brakes. Today, there’s still a common myth that you have to come up with 20% of the total sale price for your down payment. This means people who could buy a home may be putting their plans on hold because they don’t have that much saved yet. The reality is, whether you’re looking for your first home or you’ve purchased one before, you most likely don’t need to put 20% down. Here’s why.

According to Freddie Mac:

“The most damaging down payment myth—since it stops the homebuying process before it can start—is the belief that 20% is necessary.”

If saving that much money sounds daunting, potential homebuyers might give up on the dream of homeownership before they even begin – but they don’t have to.

Data in the 2020 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) indicates that the median down payment actually hasn’t been over 20% since 2005, and even then, that was for repeat buyers, not first-time homebuyers. As the image below shows, today’s median down payment is clearly less than 20%.Do I Really Need a 20% Down Payment to Buy a Home? | MyKCM

What does this mean for potential homebuyers?

As we can see, the median down payment was lowest for first-time buyers with the 2020 percentage coming in at 7%. If you’re a first-time buyer and putting down 7% still seems high, understand that there are programs that allow qualified buyers to purchase a home with a down payment as low as 3.5%. There are even options like VA loans and USDA loans with no down payment requirements for qualified applicants.

It’s important for potential homebuyers (whether they’re repeat or first-time buyers) to know they likely don’t need to put down 20% of the purchase price, but they do need to do their homework to understand the options available. Be sure to work with trusted professionals from the start to learn what you may qualify for in the homebuying process.

Bottom Line

Don’t let down payment myths keep you from hitting your homeownership goals. If you’re hoping to buy a home this year, let’s connect to review your options.

Add Comment

What Does 2021 Have in Store for Home Values?

Monday, January 11, 2021
by Christie Cannon

What Does 2021 Have in Store for Home Values?

What Does 2021 Have in Store for Home Values? | MyKCM
 

According to the latest CoreLogic Home Price Insights Report, nationwide home values increased by 8.2% over the last twelve months. The dramatic rise was brought about as the inventory of homes for sale reached historic lows at the same time buyer demand was buoyed by record-low mortgage rates. As CoreLogic explained:

“Home price growth remained consistently elevated throughout 2020. Home sales for the year are expected to register above 2019 levels. Meanwhile, the availability of for-sale homes has dwindled as demand increased and coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreaks continued across the country, which delayed some sellers from putting their homes on the market.

While the pandemic left many in positions of financial insecurity, those who maintained employment and income stability are also incentivized to buy given the record-low mortgage rates available; this is increasing buyer demand while for-sale inventory is in short supply.”

Where will home values go in 2021?

Home price appreciation in 2021 will continue to be determined by this imbalance of supply and demand. If supply remains low and demand is high, prices will continue to increase.

Housing Supply

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the current number of single-family homes for sale is 1,080,000. At the same time last year, that number stood at 1,450,000. We are entering 2021 with approximately 270,000 fewer homes for sale than there were one year ago.

However, there is some speculation that the inventory crush will ease somewhat as we move through the new year for two reasons:

1. As the health crisis eases, more homeowners will be comfortable putting their houses on the market.

2. Some households impacted financially by the pandemic will be forced to sell.

Housing Demand

Low mortgage rates have driven buyer demand over the last twelve months. According to Freddie Mac, rates stood at 3.72% at the beginning of 2020. Today, we’re starting 2021 with rates one full percentage point lower than that. Low rates create a great opportunity for homebuyers, which is one reason why demand is expected to remain high throughout the new year.

Taking into consideration these projections on housing supply and demand, real estate analysts forecast homes will continue to appreciate in 2021, but that appreciation may be at a steadier pace than last year. Here are their forecasts:What Does 2021 Have in Store for Home Values? | MyKCM

Bottom Line

There’s still a very limited number of homes for sale for the great number of purchasers looking to buy them. As a result, the concept of “supply and demand” mandates that home values in the country will continue to appreciate.

Add Comment

Knowledge Is Power on the Path to Homeownership

Tuesday, December 1, 2020
by Christie Cannon

Knowledge Is Power on the Path to Homeownership

Knowledge Is Power on the Path to Homeownership | MyKCM
 

Homeownership is on the goal list for many young adults, but sometimes it’s hard to know exactly how to get there. From understanding the homebuying process to pre-approval and down payment assistance options, uncertainty along the way can ultimately hold some buyers back.

Today, there are over 75 million Millennials and 67 million Gen Z’ers in the U.S., making up a significant number of both current and soon-to-be homebuyers. According to a recent Fannie Mae survey of more than 2,000 of these individuals:

“88% said they are confident they will achieve homeownership someday.”

In addition, the survey also reveals that for younger generations, the motivation to own a home may be more emotional than financial compared to previous generations:

  • <50% say they want to use their home as an asset
  • 78% believe it’s the best way to live the way they want, without restrictions
  • 80% believe homeownership is the best way to make it on their own

Whether homeownership goals come from the heart or are driven by financial aspirations (or maybe both), the obstacles standing in the way don’t have to bring these dreams to a screeching halt. The same survey also reveals two key roadblocks for potential buyers. Thankfully, they’re both easily overcome with the power of knowledge and trusted advisors leading the way. Here’s a look at these two challenges potential homebuyers face today:

1. 73% of future homebuyers are unaware of low-down-payment mortgage options

For those who want to purchase a home, low-down-payment options are instrumental to affording one sooner rather than later, especially given the amount of debt many younger adults have accumulated. Fannie Mae also notes:

“Among the challenges they face is an unprecedented amount of debt, along with a lack of understanding of the mortgage process and their own purchasing power. Debt, in particular, creates many obstacles such as a limited ability to save and the fear of taking on more debt.”

Today, there are more than 2,340 down payment assistance programs available nationwide to help relieve this pressure. Understanding what’s out there and the options available may help many buyers become homeowners faster than they thought possible. In a year like this, with record-low mortgage rates making their mark in the history books, being able to take advantage of the opportunity buyers have right now is essential to long-term affordability.

2. 64% of buyers expect lenders and other real estate professionals to educate them about the mortgage process

While many people love to do a quick search online to find instant answers to their questions, it isn’t the only way younger generations want to consume information or build their knowledge base. As the survey mentions, having trusted professionals help them learn what it takes to achieve their dreams is definitely on their wish list too.

Bottom Line

If you’re aiming for homeownership someday, it may be in closer reach than you think. Let’s connect so you can learn about the process and get the guidance you need to make it happen.

Add Comment

50 Owner's Retreat Inspirations

Monday, June 29, 2020
by Christie Cannon

Often we find ourselves putting the owner's retreat on the back burner in terms of decorating.  We make sure main rooms such as the living room, kitchen and dining room are well decorated so that it makes a great impression for guests, but what about YOU?

Here are 50 color inspirations from HGTV to inspire you to spruce up your bedroom!  Your Owner's retreat should be a place to escape and relax at the end of the day, so make it beautiful!

 

https://www.hgtv.com/design/rooms/bedrooms/inviting-master-bedroom-color-schemes-pictures

 

Add Comment

D-FW’s Home Market Ranked Among Least At Risk From COVID-19

Wednesday, April 8, 2020
by Christie Cannon
A new study identifies the most vulnerable home markets to be affected by the pandemic. Most major Texas metro areas are not expected to be affected as much as other areas, especially in the northeast and in Florida.
A new study identifies the most vulnerable home markets to be affected by the pandemic. Most major Texas metro areas are not expected to be affected as much as other areas, especially in the northeast and in Florida.(Vernon Bryant / Staff Photographer)

Texas’ biggest markets — including Dallas-Fort Worth — are among the metro areas least likely to see a major housing market shakeout from the pandemic.

Housing markets that will be most negatively affected by the COVID-19 infections and resulting economic recession are mostly in the Northeast and Florida, according to a new report by analysts at Attom Data Solutions.

Researchers looked at almost 500 home markets around the country and rated them based on foreclosures, homeowner equity, wages and other factors.

“It’s too early to tell how much effect the coronavirus fallout will have on different housing markets around the country. But the impact is likely to be significant from region to region and county to county,” Attom Data’s Todd Teta said in the just-released report. “What we’ve done is spotlight areas that appear to be more or less at risk based on several important factors.

“From that analysis, it looks like the Northeast is more at risk than other areas,” he said. “As we head into the spring homebuying season, the next few months will reveal how severe the impact will be.”

Attom Data estimates the major housing markets most at risk from the virus include four in New Jersey and the New York area, three in Connecticut and 10 from Florida. Only one was in California, and none were located in other West Coast states.

“Texas has 10 of the 50 least vulnerable counties from among the 483 included in the report, followed by Wisconsin with seven and Colorado with five,” Attom Data analysts said. “The 10 counties in Texas include three in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area (Dallas, Collin and Tarrant counties).

Harris County in the Houston area and Travis County in the Austin area were also ranked low for coronavirus-related housing shakeouts.

The pandemic and shelter-in-place orders are already affecting North Texas’ housing markets because there are fewer home shoppers in the market at a time of year when home sales typically boom.

And the Dallas-Fort Worth area was one of the few major metros in the country that saw a decline in the median list prices of homes listed for sale in March — they were down 3% from a year ago, according to Realtor.com

Dr. James Gaines, chief economist with the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, said he’s seen forecasts that predict Texas’ home markets will fare better coming out of the pandemic. But he’s wary of making any predictions.

“Obviously, the New York market will be collapsed and the tourist areas,” Gaines said. “Beyond that, we simply flat don’t know.

“The hit of the virus here in Texas so far has been considered light compared to other areas of the country.”

Gaines said it will be several months before sales and pricing numbers show where the Texas home markets land.

 

“I’ve seen some preliminary March numbers that indicate that we have had a slowdown but not a collapse,” he said. “But going forward, it’s going to look really bad year-over-year.

“March, April, May, June and July are usually our hot housing months.”

Texas markets are expected to outperform.
Texas markets are expected to outperform.(Attom Data Solutions.)

Steve Brown, Real Estate Editor. Steve covers commercial and residential real estate in Dallas-Fort Worth.

 

 

Article Provided By: Steve Brown at Dallas Morning News

Add Comment

Housing: Best Time to Buy in Four Years

Monday, March 10, 2008
by Christie Cannon

Housing: Best Time to Buy in Four Years
by Les Christie
Tuesday, March 4, 2008 provided by CNN-Money
 
It may be the best time to buy a house in more than four years.
 
Home prices have dropped so quickly and so far that valuations - the difference between what a home should cost and its actual price - are the lowest they've been since 2004, according to a report.
 
The Cleveland-based bank National City Corp., together with financial analysis firm Global Insight, revealed Tuesday that more than 88% of the 330 housing markets surveyed showed price declines and improved affordability during the last three months of 2007.
 
"Housing valuations are almost back to long-term norms," said National City's chief economist, Richard DeKaser. He called current affordability "the best in the past four years."
 
But DeKaser cautioned that home prices could fall even further.
 
"This isn't to say home price declines are over," he said. "We could move below historic norms. By the end of 2008, housing markets could be broadly under valued."
 
Prices still improving
 
There are still 21 housing markets, or 6% of those surveyed, that are severely over valued, including Atlantic City and Madera, Calif. That's down from 56 overvalued markets at the peak of the housing bubble in 2006.
 
The report compares actual median home prices with what the authors determine are proper home values based on population density, relative income levels and interest rates, as well as historically observed market premiums or discounts, to determine whether markets are over or under valued.
 
The report also factors in market intangibles that make some areas more desirable places to live, and more expensive. 
 
"Declines are no longer confined to once-frothy markets," said DeKaser.
 
The survey covered home valuations during the last three months of 2007, but DeKaser pointed out there's reason to believe that valuations are even more favorable for buyers today.
 
Price declines have continued into 2008 and interest rates, although they have inched up lately, have been steady or lower compared to late last year. There have even been wage gains; personal income rose 0.5% in December. Soaring foreclosure rates have added inventory to many housing markets, depressing home prices further.
 
The biggest gains in affordability occurred in California, Michigan and Florida, which are areas that have also been some of the hardest hit by foreclosures. Those states registered 43 of the 50 biggest price declines.
 
Bend, Ore. currently tops the overvaluation list. Home prices there were judged to be about 59% higher than their fair-market value. Miami, despite a median home price decline of 5.7% last year, is the most overvalued big city, by 44%. 
All the best bargains were found in Louisiana and Texas. Houses in Houma, La. were under valued by 31.2%, according to the report. Dallas was the most undervalued big city, by 30%.

Add Comment

Report: Dallas-Fort Worth home prices least likely to drop

Thursday, January 17, 2008
by Christie Cannon

 

Report: Dallas-Fort Worth home prices least likely to drop

07:30 AM CST on Wednesday, January 16, 2008

By STEVE BROWN / The Dallas Morning News

Dallas-Fort Worth's housing market is the least likely of any in the country to see a decrease in home values, a new report confirms.

At the same time, the chances of a house price decline rose in almost four out of five U.S. markets, according to a report released Tuesday by mortgage insurance firm PMI Group.

Dallas and Fort Worth ranked dead last in PMI Group's latest forecast of cities with the biggest chance for a home price shakeout.

Analysts with the California-based company estimate that Dallas-Fort Worth has less than a 1 percent chance of marked home price drops in the next two years.

By comparison, cities in California, Nevada and Arizona have more than an 80 percent likelihood of falling residential values.

"We're seeing an increasingly polarized market," PMI economist David Berson said in a news release.

"The risk that home prices will be lower in two years has increased for many of the largest cities in the nation, although areas that saw only moderate home price gains during the 2002-to-2005 period still generally have low risks of price declines," he said.

That's certainly the case in Dallas-Fort Worth, where home price appreciation during the last five years has been a fraction of the national average.

"Because Texas did not participate in the double-digit home price gains in the first half of the decade, it doesn't have to take the great pain of the areas that are compensating for that now," Mr. Berson said in an interview.

Now that the housing sector is in a slump, home values in North Texas have been relatively flat while they are falling in many other major U.S. cities.

In 2007, the median price of homes sold through the North Texas Realtors' multiple listing service was up 1 percent from 2006.

Texas markets – including the D-FW area – were also less affected by investors who ran up prices in some cities, Mr. Berson said.

And most Texas cities are outpacing the rest of the country in overall economics, he said.

"The state economy is doing pretty well, and job growth is above the national average," Mr. Berson said.

"It's quite likely Texas will be doing better than the national average for the foreseeable future," he said.

The D-FW area has gotten high marks in the PMI risk report before.

And other national surveys show that North Texas' housing market is outperforming those in the rest of the country.

Even so, pre-owned home sales were down about 8 percent last year, and sales of new homes fell about 17 percent in 2007.

Foreclosure rates also continue to rise.

Analysts are therefore keeping a close eye on D-FW home prices for signs of deterioration.

"I can't argue with the PMI risk assessment, but it doesn't mean that it still couldn't happen – just not as likely as elsewhere," said Dr. James Gaines, an economist with Texas A&M University's Real Estate Center. "So far, most Texas markets are doing well.

"The metroplex probably will do well to have positive overall appreciation, but pockets within the metroplex will have a rough time for a while."

Indeed, Mr. Berson said, the Texas housing market isn't bulletproof.

"There are no sure things," he said.

"It's possible that some parts of Texas will see some declines in the near term."

But overall, the outlook for the local housing market is good, he said.

 

HOW RISKY IS THE HOUSING MARKET?

 

Markets with the most and least risk of a home price decline, based on price appreciation, economic growth and affordability according to PMI Group, one of the country's largest mortgage insurance firms. An index of 100 means there is a 100 percent chance of home prices falling in the next two years.

 

MOST RISKY

 

Riverside, Calif. 94

Las Vegas 89

Phoenix 83

Santa Ana, Calif. 81

Los Angeles 79

 

LEAST RISKY

 

Fort Worth Less than 1

Dallas Less than 1

Pittsburgh Less than 1

Houston Less than 1

San Antonio Less than 1

SOURCE: PMI Group

 

Add Comment

Displaying blog entries 1-7 of 7

Syndication

Categories

Archives

Share This Page

Contact Information

Photo of Christie Cannon Real Estate
Christie Cannon
Keller Williams Realty
5933 Preston Road #300
Frisco TX 75034
972-215-7747
Fax: 972-215-7748
Send an Email
Keller Williams Frisco - The Christie Cannon Team - http://www.christiecannon.com

 

​