Articles Tagged "Mortgage"

The year is off to a good start, and the market is moving ahead at full speed. If you're thinking about buying a house this year, now is the time to start planning ahead. Whether your goal is to make your move by spring or wait until fall, our real estate agents strongly recommend getting everything in order sooner rather than later. Most importantly, make sure you know what the lending landscape looks like for the year ahead so that you don't get caught off guard by last-minute surprises.

• Credit Counts
  While lenders are eager to make loans, they continue to emphasize ensuring borrowers have credit scores that confirm their ability to repay the loan. As in years past, anything above around 670 is considered "Good" credit and will be sufficient to qualify for most loans. Of course, anything above 700, or between 750 and around 800, will qualify most borrowers for the best loan terms and options. And, while it's a badge of honor to achieve, striving to earn a score of between 800-850 is unlikely to be viewed by lenders any differently than a credit score in the same ballpark.

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You don't need a real estate license to find your dream home, but it does help to become familiar with the real estate jargon you might encounter during the process. When searching for a home or applying for a mortgage, you may hear your real estate agent or lender use any of the terms or acronyms below.

Keep this four-part guide handy — you'll be fluent in the language of home buying before you know it.

When you're searching for a home

• Approved for short sale: A term that indicates that a homeowner's bank has approved a reduced listing price on a home, and the home is ready for resale.
• Buyers market: Market conditions that exist when homes for sale outnumber buyers. Homes sit on the market a long time, and prices drop.
• Comparative market analysis (CMA): An in-depth analysis, prepared by a real estate agent, that determines the estimated value of a home based on recently sold homes of similar condition, size, features and age that are located in the same area.
• Comps: Or comparable sales, are homes in a given area that have sold within the past six months that a real estate agent uses to determine a home's value.
• Days on market (DOM): The number of days a property listing is considered active.
• Listing price: The price of a home, as set by the seller.
• Multiple listing service (MLS): A database where real estate agents list properties for sale.
• Sellers market: Market conditions that exist when buyers outnumber homes for sale. Bidding wars are common.
• Short sale: The sale of a home by an owner who owes more on the home than it's worth. The owner's bank must approve a lower listing price before the home can be sold.

When you're applying for a mortgage

• Back-end ratio: One of two debt-to-income ratios that a lender analyzes to determine a borrower's eligibility for a home loan. The ratio compares the borrower's monthly debt payments to gross income.
• Depository institutions: Banks, savings and loans, and credit unions. These institutions underwrite as well as set home loan pricing in-house.
• Debt-to-income ratio (DTI): A ratio that compares a home buyer's expenses to gross income.
• Housing ratio: One of two debt-to-income ratios that a lender analyzes to determine a borrower's eligibility for a home loan. The ratio compares total housing cost (principal, homeowners insurance, taxes and private mortgage insurance) to gross income.
• Loan estimate: A three-page document sent to an applicant three days after they apply for a home loan. The document includes loan terms, monthly payment and closing costs.
• Loan-to-value ratio (LTV): The amount of the loan divided by the price of the house. Lenders reward lower LTV ratios.
• Origination fee: A fee, charged by a broker or lender, to initiate and complete the home loan application process.
• Pre-approval: A thorough assessment of a borrower's income, assets and other data to determine a loan amount they would qualify for. A real estate agent will request a pre-approval or pre-qualification letter before showing a buyer a home.
• Pre-qualification: A basic assessment of income, assets and credit score to determine what, if any, loan programs a borrower might qualify for. A real estate agent will request a pre-approval or pre-qualification letter before showing a buyer a home.
• Underwriting: A process a lender follows to assess a home loan applicant's income, assets and credit, and the risk involved in offering the applicant a mortgage.

When you're shopping for a mortgage

• Conventional loan: A home loan not guaranteed by a government agency, such as the FHA or the VA.
• Down payment: A certain portion of the home's purchase price that a buyer must pay. A minimum requirement is often dictated by the loan type.
• Fannie Mae: A government-sponsored enterprise chartered in 1938 to help ensure a reliable and affordable supply of mortgage funds throughout the country.
• Federal Housing Administration (FHA): A government agency created by the National Housing Act of 1934 that insures loans made by private lenders.
• FHA 203(k): A rehabilitation loan backed by the federal government that permits homebuyers to finance money into a mortgage to repair, improve or upgrade a home.
• Foreclosure: A property repossessed by a bank when the owner fails to make mortgage payments.
• Freddie Mac: A government agency chartered by Congress in 1970 to provide a constant source of mortgage funding for the nation's housing markets.
• Mortgage broker: A licensed professional who works on behalf of the buyer to secure financing through a bank or other lending institution.
• Mortgage interest rate: The price of borrowing money. The base rate is set by the Federal Reserve and then customized per borrower, based on credit score, down payment, property type and points the buyer pays to lower the rate.
• Piggyback loan: A combination of loans bundled to avoid private mortgage insurance. One loan covers 80% of the home's value, another loan covers 10% to 15% of the home's value, and the buyer contributes the remainder.
• Principal, interest, property taxes and homeowners insurance (PITI): The components of a monthly mortgage payment.
• Private mortgage insurance (PMI): A fee charged to borrowers who make a down payment that is less than 20% of the home's value. The fee, 0.3% to 1.5% of the yearly loan amount, can be canceled in certain circumstances when the borrower reaches 20% equity.
• Points: Prepaid interest owed at closing, with one point representing 1% of the loan. Paying points, which are tax deductible, will lower the monthly mortgage payment.

When you've chosen a home

• American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI): A not-for-profit professional association that sets and promotes standards for property inspections. Look for this accreditation or something similar when shopping for a home inspector.
• Cash-value policy: A homeowners insurance policy that pays the replacement cost of a home, minus depreciation, should damage occur.
• Closing costs: Fees associated with the purchase of a home that are due at the end of the sales transaction. Fees may include the appraisal, the home inspection, a title search, a pest inspection and more. Buyers should budget for an amount that is 1% to 3% of the home's purchase price.
• Contingencies: Conditions written into a home purchase contract that protect the buyer should issue arise with financing, the home inspection, etc.
• Earnest money: A security deposit made by the buyer to assure the seller of his or her intent to purchase.
• Escrow account: An account required by a lender and funded by a buyer's mortgage payment to pay the buyer's homeowners insurance and property taxes.
• Escrow state: A state in which an escrow agent is responsible for closing.
• Home inspection: A non-destructive visual look at the systems in a building. Inspection occurs when the home is under contract or in escrow.
• Homeowners insurance: A policy that protects the structure of the home, its contents, injury to others and living expenses should damage occur.
• In escrow: A period of time (30 days or longer) after a buyer has made an offer on a home and a seller has accepted. During this time, the home is inspected and appraised, and the title searched for liens, etc.
• Title insurance: Insurance that protects the buyer and lender should an individual or entity step forward with a claim that was attached to the property before the seller transferred legal ownership of the property or "title" to the buyer.
• Transfer taxes: Fees imposed by the state, county or municipality on transfer of title.
• Under contract: A period of time (30 days or longer) after a buyer has made an offer on a home and a seller has accepted. During this time, the home is inspected and appraised, and the title is searched for liens, etc.
• Walkthrough: A buyer's final inspection of a home before closing.

When you own a home

• Equity: A percentage of the home's value owned by the homeowner.
• Homeowners Association (HOA): The governing body of a housing development, condo or townhome complex that sets rules and regulations. They charge dues used to maintain common areas.
• Property tax exemption: A reduction in taxes based on specific criteria, such as installation of a renewable energy system or rehabilitation of a historic home.
• Tax lien: The government's legal claim against property when the homeowner neglects or fails to pay a tax debt.

Find out what else you can do to prepare for buying a home here.

About the author

So you've decided you want to buy a home and have already toured several Albany homes for sale, but did you know your FICO score can make a big difference? Assessing your FICO score can help you determine if it's high enough to qualify for a mortgage loan on terms you can afford. If you're planning to make this major purchase, read on to understand why your FICO score is important and the steps you can take to improve it.

• What is a FICO Score?
  Created by the Fair Isaac Corporation, the FICO score is a three-digit number used by lenders to assess an applicant's creditworthiness. A FICO score ranges from 300 to 850, is largely based on the information in your credit reports, and can help lenders assess how likely you're to repay debt. This, in turn, can affect how much you can borrow, how much it will cost, and how many months you have to repay. FICO scores are used by more than 90% of lending companies, but not all credit scores are FICO scores. In fact, FICO releases new credit score versions to improve on the last one and create a more reliable and predictive score for lenders. This means that you can have several FICO scores, based on the model used by the mortgage company.

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Real Estate and Women: A Perfect Pairing

Without a doubt, 2020 was a year that no one will ever forget – and for Coldwell Banker Prime Properties, that's not just because of the pandemic. Last year, we grew by double digits, expanded into new markets, and helped more than 6500 individuals find a place to call home. At the core of our surging success is our local leadership teams, which are made up of 22 individuals, 18 of whom are women.

As a top 2% Coldwell Banker affiliate, we are especially proud this year to celebrate Coldwell Banker's recent honor of the Women's Choice Award. The Women's Choice Award is the only award that recognizes and identifies brands that women recommend.

At Coldwell Banker, we value women in real estate. I am beyond proud to work for a brand that empowers women to take on leadership roles and strives to make the industry better. Through our work with our Inclusive Ownership program and What Moves Her initiative, we are continuously exploring new ways to support leadership development, promote shared values, and provide resources for enhancing leadership tools and capabilities for women in the industry." – Liz Gehringer, chief operating officer of Coldwell Banker Real Estate.

Not only is Coldwell Banker recommended as a brand to work with, but as real estate leaders in customer experience and quality, Coldwell Banker Prime Properties is an incredible place to work for.

Want to BE PART OF THE COLDWELL BANKER BRAND? Contact one of our local branch offices today!

Real Estate and Women: A Perfect Pairing

Without a doubt, 2020 was a year that no one will ever forget – and for Coldwell Banker Prime Properties, that's not just because of the pandemic. Last year, we grew by double digits, expanded into new markets, and helped more than 6500 individuals find a place to call home. At the core of our surging success is our local leadership teams, which are made up of 22 individuals, 18 of whom are women.

As a top 2% Coldwell Banker affiliate, we are especially proud this year to celebrate Coldwell Banker's recent honor of the Women's Choice Award. The Women's Choice Award is the only award that recognizes and identifies brands that women recommend.

At Coldwell Banker, we value women in real estate. I am beyond proud to work for a brand that empowers women to take on leadership roles and strives to make the industry better. Through our work with our Inclusive Ownership program and What Moves Her initiative, we are continuously exploring new ways to support leadership development, promote shared values, and provide resources for enhancing leadership tools and capabilities for women in the industry." – Liz Gehringer, chief operating officer of Coldwell Banker Real Estate.

Not only is Coldwell Banker recommended as a brand to work with, but as real estate leaders in customer experience and quality, Coldwell Banker Prime Properties is an incredible place to work for.

Want to BE PART OF THE COLDWELL BANKER BRAND? Contact one of our local branch offices today!

More and more first-time homebuyers have been looking at Albany homes for sale. Buying a first home is complex but rewarding – and our real estate agents are always glad to help.

First-time homebuyers have some advantages that others don't. They are eligible for a variety of programs to help them reach their goals while saving money. In many cases, they take on less risk by entering the housing market, and they can adjust their timeline to take advantage of the best conditions.

But being a first-time buyer can also be challenging. When you jump into a complicated process like buying a house, you don't know precisely what you don't know. That can lead to mistakes and oversights that may be costly in the long run. The more research you do, the better off you'll be!

So, what do you need to know to be successful as a first-time homebuyer?

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Let's take a minute to talk about myths. No, we're not talking about "lightning never strikes the same place twice," or that "humans only use 10 percent of their brains." We want to talk about real estate myths. These misconceptions, not unlike the incorrect thought that elephants are afraid of mice, are all too popular and all too wrong. Our real estate agents believe that all buyers and sellers should be aware of the false statements that can negatively impact your real estate transaction.

COVID-19 Myths Regarding Real Estate

Let's address the elephant (who is not afraid of mice) in the room. The coronavirus is a serious global health concern that is still a threat to the health and safety of every community. This pandemic has impacted every aspect of life, including the real estate industry. Although it is indeed an obstacle that buyers, sellers, and agents must safely overcome, the operations within this industry are generally unchanged. Here are a few new myths related to real estate in the era of COVID-19 that you shouldn't believe.

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Your mortgage application was denied — what do you do now?

The home buying process is often an emotional time, especially for those purchasing their first home. While many prospective homebuyers are able to close on a house without issue, there are plenty of hiccups that prevent many people from securing the home of their dreams as swiftly as possible. Denied mortgage applications are not uncommon, in fact, there are a number of reasons why a buyer may be turned down, including:

• Insufficient credit history
• Poor credit score
• A high debt-to-income ratio
• Too low of a down payment or closing funds
• An appraisal that comes in too low

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Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is one of the most important steps and usually the first that you should take if you're serious about buying a home. Pre-approval is almost standard these days and can give you a big advantage in your homebuying process. A pre-approval tells you how much home you can afford and also serves as proof that you'll be able to close on a sale when you enter into a contract. Since a lender will approve only to a certain amount, you and your real estate agent will know the price range of homes you can afford.

But how long is a mortgage pre-approval good for? If you're hoping to buy a home in the New Year, it's important to think about the timing for pre-approval since weeks or months could pass before you actually purchase a home. And because lenders realize that the homebuying process takes time, a mortgage pre-approval does have a shelf life, but it expires after a certain length of time. Our real estate agents share what buyers need to know about timing on getting loan pre-approval for a new home purchase.

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There's no getting around that your credit score plays an important role when buying a house. It impacts both your ability to secure a mortgage and the rates that lenders will offer you. The good news is that even if your credit score has seen better days, there's plenty that you can do to get things moving in the right direction. It's rare for buyers to have perfect credit, and even people with excellent credit may want to clean up a thing or two before meeting with lenders. Our REALTORS® love helping buyers achieve their goals, and we've put together six tips to help you boost your credit score so you can land the right home, for the right price.

1. Check for Errors on Your Credit Report
   Let's say you're shopping for Albany homes for sale, and looking for a way to boost your credit. The first step is simply making sure that the information on your credit reports is accurate, which you can do by requesting a free report once per year from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, the three major national credit bureaus. Make sure that all accounts on the report belong to you, and that payments are reflected accurately. If there are any errors, report them to the relevant credit bureau for investigation.

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