Mortgage borrowers find it a bit easier to qualify

NEW YORK – May 13, 2015 – Lenders continue to loosen standards on home loans. Government and jumbo programs saw the most easing, while conventional conditions tightened.

At 122.0, the Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI) was higher than it's been in at least four years, and possibly five years based on a historical graph.

An increase in the index – which provides a standardized quantitative index solely focused on mortgage credit – indicates that lending standards on home loans are loosening.

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported the index based on data from Ellie Mae Inc.

March 31, 2012, has been established as the base period, with an index of 100.

The index was up for the third consecutive month from 121.4 in March.

As of April 2014, the index was 113.8.

"The increase was driven by new offerings of FHA's 203K home improvement program, new VA offerings, and new jumbo products," MBA Chief Economist Mike Fratantoni said in a written statement. "The increase was partially offset by some investors tightening underwriting criteria on conventional cash out offerings."

But while the trend has been improving, credit standards remain nowhere near levels during the pre-crisis go-go years – with the index estimated to have been approximately 880 in 2006.

The Government MCAI rose 1.1 percent from March, the best month-over-month improvement of any loan type.

A 0.8 percent rise was recorded for the jumbo index, while credit standards on conforming loans eased 0.2 percent.

The only category to tighten was conventional, with that index contracting 0.6 percent.

Copyright © 2015 Mortgage Daily. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

FOR SALE ~ New Tampa Home in Sterling Manor

 

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Looking for a move-in ready home, in a maintenance free community in the Tampa Palms area, this home is the perfect choice. Completely renovated, with lots of updates and upgrades, this home offers 3 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths, an optional 4th bedroom/den/office and screened-in deck. As you enter the home, you are welcomed with a 2-story, opened entrance, with large windows from the floor to ceiling. A formal dining room, with a wall inset for added decorations along with a bay window with sitting space. The first floor also features an optional 4th bedroom, a spacious living room, double sided fireplace, oak wood flooring throughout, recessed lighting, full kitchen with stainless steel appliances, closet pantry, and updated light fixtures.

The second floor is covered with plush carpet from the staircase to the bedroom closets. The second level, split bedroom floor plan includes 2 bedrooms, and a master suite that is separated by a guest bathroom. The master suite features windows that allow a lot of natural light, ceiling fan, tray ceiling, and two closets with one being a walk-in closet. The master bathroom will be your favorite place, with a water closet, garden tub, separate shower, linen closet, and double vanities. This home sits on a conservation of wooded charm. Not to mention the community is a maintenance free community where the lawn is trimmed routinely and the overgrown trees are pared bi-annually.

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Agents tinker with the timing of an open house

 
CHICAGO – April 21, 2015 – To make their open houses stand out, some real estate pros veer from the traditional weekend afternoon by opening their listings' doors at night. As the weather warms up and days stretch out, some agents host open houses on weekday evenings. Twilight open houses usually occur at dusk, about 4 to 6 p.m., and sometimes later.

Twilight open houses became more popular after the housing crisis as real estate pros were looked for new ways to catch potential buyers' attention and compete against a backdrop of many other homes for sale at the time. But now, some agents say they use twilight open houses for some of their most unique listings.

A Chicago brokerage, @properties, specializes in twilight open houses as full-scale, invitation-only events. For example, the brokerage held a twilight open house when 20 energy efficient homes in a new development in Skokie were for sale. The brokerage paid for a bartender and caterer to try to lure more potential buyers after work to the twilight open house. It worked: About 100 people showed up and four homes sold.

Kelly Evans with RE/MAX Estate Properties in Redondo Beach, Calif., says she holds twilight open houses occasionally but reserves it for unique properties. Unlike traditional open houses, buyers aren't as likely to just follow a yard sign and show up, she says. In fact, most potential buyers who see an open house sign on a weekday or evening many times assume an agent had a weekend open house and just forgot to remove the sign.

To avoid confusion, agents say with a twilight open house usually make it an invitation-only event on a weeknight, making it an offer for a special viewing to current clients, past clients, an entire building or neighborhood.

"I don't use it very often. It's very property-specific," Evans told realtor.com. "It's only for that house that has panoramic views, or there's a harvest moon – something to draw people in."

Source: "At the Twilight Open House, a Novel Approach to Home Sales," realtor.com® (April 3, 2015)

© Copyright 2015 INFORMATION, INC. Bethesda, MD (301) 215-4688 

Mixing Business with Business!

 

Every quarter, I host a Business Mixer at various venues across the Tampa Bay Area. I partner with one of my preferred business associates and invite all of our clients, friends and colleagues that are entrepreneurs. It’s an opportunity to not only solidify our existing relationships with these business owners, but to introduce their services to other like-minded individuals. I believe that we can all help each other succeed.

For my Real Estate business, I keep a well-defined list of professionals that I can refer should the opportunity presents itself. Since I work by referral, I do like to offer referrals too. It’s a Win Win. Not only does the end recipient receive service from a trusted professional, but it helps build that client’s confidence in me.

I'm a Quality Agent that delivers Quality Service. I like to work with people that share the same High Standards in their Business. Feel free to come on out to my next business mixer. I’d love to meet you. Upcoming Business Mixer Link –> http://bit.ly/1EfvPM7.

Viewing Real Estate Through the Eyes of Your Phone or Tablet.

 

Photo Credit: RISMedia.com

A recent survey conducted determined that many Realtors use FaceTime, an iPhone video app, to help overseas or out-of-state Buyers view homes virtually. Personally, I’ve used Google Hangouts, or even Skype to conduct such viewings. These outlets have also proven reliable when a Buyer cannot make it to the final walk-through and have chosen to close via mail-away.

Such applications as FaceTime, Google Hangouts, and Skype are all capable of sending video and sound using your smart phone or tablet. The user can also switch views between the front and back camera as needed to talk to a client and showcase a a home during the walk-through or tour. The Realtor can get up close and answer any questions on the home on the spot for the client.

Considering how hot the market is right now, homes can be under contract in one day. This method allows the Realtor to discuss all pertinent items with the Buyer in Real Time and the visual aspect offers added comfort for making quick decisions. If the client is unavailable at the time of the property viewing, I video record the property and outline all features and challenges of the home. The video is then shared with the client via Dropbox or Youtube, depending on file size.

In today’s market, having a Tech-Savvy Realtor is a plus. The Tampa Bay market is volatile and values are increasing daily. Buyer’s offers need immediate presentation to the sellers to increase chances for success. As I have listed many homes in the first quarter of the year, I see the first hand competition among eager buyers ready to secure a home and cease their long home search.

Looking to purchase or sell real estate in the Tampa Bay area? Your Favorite Realtor is here ready to assist. Feel free to call me at 813-419-7009 or email me at info@gloriawalters.com. Follow me at @GloriaSellsTPA or Facebook.com/GloriaSellsTPA.

Move-In Ready Home in Wesley Chapel

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Ready for immediate occupancy is this contemporary turnkey single family home in desirable Ashton Oaks, FL. Only two years young, this open concept home features wood, ceramic tile and carpet flooring, modern-style ceiling fans, canned/recessed lighting, a spacious laundry room with washer/dryer hook-up, a sophisticated paint theme, as well as granite countertops and stainless steel appliances in the kitchen.

The den/sitting room is perfect for entertaining privately or personal quiet time. The island kitchen features 42” dark maple cabinets, pendant lighting, built-in wine-rack, a breakfast bar, as well as a dining area that leads into the family room. The split bedroom floor plan allows master suite privacy that features a stand-up shower, dual sinks, and walk-in closet. Furthermore, the open lanai offers a covered space to enjoy the Florida weather.

This home is conveniently located in close proximity to I-75, the Wiregrass Mall, the Cobb Theatre, Publix, and many shopping, dining and other area points of interest. This pet friendly community also features a small dog park and a community pool.

Email, call or text 813-419-7009 for more information. Make an Offer today.

New home construction moves 6.3% higher in September

Construction firms broke ground on more apartment complexes in September, pushing up the pace of U.S. homebuilding.

• Housing construction start ups rose 6.3%, according to Commerce Department. These gains are made up largely from apartment construction- a volatile market.
• The economy has recovered slowly and wages have increased equally so, which leaves many Americans renting, rather than owning homes. This results in the high apartment construction percentages.
• Single family houses rose 1.1% in September, adding to an 11% gain during the past year.
• Applications for building permits are a sign of good future activity, which increased 1.5%. These numbers are also reflected in apartment complex construction. Multi family buildings (apartments) rose 7% in September.
• American Institute of Architects' billing index in August was 58.1. This index is weighed heavily to multi family housing, and any rating 50+ signals growth.
• Real Estate sales have dwindled. Price growth is slowing. Home values are increasing, which makes affordability a challenge for many home owning Americans.
• Prices rose 6.4% in August. This is a slowdown from last year, which was up 12%.
• Prices are increasing more than wages, which only just exceeds inflation. This makes it difficult for Americans to save money and make a down payment and qualify for mortgages. This influences more Americans to rent. This influences the driving force behind increased apartment construction rates.
• These figures influence increasingly few buyers to search for homes, which makes homebuilders less confident to build.Though new homes represent only a fraction of the housing market, they have an outsized impact on the economy. Each home built creates an average of three jobs for a year and generates about $90,000 in tax revenue, according to data from the Home Builders. This is another well written article that effectively showcases the reasons how and why the economy is effected by various industries, and vice versa. The cause and effect of the housing market is nicely illustrated.