Richard McDeid's (ourhome) Blog

Buying Your Home - Interest Rates Tell me more about ARMs? Adjustable-rate mortgages "are tied to an index which is a measure of the lender's cost of borrowing money. As the index rises, so will the interest rate on the adjustable loan," according to Dian Hymer, author of "Buying and Selling a H...

How do you determine the value of a troubled property? Buyers considering a foreclosure property should obtain as much information as possible from the lender, including the range of bids expected. It also is important to examine the property. If you are unable to get into a foreclosure property,...

What is the standard debt-to-income ratio? A standard ratio used by lenders limits the mortgage payment to 28 percent of the borrower's gross income and the mortgage payment, combined with all other debts, to 36 percent of the total. The fact that some loan applicants are accustomed to spending ...

What is Fannie Mae's low-down program? Fannie Mae is expanding the availability of low-down-payment loans in an effort to help more people nationwide qualify for a mortgage. Two new programs will help potential buyers overcome two of the most common obstacles to home ownership, low savings and a...

Where do I get information on housing market stats? A real estate agent is a good source for finding out the status of the local housing market. So is your statewide association of Realtors, most of which are continuously compiling such statistics from local real estate boards. For overall housi...

When is the best time to buy? Here are some frequently cited reasons for buying a house: * You need a tax break. The mortgage interest deduction can make home ownership very appealing. * You are not counting on price appreciation in the short term. * You can afford the monthly payments. * You pla...

What can I afford? Know what you can afford is the first rule of home buying, and that depends on how much income and how much debt you have. In general, lenders don't want borrowers to spend more than 28 percent of their gross income per month on a mortgage payment or more than 36 percent on de...

Buying Your Home How much does my real estate agent need to know? Real estate agents would say that the more you tell them, the better they can negotiate on your behalf. However, the degree of trust you have with an agent may depend upon their legal obligation. Agents working for buyers have thr...

#18 Avoid bidding wars In some cases, the seller’s Realtor® may use scare tactics to rush the sale or increase the price. Falling for this trap could cost you money. If there is another buyer, or some other reason this pressure is being applied, whoever wins also loses because they tend to overp...

#15 Keep it impersonal Conversely, information could be used to your detriment. Information about your mortgage, size of down payment, move-in deadline, or circumstances for buying could be used to the seller’s benefit in negotiations. While you want your Realtor® to know these details, maintain...