Special offer

Loan Points - Let the Seller pay them

By
Mortgage and Lending with Mortgage Magic

Here is a financial win/win that so few people know about. Realtors and sellers are frustrated because their listings are remaining stagnant. Home sales in many parts of the country are not moving. Buyers are frustrated because loan qualification has become more difficult and they need more money to close the transaction.

Many Realtors, lenders, and consumers do not know that the seller can pay the loan points and the buyer can write them off. Why is this so important? In most areas it is now a Buyers market and the Seller can entice the sale of their home by offering to pay the loan points. The buyer gets the write off and obtains a lower interest rate. Because the rate is lower, the buyer qualifies more easily for the loan.

If you are selling, consider this as a cost of doing business. Once you pay the points as a seller you also lower the gain on your home potentially reducing your capital gain tax liability. If you are buying, get the best interest rate by having the seller pay your points.

For more information you can contact me at doug@mortgagemagic.com.
Visit our web site http://www.mortgagemagic.com/

Doug Jones has been a lender since 1968.

doug@mortgagemagic.com

 

John Stauffer
John Stauffer MBA, E-pro,CRS, ABR, GRI, SRES - Battle Creek, MI
Doug - currently doing this in my market and it is the third of probably many creative offerings that will be made by the seller over the next year or so until the market turns around. You can get out of the business, adapt and change as the market changes, but please, please, please don't complain cause all that does is waste time.
Dec 19, 2007 04:03 AM
Charles Dismuke
Amerifund Lending Group - Palm Springs, CA
Palm Springs Mortgage Guy

You got it right!!  I always tell my buyers to ask their agent to write the offer with the seller paying 3% of the sales price to cover points and costs. 

Dec 19, 2007 04:04 AM
Esko Kiuru
Bethesda, MD

Doug,

As the market remains tough, creativity will make many border-line deals go through. Seller paying the points is one. There are still many programs available where it's allowed, so hopefully it'll be used more. Timely point.

Dec 19, 2007 04:28 AM