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The Power of Rate Reduction- Lower the Rate not the Price

By
Mortgage and Lending with Jeffrey Wilkish (Guaranteed Rate)

Don't reduce the price. Lower the Rate instead.

With a full shift in power from seller's market to buyer's market , both sellers and buyers need to reevaluate the approach to the transaction. The examples below illustrate how a simple seller credit can increase the number of prospects able to qualify for a listing and how it can produce significant savings for the buyer as well as helping to stabilze home values in a neighborhood.

Take a listing with a $450,000 Sales Price with a 20% down payment would have a loan amount of $360,000 at 6.5% that would be a payment $2275.44 per month and would require a monthly income of $5057 per month to qualify. Lets take that same listing and assume a price reduction of $13,500. That would make the new loan $349,200 assuming the same 20% down payment. The new payment would be $2207.00 and drops the income to qaulify to $4904.85 ($68.26 LESS). With a rate reduction (NOT a Temporary BUYDOWN) you would keep the sale price $450,000 and use a $13,500 seller credit to buy the rate down to 5.5%. This would drop the payment to $2044.00 per month this is $163.00 less a month in payment. And it drops the income to qualify to $4542.31. Which means there are a lot more folks could you show this property too. In addition the points are tax deductable. This really is a WIN-WIN FOR ALL PARTIES INVOVLED.

If you would like any more information about this or other sales stratigies please feel free to use me as a resource.

TIM MONCRIEF
Tim Monciref - Austin, TX
Over 2,000 homes sold…..

Love the theory....but the market is not buying it.  This may be because rates are so low and I deal in homes above $500k.  I have tried it and it ends up always about the price in this market.  Our clientele is not that concerned about payment as they are about the deal.....or how much money they have in the bank.  But I am just one........

Jan 26, 2009 07:16 AM
Joshua & Kathy Schmidt
ERA Henley Real Estate - Cabot, AR

Jeffrey,

     I think this would work better on the homes below that price range.  I think sellers would be more apt to pay with a higher selling price.  It is better for everyone, but like Tim said sellers just aren't buying into it.

Jan 26, 2009 07:59 AM
Tim and Pam Cash
Crye-Leike (Sango) - Clarksville, TN
Real Estate Professionals - Clarksville TN

I like it, but getting it to play, even in this market may take some doing.  I agree with above that it would work best in price range of 300k and below.

Jan 26, 2009 11:51 AM