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Richmond Real Estate News & Views

Blog by Deb Orth
Richmond, Virginia

A chronicle of Richmond, VA real estate news, articles, views, and Richmond area activities and events

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Richmond Real Estate News & Views

Financing Solutions

May. 5, 2008

David Reed, a prominent mortgage professional talks about the state of financing. In essence, what he says is that there IS money available to make loans despite what you read and hear about in the media.  You’ve watched the news and read about it in the papers. You know, the “credit crisis” and how buyers need 20 percent down in order to buy a home? And even if you found a buyer with 20 percent down, lenders aren’t making loans anyway. So, why bother, right? Wrong!

We’re right smack in the middle of what just might be the biggest disservice ever perpetrated on potential home buyers.  It seems the press just can’t get enough of all the gloom and doom in the housing industry.  The fact is that mortgage money is as available today as it was a year ago and loans are being made this very moment with little or no money down. And, no, platinum credit isn’t required.  You just need to know where to look.  Who are these lenders? They’re right down the street.

Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans are exploding onto the mortgage scene; recent estimates are that one out of five mortgages are FHA loans. FHA loans never went away, their reemergence is a result of the collapse of the sub-prime market. FHA doesn’t technically have a minimum credit score, although, in practice, lenders won’t approve an FHA loan with a credit score below 500. But that’s a far cry from the notion that an 800 score is the only thing lenders care about.

The best part?  FHA only requires 3 percent down. 3 percent. And that 3 percent can come in the form of a gift or grant.  FHA borrowers only need to have $500 in a transaction.  All the while, FHA mortgage rates are as good or better than their conventional counterparts.

Low or no down payment, extremely competitive rates and easier qualifying.  No wonder FHA is moving up the charts!

Please contact me at Deb@RichmondHomes4You.com or by phone on 804 314-4575 if you would like more information about FHA loans, helping you to find a home, and getting financed for the purchase. Don't forget to visit my website www.RichmondHomes4You.com to search for available properties in the Richmond Metropolitan Area.

 

Buyers and Sellers - Time to Get Off the Fence

Aug. 10, 2007

 

It seems that almost every day for the last few weeks, the news about the chaos created by the sub prime market mess has been more and more despairing.

How bad is it? Well, thank goodness it isn’t as bad as in the 80’s when interest rates shot up to the mid to high teens; but, there is no question that getting the funds to purchase a home has gotten more difficult. Quickly receding are the days when a bank or Mortgage Company would lend 100%. Even 5% and 10% down loans are more difficult to qualify for and those that do qualify have to pay a premium interest rate. Let’s face it, the more risk or perceived risk that a lender sees the higher the interest rate will be and the more stringent underwriting criteria the purchaser will have to meet.

SELLERS: If you are a home seller, you will find that the pool of qualified buyers is shrinking because buyers may now qualify for less than they qualified for just a few short months ago. To the seller who has been digging in his or her heels regarding the asking price of their home, it’s time for a reality check. Do you want to be stubborn about what you think your house is "worth" or do you actually want to sell it? Don’t get caught up in that madness and pay the price of having to settle for a whole lot less when months go by with no offers and desperation sets in. And, if you’re a For Sale By Owner seller, don’t underestimate how buyers are going to lowball you even more than buyers have in the past.

BUYERS: If you are a home buyer, it’s time to fish or cut bait. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that the buyer’s market is going to favor you interminably. It’s true that buyers do somewhat have the upper hand when it comes time to negotiate price and terms, but, if you’re playing the waiting game, hoping that the asking price of the home or homes you’re looking at will drop more, you risk losing your gains by quite possibly having to pay a higher interest rate and larger down payment by the time you get off the fence. In other words, don’t try to time the market. It’s much too volatile to take that risk.