Monday, May 13, 2013

National Association of Realtors®: Some Areas Now Seeing Sellers' Markets


 The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) said today that home affordability remains high despite rising home prices in U.S. metropolitan areas in the first quarter. The annual price increase posted in Quarter One was the greatest in over seven years but NAR figures demonstrates that the typical buyer receives almost twice the income required to purchase a median priced home in his or her area.

Weigh against $158,600 to the previous year the median price of an existing single-family home rose to $176,600 in the first quarter. An 11.3 percent leap is the greatest raise since Q4 2005 when the increase back then was 13.6 percent. Out of the 140 metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) followed by NAR 133 demonstrated a yearly increase in median prices; the alike number which illustrated a twelve-monthly increase in Q4 but almost twice the number, 74, with such a year-over-year development in the first quarter of 2012.

NAR said that some of the price increase reflected a shrinking market share of lower priced homes and distressed sales and greater activity in the higher price ranges. There was a 23 percent share of distressed sales of the market in the first quarter compared to the 32 percent share in the previous year.

Median prices of condo and condominium prices located in urban areas ascend 4 percent on a yearly basis in the first quarter to $172,400. Thirty-nine metros out of the 54 tracked by NAR showed increases in their median condo price from a year ago while 15 areas had declines.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said many areas are experiencing a seller's market. "The supply/demand balance is clearly tilted toward sellers in a good portion of the country," he said. "Inventory conditions are expected to remain fairly constrained this year, so overall price increases should be well above the historic gain of one-to-two percentage points above the rate of inflation. If home builders can continue to ramp up production, then home price growth is expected to moderate in 2014."

The highest since the fourth quarter of 2009 when homebuyer tax credits were in place is the total existing-home sales including single-family and condos rose 0.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.94 million in the first quarter. The rate was a boost of 4 percent starting the fourth quarter pace of 4.90 million and 9.8 percent higher compare to the year earlier.

NAR said that to qualify to purchase a home at the national median price during the first quarter a borrower with a 20 percent downpayment would need an income of $30,700. With only a five percent downpayment the qualifying income would be $36,500. The national median income was $62,200.

After the first quarter there were 1.93 million homes available for sale. It is 16.8 percent below the close of the initial quarter of 2012, when 2.32 million homes were on the market.

In the first quarter, existing-home sales in the Northeast rose 4.4 percent furthermore, are 9.1 percent above the first quarter of 2012. In the first quarter from a year ago, the median existing single-family home price in the Northeast rose 2.9 percent to $234,000.

Existing-home sales increased 1.2 percent in the first quarter and are 15.0 percent higher than a year ago in the Midwest. In the first quarter from the same quarter last year, the median existing single-family home price in the Midwest increased 8.2 percent to $135,10.

In the South edged, existing-home sales up 0.7 percent in the first quarter and comparing to the first quarter of 2012 with just 13.3 percent above. The regional median existing single-family home price was $156,800 in the first quarter, up 9.3 percent from a year earlier.

The West is the region most impacted by limited housing supplies and its existing-home sales slipped 1.1 percent in the first quarter but are 0.6 percent above a year ago. The median existing single-family home price in the West leaped 24.4 percent to $247,800 in the first quarter of 2012.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Reasons You Could Ruin Securing The Lowest Mortgage Rate


It is up to you and it involves your necessary steps in order to make your application desirable to lenders when it comes to securing the lowest mortgage rate possible. In the case that you already know what lenders requires when they evaluate your home loan you must now do what is needed to make certain that you’ll get the home loan you desire and the home loan you are dreaming of. Be found lacking in taking these steps can be unfavorable to your probability of home ownership.


The following are six sure fire approaches to wreck your likelihood of securing the lowest mortgage rate:

Having poor credit - Bad credit is a definitely a sure destroyer when it comes to acquiring a low rate on your mortgage. In the condition that your credit rating is depleted afterward you can anticipate to be offered an extensively higher interest comparing to those who have finer or exceptional credit. In some cases, you may even be completely denied credit or have to get hold of a bad credit mortgage. Concentrating to your credit issues prior to trying to purchase a home loan can spare you the frustration of not getting the penny-pinching interest rates.

Having too many debts - Even though you have good credit, holding excessively many debts can as well disapprovingly impact your chances of securing an reasonably priced mortgage rate. The higher your debt-to-income ratio is, the more possible you are to be presented a sky-scraping interest rate or less advantageous loan terms. What you need to do first is pay down your debts and you will boost your probability of getting the greatest rates possible. Not having enough in savings - The less money you have in savings or that you can place towards a down payment, the more you'll need to have a loan of, basically making you more of in a fortuity. Having reserves is a good deal tool and can assist you counteract every unforeseen financial troubles.

Not comparing loan rates & fees - weigh against rates is a brilliant method that you can be guaranteed of getting the most excellent deal existing. Agreeing to the initial rate you are referred or deciding on a rate based only on the information given by one lender can be very unfavorable and will cost you money.
Not researching your broker & lender - Not every broker or lender has the loan you require or the means to find you the loan you want. Deciding the right broker and lending company is one of the most vital processes in acquiring the lowest mortgage rate possible.

Not asking enough questions - throughout the home buying procedure, inquiring on questions is one of your finest means in getting the responses and information that you want. Do not be terrified or be indecisive to raise any questions that you might have. If you will not going to do this, it will cost you more harm than good.


Wednesday, May 8, 2013

South Korea’s Economy




According to the Bank of Korea, despite months of tension on the Korean Peninsula,South Korea’s economy recorded a small but significant quarter-on-quarter (QonQ)GDP rise of 0.9% for the first 3 months of the year. The reports made it clear that this is the highest quarterly growth in two years.

To new president Park Geun-hye, this news has come as a elief. During his first two months in the office was not easy in fact has been difficult due to South Korea’s troublesome northern neighbor off-putting from the economic hold back causing problems the country.

The country’s its reliance on exports is one the South Korea’s main economic weaknesses. Regardless of the actuality that exports raise a little in the initial three months of 2013 exports are composed of about a third of the country’s GDP so ongoing issues in the EU, the U.S., and China persist to discourage future forecasts.

And since “Abenomics” began to be implemented Japanese Yen collapse in the value, making it another worry for South Korean exporters. Yen has touched the 1USD:100Yen mark more than once from highs of 1USD:78Yen in the autumn. A lot of the top Korean export brands, for example Hyundai and Samsung, compete directly with Japanese brands in the world.

Without a doubt, Hyundai’s first quarter bottom line fell 15 percent year-on-year in results announced last April..

The net profit of 2.1 trillion Won (US$1.9 billion) was somewhat liable on the relative strength of Seoul’s currency, together with the wearisome union activity at home throughout the period.

Thus there are still worries that pressure in future months concerning growth in the South Korean economy. After 6 months of holding steady little spending at home as well as with the hesitant viewpoint abroad and a moderately strong Won makes much ammunition to those who are calling on the Bank of Korea to slash interest rates again.

This newest GDP figure endows with some support for the Bank’s. Governor Choongsoo Kim has stayed firm despite the growing calls for action on rates. He highlighted the weak Yen as a concern and, according to Bloomberg, suggested that “financial support” would be provided to vulnerable exporters rather than a tit-for-tat devaluation.

Undeniably, according to some South Korea’s low consumption as due to the consequence of very high levels of personal or individual debt grounds to drag on household spending. Given these situation, then an interest rate cut may make that problem worse by tolerating even additional debt to be accumulate. With that kind of move, it would provide a short term increase to falling consumption, but merely at the cost of longer term pain.

With these thoughts, the most recent GDP growth data will make available an extra piece of ammunition for individuals on the “hold” side of the monetary policy debate. This is above all true given that President Park announced a US$15 billion budget stimulus package early April of this year.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Stress on New Housing to Raise Awareness by HIA



At this point in time interest rates on home loans records are at its lowest. Aside from this there is one more issue Australia's housing market is facing and that the Housing Industry Association (HIA) is now hoping to have addressed.

The HIA is gearing up to kick off its 'Housing Australians' campaign today, April 30, 2013. They aspire to convey to the national agenda the concerns encountered by the construction industry in Australia. The company emphasized a number of problems that the HIA asserts is at the back of the industry's high levels of stress, for instance the unequal levels of taxation, mounting rates of unaffordability, and the present high level of job losses in the sector.

"Access to affordable housing is one of the biggest challenges facing the Australian community," said HIA managing director Shane Goodwin.

According to the HIA, Australia will build 25,000 less homes this year than it did a decade ago and that building construction has contracted every month for the last 34 months. The severe drop in new housing is forcing the closure of many manufacturing and small businesses and consequently a number of layoffs. Australia needs 1.3 million new homes built by 2020 but large costs stand in the way. The HIA claims around 40 percent the cost is taxes, levies, fees and charges, it added.

"Government can't ignore housing any longer. They need to act more constructively, cooperatively and determinedly to meet the housing needs of Australians and their families," said Mr Goodwin.

The only way that families can lessen the expenses of a new home is to assure that they have the lowest potential interest rates on their home loan, giving them the possible to blow thousands of dollars off their repayments.

No Doc Home Loans Pros and Cons

http://springhillgrouphome.com/2013/05/no-doc-home-loans-pros-cons/

It sometimes can be very stressful to purchase a new home. And what makes it more difficult is the process that comes along with it more especially if you lack the required documentation to get a traditional home loan. Those who can not provide tax returns or mortgage finance statements like self employed individuals, work on a freelance or contract basis are often at a loss when it comes to providing ample proof that they are in fact credit-worthy when it comes to their incomes.

Ask yourself; is a no doc home loan right for me? Before anything else, you must weigh in the pros and cons of the action.

Lenders identify with your financial state. If it is different does not indicate that you should be reprimand or deprived of the chance to buy or refinance a home loan. This results to no doc home loans; this was intended to help those who are regarded as non- traditional income earners. But this comes with certain costs.
As stated earlier, no doc loans do not require that you prove income contrasting to traditional natures of home loans like fixed rate and low rate basic loans. Nevertheless, it is still demand that you can actuality pay back your home loan in a procedure that is referred to as self certification.


The Pros of a no doc loan:
Convenience - proviso that you agree to disburse the additional money allied with no doc loans in turn to speed up the home buying procedure then no doc home loans can facilitate your needs.
Less paperwork - Purchasing a home obliges much of forms and applications, a lot of which affects your income and debts. By no doc loans you can remove many of those forms.
Variety of loan options - Nearly all lenders recommend a range of no doc loan types to select from that consists of fixed rate and variable loans, which is significant to borrowers who will already be paying significantly more than those who have a traditional loan.

The Cons of a no doc loan:
 They may require a much higher deposit - For the reason that borrowers who want a low doc loan are professed as a higher risk, you may be asked to forfeit a substantial sum of money down. This can be a huge amount of money to come up with, chiefly if your income changes.

The interest rate will be slightly higher than traditional loans - over again, given that no doc home loans are perceived as riskier; the existing interest rate will be more than that of traditional loans. This is an essential feature to keep in mind seeing as those who normally pick no doc loans have wobbly income.
May be subject to fees - a number of home loans lenders fix additional fees to their no doc loans; these charges can be for applications and other processing fees. Not considering the reckoning after the fees, this is yet another extra expenditure for no doc borrowers.