Tag: home seller

How to Decide Which Offer is Best When Selling Your House

Posted on | by Cuselleration

Selling a home can be a very exciting process, especially as the offers start rolling in. But just because an offer comes in first doesn’t mean it’s the best one. The highest offer also does not always equate to the best offer either.

There are a number of factors and considerations you should keep in mind when reviewing offers for your house.

Payment Type:  The first thing you should do when looking at offers is check out the payment type. Most buyers will not choose to purchase in cash, but offers that are all cash are often the safest offers since sellers don’t have to worry about loan approvals by banks.

Pre-Approval Status:  Pre-approval is another important element to consider when selling a house. Essentially, a letter of pre-approval means a buyer will be able to get the loan they need to purchase your house.
This makes these types of offers safer (and stronger) than from people who are not pre-approved. Do keep in mind there’s a difference between pre-qualification and pre-approval.

Repairs: Your house might need some repairs, but maybe you don’t have the time or money to do them. This makes a buyer who is willing to do the work an attractive one when it comes to selling. Some buyers will ask you to fix things in the house, while others will want to do the work themselves.
Taking this into consideration can save you a lot of time and hassle when it comes to reviewing offers.

Additionally, some buyers will want you to take all the appliances, while others will want to use them. Items like refrigerators and washers can be expensive, so keep this in mind when it comes to reviewing offers.

Contingencies: A lot of offers will come with contingencies attached, which are a list of things that have to happen at certain times in order for the deal to actually go through. For the seller, fewer contingencies are always better, so it’s important to carefully review all contingencies in each offer.
More common ones include inspection, financing, and appraisal. Some buyers will put in a clause to back out of a deal if an inspection reveals too many problems, so be sure to read the fine print of each offer and weigh options accordingly.

Types of Loan:  Buyers will probably come towards you with a variety of mortgages under their belt, and this can lead to very different circumstances for the seller. Conventional loans are popular because they are pretty simple, but some government-backed ones can get a bit complicated since they require specific approvals and repairs at times. Make sure to keep the loan type in mind as you are reviewing offers, since this can add a lot of time and stress to the entire process.

Closing Timeline:  When you are selling a home, you’re probably just
ready to get a deal done and move on to buying your new home. Buyers who come with all cash offers will probably then be the best bet for you, even if the price is a bit below other offers.

Click here to learn everything you need to know about a closing disclosure form!

However, if your plans somewhere else are not yet clear, then you might need an extended closing timeline with a buyer who is willing to take more time. This gives you more of a chance to prepare to buy a new home, and gives the buyer more of a chance to potentially find more money for their own expenses.

Overall, there are a number of things to keep in mind when reviewing offers for your home. Price does matter, and this might be the most important factor for you, but some offers come with a lot of risks that makes them more of a hassle, even if you are getting more money upfront.

Are you in the market to purchase a home in Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto de Caza, or Mission Viejo? Click here to talk to the Kovacs Connection Team today!

Courtesy of Cuselleration

Benefits of a Veteran Home Loan

Posted on | by Cuselleration

VA home loans are one of the most powerful loan options on the market for veterans and active military. It’s becoming difficult for many military borrowers to build the credit and assets necessary to move forward with conventional home financing.

 

The advantages of the VA loan program over other loan types are a big reason why VA loan volume has continually increased over the last five years.

VA financing comes with significant financial benefits for those who have served our country. The requirements to secure them are often looser than what would be needed for a conventional or even FHA loan.

For a lot of active military and veterans, the VA home loan program is their only real path to homeownership. The increasing popularity has stemmed from the main advantages of VA loans. Let’s take a deeper look at the great benefits of VA mortgages:

No Down Payment

The VA loan program offers service members and veterans incredible benefits, from zero dollars down to no PMI and more.

Qualified veterans can get a VA loan without making any down payment. Compared to FHA and conventional loans, this gets converted into significant monthly savings.

The minimum down payment amount on an FHA loan is three and a half percent. In conventional financing, it’s oftentimes five percent. On a quarter million dollar mortgage, a military borrower would need to come up with eighty-seven hundred dollars in cash for an FHA loan and twelve thousand five hundred dollars for the conventional loan. These are significant and insurmountable sums for the average military borrower. The average VA borrower has just under nine thousand dollars in total assets.

The great benefit of being able to buy a home with a zero dollar down payment helps veterans and active military members get a slice of the “American dream” without having to spend years scraping and saving for a sizable down payment. This means those who serve our country can get into homes in the present, not in the future years down the road.

No Mortgage Insurance

Unlike FHA and conventional loans, a VA loan does not require monthly mortgage insurance. FHA loans come with both annual and upfront mortgage insurance charges. On a quarter million dollar mortgage, the FHA annual mortgage insurance can add about one hundred seventy dollars per month to your monthly mortgage payment.

According to VA estimates, veterans who secured a VA loan last year will save more than forty billion dollars in private mortgage insurance costs over the life of their loans.

Conventional borrowers who cannot put down twenty percent usually have to pay for private mortgage insurance.

This is an additional monthly fee that is tacked on to your monthly mortgage payment until you build twenty percent equity. The cost would vary by the loan amount, but it is not uncommon to pay more than one hundred dollars per month for PMI.

Competitive Interest Rates

Since the VA guarantees a portion for every VA loan, financial institutions could offer lower interest rates to VA borrowers that are typically one half to one percent lower than conventional interest rates. Rates are based on the inherit risk considered by the lender to finance the loan. The VA’s guarantee brings lenders a sense of security that allows them to charge competitively lower rates.

On a thirty-year quarter million dollar loan, the difference between paying a four percent and four and a half percent rate can mean approximately forty thousand dollars in savings over the life of the loan.

Closing Cost Limits

Closing costs and fees are included in all mortgages. But the VA actually limits how much veterans could be charged when it comes to these expenses. Some fees and costs need to be covered by other parties involved in the transaction. These safeguards assist in making homeownership affordable for homebuyers that are qualified.

Do you have a question on a VA loan for a home in Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto De Caza and other Orange County surrounding cities? We recommend you talk to the Ryan Grant Team, OC’s top mortgage lender!

Mortgage Do’s and Don’ts

Posted on | by Cuselleration

If you are looking forward to venturing into mortgage investments in Orange County, it is important for you to have a clear understanding about what you should do and should not do. This will assist you in avoiding frustration when you are dealing with your investments.

First time home buyers should learn more about the loan process to be adequately prepared for buying their first home.

Here is a list of DO’s and DON’Ts to keep in mind when you are dealing with mortgage investments in OC.

DO

Take a look at your credit report
Initially, you should take a look at your credit report. If you have a high credit score, you have the opportunity to go for a better mortgage. If you can pay it in a timely manner, you will be able to improve your credit score in the future as well. If you want to get a better understanding of your credit score, you should take a look at your FICO score. It is offered to you for free by financial institutions at the end of the month. You are also provided with the ability to purchase FICO from one of the reputed credit rating agencies. If your credit score is not good, you don’t need to worry because there are effective tips that you can follow to improve it within a short period of time. It includes paying your bills and debt on time and reducing the number of debt you owe. Click here to get your free credit report.

Reduce the debt to income ratio
Your debt to income ratio tells how you are capable of managing your monthly payments. As a result, the mortgage lenders take a look at it before lending the requested amount. To create a positive impression on an Orange County mortgage lender, you will have to reduce the debt to income ratio. It would be better if you can reduce the ratio down to 36%. If you have a stronger ratio, you will be provided with the opportunity to go for a better mortgage rate. Increasing your monthly gross income and reducing your monthly recurring debt can be considered as two of the best options available.

DON’T

Spend too much on your mortgage
After you obtain the mortgage, you shouldn’t spend most of your money on it. If you do, you will end up with financial difficulties in the long run. Based on your income, most companies push you to take the largest loan you are approved for,  which is why you want to find the right mortgage provider. Ryan Grant is a great Orange County mortgage company who provides a more educated loan process and look at all your finances to help you determine the best mortgage for your overall financial situation. This doesn’t mean you need to go ahead and obtain that maximum recommended amount. If you do, you will have to spend most of your monthly income on the mortgage payment. As a result, you will have to compromise on many other things in your life. Just take a look at how many years are left for you to pay the mortgage installments. You will realize how much frustration you will have to go through and the sacrifices you will have to make when you have pay too much on your mortgage.

Expect refinancing to reduce the interest rate
There is a possibility for you to save money. You just have to focus on shortening the term of your loan. In other words, you will be able to save money if you go for a 10 year fixed rate by giving up your 20 year mortgage.

On the other hand, cash out financing can also assist you with some major savings. With this approach, it would be possible for you to let your home equity settle down the other debts. This way, your monthly installment would increase because you shorten the duration of the mortgage. Also, you would be able to reduce the rate of interest, which can help you save money in the long run.

All in all, we conclude that the mortgage rates are always changing. If you’re interested in learning more contact Orange County’s top lender, Ryan Grant.

Ryan Grant’s team of mortgage experts focus on giving their clients a more educated, more motivated and more confident home buying experience so we trust you will be in good hands!

We take great pride in ensuring all clients have a phenomenal experience buying a home. Visit us at cotoconnection.com and a member of our team will contact you shortly. We look forward to speaking with you soon!