“Dark, spooky woods in the night with one solitary flashlight light. Purposefully dark for spooky, mysterious effect. Related:”
A considerable number of potential buyers shy away from the real estate market because they’re uncertain about the buying process – particularly when it comes to qualifying for a mortgage.
For many, the mortgage process can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be!
In order to qualify in today’s market, you’ll need a down payment (the average down payment on all loans last year was 5%, with many buyers putting down 3% or less), a stable income, and a good credit history.
Once you’re ready to apply, here are 5 easy steps Freddie Macsuggests to follow:
Find out your current credit history and credit score– Even if you don’t have perfect credit, you may already qualify for a loan. The average FICO Score® for all closed loans in September was 737, according to Ellie Mae.
Start gathering all of your documentation– This includes income verification (such as W-2 forms or tax returns), credit history, and assets (such as bank statements to verify your savings).
Contact a professional– Your real estate agent will be able to recommend a loan officer who can help you develop a spending plan, as well as help you determine how much home you can afford.
Consult with your lender– He or she will review your income, expenses, and financial goals in order to determine the type and amount of mortgage you qualify for.
Talk to your lender about pre-approval– A pre-approval letter provides an estimate of what you might be able to borrow (provided your financial status doesn’t change) and demonstrates to home sellers that you’re serious about buying.
Bottom Line
Do your research, reach out to professionals, stick to your budget, and be sure you’re ready to take on the financial responsibilities of becoming a homeowner.
Contact us: PHP Houses 142 W Lakeview Ave Unit 1030 Lake Mary, FL 32746 Ph: (407) 519-0719 Fax: (407) 205-1951 email: info@phphouses.com
In a normal housing market, whether you’re buying or selling a home, you need an experienced guide to help you navigate the process. You need someone you can turn to who will tell you how to price your home correctly right from the start. You need someone who can help you determine what to offer on your dream home without paying too much or offending the seller with a low-ball offer.
We are, however, in anything but a “normal market” right now. The media is full of stories about an impending recession, a trade war with China, and constant political upheaval. Each of these potential situations could dramatically impact the real estate market. To successfully navigate the landscape today, you need more than an experienced guide. You need a ‘Real Estate Sherpa.’
A Sherpa is a “member of a Himalayan people living on the borders of Nepal and Tibet, renowned for their skill in mountaineering.” Sherpas are skilled in leading their parties through the extreme altitudes of the peaks and passes in the region – some of the most treacherous trails in the world. They take pride in their hardiness, expertise, and experience at very high altitudes.
They are much more than just guides.
This is much more than a normal real estate market.
The average guide just won’t do. You need a ‘Sherpa.’ You need an expert who understands what is happening in the market and why it is happening. You need someone who can simply and effectively explain it to you and your family. You need an expert who will guarantee you make the right decision, even in these challenging times.
Dave Ramsey, the financial guru, advises:
“When getting help with money, whether it’s insurance, real estate or investments, you should always look for someone with the heart of a teacher, not the heart of a salesman.”
Bottom Line
Hiring an agent who has a finger on the pulse of the market will make your buying or selling experience an educated one.
Contact us: PHP Houses 142 W Lakeview Ave Unit 1030 Lake Mary, FL 32746 Ph: (407) 519-0719 Fax: (407) 205-1951 email: info@phphouses.com
While a recent announcement from CNBC shares that the average national FICO® score has reached an all-time high of 706, the good news for potential buyers is that you don’t need a score that high to qualify for a mortgage. Let’s unpack the credit score myth so you can to become a homeowner sooner than you may think.
With today’s low interest rates, many believe now is a great time to buy – and rightfully so! Fannie Mae recently noted that 58% of Americans surveyed say it is a good time to buy. Similarly, the Q3 2019 HOME Survey by the National Association of Realtors said 63% of people believe now is a good time to buy a home. Unfortunately, fear and misinformation often hold qualified and motivated buyers back from taking the leap into homeownership.
“For the first time, the average national credit score has reached 706, according to FICO®, the developer of one of the most commonly used scores by lenders.”
This is great news, as it means Americans are improving their credit scores and building toward a stronger financial future, especially after the market tumbled during the previous decade. With today’s strong economy and increasing wages, many Americans have had the opportunity to improve their credit over the past few years, driving this national average up.
Since Americans with stronger credit are now entering the housing market, we are seeing an increase in the FICO® Score Distribution of Closed Loans (see graph above).
But hang on – don’t forget that this does not mean you need a FICO® score over 700 to qualify for a mortgage. Here’s what Experian, the global leader in consumer and business credit reporting, says:
FHA Loan:“FHA loans are ideal for those who have less-than-perfect credit and may not be able to qualify for a conventional mortgage loan. The size of your required down payment for an FHA loan depends on the state of your credit score: If your credit score is between 500 and 579, you must put 10% down. If your credit score is 580 or above, you can put as little as 3.5% down (but you can put down more if you want to).”
Conventional Loan:“It’s possible to get approved for a conforming conventional loan with a credit score as low as 620, although some lenders may look for a score of 660 or better.”
USDA Loan: “While the USDA doesn’t have a set credit score requirement, most lenders offering USDA-guaranteed mortgages require a score of at least 640.”
VA Loan:“As with income levels, lenders set their own minimum credit requirements for VA loanborrowers. Lenders are likely to check credit scores as part of their screening process, and most will set a minimum score, or cutoff, that loan applicants must exceed to be considered.”
Bottom Line
As you can see, plenty of loans are granted to buyers with a FICO® score that is lower than the national average. If you’d like to understand the next steps to take when determining your credit score, let’s get together so you can learn more.
Contact us: PHP Houses 142 W Lakeview Ave Unit 1030 Lake Mary, FL 32746 Ph: (407) 519-0719 Fax: (407) 205-1951 email: info@phphouses.com
Congratulations! You’ve found a home to buy and have applied for a mortgage! You’re undoubtedly excited about the opportunity to decorate your new home, but before you make any large purchases, move your money around, or make any big-time life changes, consult your loan officer – someone who will be able to tell you how your decisions will impact your home loan.
Below is a list of Things You Shouldn’t Do After Applying for a Mortgage. Some may seem obvious, but some may not.
1. Don’t Change Jobs or the Way You Are Paid at Your Job. Your loan officer must be able to track the source and amount of your annual income. If possible, you’ll want to avoid changing from salary to commission or becoming self-employed during this time as well.
2. Don’t Deposit Cash into Your Bank Accounts. Lenders need to source your money, and cash is not really traceable. Before you deposit any amount of cash into your accounts, discuss the proper way to document your transactions with your loan officer.
3. Don’t Make Any Large Purchases Like a New Car or Furniture for Your New Home. New debt comes with it, including new monthly obligations. New obligations create new qualifications. People with new debt have higher debt to income ratios…higher ratios make for riskier loans…and sometimes qualified borrowers no longer qualify.
4. Don’t Co-Sign Other Loans for Anyone. When you co-sign, you are obligated. As we mentioned, with that obligation comes higher ratios as well. Even if you swear you will not be the one making the payments, your lender will have to count the payments against you.
5. Don’t Change Bank Accounts. Remember, lenders need to source and track assets. That task is significantly easier when there is consistency among your accounts. Before you even transfer any money, talk to your loan officer.
6. Don’t Apply for New Credit. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a new credit card or a new car. When you have your credit report run by organizations in multiple financial channels (mortgage, credit card, auto, etc.), your FICO® score will be affected. Lower credit scores can determine your interest rate and maybe even your eligibility for approval.
7. Don’t Close Any Credit Accounts. Many clients erroneously believe that having less available credit makes them less risky and more likely to be approved. Wrong. A major component of your score is your length and depth of credit history (as opposed to just your payment history) and your total usage of credit as a percentage of available credit. Closing accounts has a negative impact on both of those determinants in your score.
Bottom Line
Any blip in income, assets, or credit should be reviewed and executed in a way that ensures your home loan can still be approved. The best advice is to fully disclose and discuss your plans with your loan officer before you do anything financial in nature. They are there to guide you through the process.
Contact us: PHP Houses 142 W Lakeview Ave Unit 1030 Lake Mary FL 32746 Ph: (407) 519-0719 Fax: (407) 205-1951 email: info@phphouses.com
When buying a home, taxes are one of the expenses that can make a significant difference in your monthly payment. Do you know how much you might pay for property taxes in your state or local area?
When applying for a mortgage, you’ll see one of two acronyms in your paperwork – P&I or PITI – depending on how you’re including your taxes in your mortgage payment.
P&I stands for Principal and Interest, and both are parts of your monthly mortgage payment that go toward paying off the loan you borrow. PITI stands for Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance,and they’re all important factors to calculate when you want to determine exactly what the cost of your new home will be.
“A municipal tax levied by counties, cities, or special tax districts on most types of real estate – including homes, businesses, and parcels of land. The amount of property tax owed depends on the appraised fair market value of the property, as determined by the property tax assessor.”
This organization also provides a map showing annual property taxes by state (including the District of Columbia), from lowest to highest, as a percentage of median home value.
The top 5 states with the highest median property taxes are New Jersey, New Hampshire, Texas, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. The states with the lowest median property taxes are Louisiana, Hawaii, Alabama, and Delaware, followed by the District of Columbia.
Bottom Line
Depending on where you live, property taxes can have a big impact on your monthly payment. To make sure your estimated taxes will fall within your desired budget, let’s get together today to determine how the neighborhood or area you choose can make a difference in your overall costs when buying a home.
Contact Us: PHP Houses 142 W Lakeview Ave Unit 1030 Lake Mary, FL 32746 Ph: (407) 519-0719 Fax: (407) 205-1951 email: info@phphouses.com
1. Get rid of clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store and out of season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage.
2. Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior.
3. Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator. A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for.
4. Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows.
5. Put higher wattage bulbs in light sockets to make rooms seem brighter, especially basements and other dark rooms. Replace any burnt-out bulbs.
6. Make minor repairs that can create a bad impression. Small problems, such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet, may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well maintained.
7. Tidy your yard – cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes and edge the walkways. In the winter, keep the stairs and driveway snow free.
8. Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.
9. Clean out your gutters and polish your front door, doorknob and house numbers.
10. Finally, list your home with Walter DiLoreto for maximum exposure and to ensure your home gets the attention it deserves. Walter will be there to help you every step of the way and make sure your home gets sold in today’s competitive market. Free Market Analysis
Contact Us: Walter DiLoreto 142 W Lakeview Ave Ste 1030 Lake Mary, FL 32746 Ph: (407) 519-0719 Fax: (407) 205-1951 email: info@phphouses.com
Florida’s population is in an upswing, growing by more than 322,000 new residents in 2018 alone.
Are you looking to join these ranks?
Whether you’re moving into a new Florida home or you want to sell yours and look elsewhere, you’ll have to go through a real estate closing process, first.
No matter which side you’re on, this can be an expensive part of the journey.
Today, we’re sharing a detailed overview of what both buyers and sellers can expect to pay to cover Florida closing costs. This way, you can understand your obligation and set your budget.
Ready to learn more? Let’s get started!
Typical Closing Costs for Florida Buyers
Ready to plant your roots deep in the heart of Orlando? Dream of settling down near South Beach?
Before you can drive away with a title in your name, you’ll pay for a few services, first. In most cases, closing costs for Florida home buyers equal between 1% and 3% of the home’s total purchase price. This helps cover the work that key stakeholders, including title companies, appraisers, lenders, and real estate agents must perform to finalize the transaction.
When you apply for a loan with your lender, you’ll receive an estimate of all of these charges, which will vary depending on your specific situation. Let’s take a look at some of the standard charges that most buyers in the state will incur.
Title Insurance
As the buyer, you’ll pay for title insurance, which protects you and ensures that there are no issues with the current title in place. This can run you more than $1,000 in some instances.
Document Recording Costs
Next, you’ll have to pay to change all official documents related to the property from the current owner’s name to yours. You’ll pay these fees, which cover the cost of creating new land records, to the city or county. They are around $225.
Mortgage Fees
In addition, you’ll incur additional costs related to your mortgage. Some of the most common fees in this category include:
Origination fees (Vary)
Discount points (Vary)
Credit report processing ($25)
Appraisal fee ($375)
Processor fees
Survey fees ($300)
Flood certification ($15 to $17)
Escrow Fees
Many sellers will work it out with the buyers to split the escrow fees 50/50. You’ll verify this setup in your purchase agreement. Most buyers in Florida pay around $750 in escrow.
Three Types of Taxes Relating to Florida Real Estate
First, all properties in Florida are assessed a taxable value and owners pay an annual Florida property tax based on this value (except churches, schools, government entities). This tax is paid to the local municipality
Second, if you sell your home, there may be a capital gains tax on the profit realized from the sale. For this scenario, there are federal guidelines set forth for global buyers under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA).
The third tax category only applies to rental properties. If there is net profit on the rental income, there may be a federal tax on the profit generated from renting out a vacation home or other investment property. In addition, for short-term rentals there is a sales tax which is generally charged to the renter and submitted to the local government.
Seller Closing Costs to Expect
Think closing costs are only designated toward the buyer? Not quite. Before you can sell your property and start looking for your next piece of Florida real estate, you’ll sign a few forms and pay a few fees, first.
While a seller closing cost calculator can give you a more exact estimate, let’s take a look at some of the most common fees you’ll incur.
Title Insurance
This fee covers the work required to ensure that you’re the actual owner of the property and that the title is clean and marketable. If the buyer is taking out a mortgage to buy the property, he’ll also pay a title insurance fee to his lender.
In most cases, this fee will be around 1/3 of 1%. If you sell your home for $180,000, for instance, the seller’s title insurance fee would be about $600.
This percentage increases as the price of your home go down and vice versa. This means the most expensive homes in Florida can see a title insurance fee of 1/5 of 1% or less. If you chose to bundle your policy with the buyer, you can often qualify for discounted rates.
Escrow Fees
You’ll also pay escrow fees as the seller. These will vary depending on which party you’re paying them to. In Florida, you may pay escrow to your title company, the closing service or your real estate attorney.
Real Estate Commission
If you work with a real estate agent to sell your home, you’ll pay that person a commission for the services rendered. This will usually be around 6% of the home’s purchase price.
You’ll agree to a commission rate in writing before you partner with an agent.
Recording Fees
You’ll pay for the title change to occur and for the real estate attorney to make the official update to the county record. Most sellers in Florida pay to record a reconveyance of the title, which runs around $150.
If there are other forms that your attorney must process before the sale is complete, such as a road maintenance agreement or quit claim deed, you’ll pay extra for that service, as well.
Sell Smart and Skip Florida Closing Costs
For both buyers and sellers, Florida closing costs can add up. Whether you’re getting new keys or giving yours up, you don’t want to lose a ton of valuable money in the process.
Want to sell you Florida property and avoid this costly hassle?
That’s where we come in.
We buy houses for cash, and we’re looking for homes in Florida. We’ll help you skip the expensive and time-consuming closing process in a few quick steps.
Contact us today to learn more and see how simple real estate can be.
PHP Houses 142 W Lakeview Ave #1030 Lake Mary, FL 32746 P: (407) 519-0719 Fax: (407) 205-81951 info@phphouses.com
Homeowners constantly battle obstacles to sell their homes in Central Florida. Local cash home buyer now makes it easy, fast and stress free to sell a home.
SANFORD, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES, July 28, 2019 — Property owners have to deal with countless obstacles while attempting to offer their properties for sale. Discovering a reliable real estate broker can certainly be a challenge for most people. Local multiple listing services (MLS) do not regularly generate the traffic or offers one expects when they list their home for sale. Prospective home buyers possess their own distinguishable requirements. The property inspection and appraisal might not proceed as smoothly as expected for the property owner Certainly there can be unpleasant surprises from financial institutions of the purchasers and other various bad developments. The real estate marketplace in Northwest Indiana is positioned for modest growth but that is normally for new property developments. Selling a new house is less troublesome than making an effort to encourage purchasers with an existing or aged home.
“Our clients’ interests always come before ours. We tell you all of your options based on your situation even if it means we don’t buy your house.” Walter DiLoreto
A large number of aged properties are continuing being listed and unsold in the market for three to four months. Several homes are generating no attraction at all and they are most likely to go unsold even after several months. Within such an unsteady marketplace, homeowners become forced to slash listed sales prices so they can at least sell their homes instead of dealing with their equity help up or even lost. A home’s equity can be accessed only when the property gets sold and closes. PHP Houses is seeking to buy homes exclusively from property owners or sellers in Central Florida. The We Buy Houses company is offering premium cash offers without the requirement of property owners having to utilize the services of a real estate broker. Homeowners do not have to list their residential properties online either. Walter DiLoreto, the founder of the real estate investment company, says that property owners need to directly contact his office which will allow his team the ability to provide the fastest sale possible for property owners in Central Florida.
PHP Houses is an all cash home buying real estate investor. It is not dependent on any mortgage funding or any type of loans from credit unions and other financial establishments. It is a self-sufficient property investor that makes cash offers for homes in Central Florida. House owners can accept or turn down the offer. There is never any obligation. DiLoreto and his team have developed a reputation for making fair cash offers. The company is fair with the property inspection and subsequential pricing evaluation. They do not play games with homeowners money, their first offer is always their best offer. Not only does the company put forth an upfront offer for an outright sale, but it also does so within twenty-four hours of the inspection and can complete the deal, consisting of the financial transaction, in 7 business days.
Property owners who are about to list their houses for sale and those individuals who have been unable to get offers should contact PHP Houses. They need not shell out any money on marketing and advertising. The company does not expect homes to be staged for them to be interested in. Maintenance and repairs, renovations and of property improvements are also not called for. DiLoreto and his team are looking at houses just about anywhere in Central Florida. They are also contemplating properties in any condition. Every single home is evaluated on the basis of its qualities. The weak spots are likewise factored in but they do not typically emerge as a deal-breaker. Average prospective buyers are not interested in homes that repairs and maintenance. They wish to have the most ideal home possible that meets all of their requirements. PHP Houses does not have this type of steep criteria. More of PHP Houses services can be discovered here.
PHP Houses is a family-owned and locally-operated house buying company based out of Sanford, FL. They buy and sell houses throughout Central Florida specifically they buy houses in Sanford, Lake Mary, Orlando, Deltona, Kissimmee, Oviedo, Winter Garden and other areas in Orange, Seminole, Volusia, Lake and Osceola counties. Contact Walter DiLoreto for further information via email at info@phphouses.com or call to speak directly with Walter at 407-519-0719. You can also visit their location at:
