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Top 5 Home Renovations with the Best Return on Investment
Well-planned home renovations can really enhance your home’s appeal and amp up its price when it’s time to sell. But not all improvements bring a hefty return on investment (ROI). Knowing the most promising updates can help strategize your revamping efforts for an attractive sale. Read on for a rundown of the top five home improvements likely to supercharge your property’s resale value.
Kitchen Upgrades
A modern, functional kitchen can impress prospective buyers and significantly boost your resale value. But a complete remodel isn’t always necessary when you’re looking for a sizable ROI. If your kitchen already has a good layout, work with what you have and make strategic changes. Key renovations to consider include new countertops, an updated backsplash, a fresh coat of paint, and high-end appliances. Need some swoon-worthy inspiration to get you in the mood? These kitchen updates will make you want to start taking notes and making plans.
Bathroom Remodels
Bathroom updates are next on the list of top ROI home renovations. Your efforts here can range from replacing dated fixtures to a more comprehensive refresh, including a new soaking tub or a sleek walk-in shower. But before you pencil in a new skylight and heated floor tiles, consider every tweak’s necessity and potential upside, as bathroom work – like kitchen updates – can quickly become expensive. But if you can invest more in this space, you’ll likely see significant returns.
Hardwood Flooring
There’s no question about it – adding or refinishing lackluster hardwood flooring can significantly enhance the value of your home. This type of flooring offers a timeless look that harmoniously blends with various design styles, from boho chic to classic elegance. Besides their aesthetic charm, hardwood floors are sturdy, easy to clean and healthier due to the absence of trapped allergens often found in carpets. Buyers are consistently willing to pay more for a house with hardwood, making this upgrade a wise choice if you can swing it. How much will wood floors cost you? It all depends on the size of your rooms, the style you choose and the tree species.
Eco-Friendly Improvements
Energy-conscious renovations have been in vogue for a while now. An energy-efficient home attracts a broad range of buyers and contributes to a greener, healthier environment for everyone. Energy-saving windows, LED lighting, Energy Star-certified appliances, higher-rated insulation, an updated HVAC system and solar panels can offer a higher selling price point and significant cost savings for the homeowner.
Adding an extra room or an outdoor living space
Expanding your total livable space can add considerable worth to your home, whether it’s a finished basement, attic or flex space. An additional bedroom or an office are always in demand, especially in this work-from-home era. If expanding indoors isn’t feasible, transform your outdoor area into a relaxing second living room. A deck or patio can be an enticing bonus for buyers looking for more usable square footage at the property. Swanky garage conversions can also provide extra room year-round with unique appeal.
The right home upgrades can substantially increase your property’s value. However, balancing your renovation budget with the prospective benefits is crucial. In addition to this list, research your market and pay attention to what features the top-selling homes in your area offer. Give me a call and I can help you make informed decisions and optimize your home renovations for the best ROI.
Want to Add a Granny Flat or Rental ADU? Here’s How to Finance It
Are you dreaming of adding an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) to your property? Whether it’s a granny flat, carriage house, or backyard cottage, ADUs are gaining popularity as an innovative solution to the shortage of affordable housing in the United States. In this guide, we’ll explore the financing options and trends that make realizing your ADU dream easier than ever.
Why ADUs Are in Demand
The demand for ADUs is on the rise, driven by a shortage of affordable housing in the US. Local and state laws are evolving to make it easier for homeowners to build ADUs, with some areas adopting “by-right approval,” reducing barriers to construction. Homeowners are exploring ADUs not only as a rental income source but also as a way to keep loved ones close by, offering an alternative to expensive nursing homes.
Types of Accessory Dwelling Units
Before diving into financing, it’s crucial to understand the types of ADUs available. From additions to existing structures to stand-alone constructions in the backyard, ADUs can take various forms. Fannie Mae sets basic requirements, such as a separate entrance, kitchen, sleeping space, and bathroom. Local regulations may dictate specifics like parking and utility hookups.
Varieties of ADU Loans
Considering financing options is a key step in turning your ADU dream into reality. Two main approaches exist: borrowing equity or opting for a construction/renovation loan.
1. Borrowing from Equity:
– Ideal for those with sufficient equity and a desire to maintain a low-rate primary mortgage.
– Potential drawbacks include higher interest rates on equity products and borrowing limitations (up to 80% of the home’s current value).
2. Construction or Renovation Loans:
– Suitable when borrowing from equity falls short.
– Allows you to borrow more based on the projected value of your property after ADU construction.
– Drawback includes accepting a potentially higher mortgage rate.
Renting Out Your ADU
If you plan to rent out your ADU, some loan programs may consider a portion of the tenant’s rent as income during the loan application process. This varies by program and may depend on factors like your previous experience as a landlord.
Finding the Right Lender
Whether you decide to borrow equity or opt for a construction/renovation loan, finding the right lender is crucial. Contractors can be valuable sources of lender referrals, helping you assess your financing needs early in the process. Alternatively, you can start by reaching out to a trusted mortgage lender for guidance and potential contractor referrals.
Unlock the potential of your property with an ADU and explore the financing options that align with your goals. From keeping family close to generating rental income, ADUs offer a versatile solution to the evolving housing landscape. Start your journey towards an enhanced living space today!
2024 Homebuying Optimism Soars: Federal Reserve’s Potential Rate Cuts Spark Hope
In the landscape of American homeownership, 2024 brings a surge of optimism for potential buyers. The Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment Index saw a robust 2.9-point increase in December, reaching an encouraging 67.2. Notably, 17% of consumers now view it as an opportune time to purchase a home, a significant uptick from the previous month’s 14%.
This newfound optimism is directly tied to expectations of potential interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve in the coming year. The anticipated reduction in interest rates could pave the way for more accessible mortgage rates, making homeownership a realistic goal.
Already, mortgage rates have witnessed a substantial decline, dropping by nearly a full percentage point since October. As of the latest data, the average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage sits at a competitive 6.62%.
Mark Palim, Fannie Mae’s Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist, underscores the notable increase in mortgage rate optimism, stating, “Mortgage rate optimism increased dramatically this month, with a survey-high share of consumers anticipating mortgage rate declines over the next year.” It’s noteworthy that homeowners and higher-income groups exhibit a higher level of optimism compared to renters.
This positive shift in the real estate landscape is not only reflective of market dynamics but also offers potential homebuyers a compelling reason to consider turning their homeownership aspirations into reality in 2024. Explore the possibilities as optimism in the housing market takes center stage.
Appraised Value vs. Market Value
When it comes to real estate, understanding the value of a property is more than just a number—it’s about making informed decisions. The often-confused concepts of “appraised value” and “market value” leave many confused. Understanding the differences between the two is crucial for navigating property transactions successfully.
What is Appraised Value?
The appraised value of a property is an estimate of its worth as determined by a professional appraiser. This process involves a thorough inspection of the property, considering factors such as location, condition, and recent sales of comparable properties in the area. Appraisers also take into account current market trends and the unique features of the property to arrive at a value. This appraisal is often used by lenders to determine the amount of a mortgage loan.
What is Market Value?
Market value, on the other hand, is the estimated amount a property would fetch in the current market. It’s largely influenced by supply and demand dynamics. Factors such as the desirability of the location, the condition of the property, and current real estate market trends play a significant role in determining this value. Unlike appraised value, market value is not a fixed number and can fluctuate based on market conditions.
Key Differences Between Appraised Value and Market Value
The primary difference lies in their determination: appraised value is assessed by a professional appraiser, while market value is influenced by the real estate market. Appraised value is more static and is used primarily for financing purposes. In contrast, market value is dynamic and reflective of the current real estate market conditions.
Appraised value is an estimate of a property’s worth as determined by a professional appraiser.
Determination Factors: Based on property inspections, local comparisons, and market trends.
- Purpose: Used primarily by lenders for mortgage loan determination.
- Stability: More static, reflecting the property’s condition and the market at the time of appraisal.
- Influence: Determined by objective criteria and professional assessment.
Market value is the estimated amount a property would sell for in the current market.
- Determination Factors: Influenced by supply and demand, location desirability, and property condition.
- Purpose: Reflects what buyers are willing to pay in the open market.
- Stability: Dynamic, can fluctuate based on current real estate market conditions.
- Influence: Shaped by the real estate market dynamics and buyer-seller negotiations.
Why Both Values Matter in Real Estate
Understanding both values is important in real estate transactions. The appraised value is crucial for securing financing, as lenders use it to gauge the loan-to-value ratio. For sellers and buyers, market value offers a realistic view of what the property could sell for in the open market. Discrepancies between these values can lead to renegotiations or adjustments in sale terms.
Key Takeaway
Both appraised value and market value are essential components of real estate valuation. Understanding the difference between the two can help buyers, sellers, and investors make better, more informed decisions.
To view the original article, visit the Revive blog.
Five Ways NOT to Use Your HELOC
One of the benefits of owning a home is the chance to build equity. Equity is the difference between what you owe on your mortgage and what your home is worth. If your home is worth $300,000 and you owe $100,000 on your mortgage, you have $200,000 of equity.
You can then borrow against that equity in the form of a home equity loan, or HELOC. A HELOC is a bit like a credit card with your home’s equity serving as your credit limit. Say you have $200,000 of equity. You might qualify for a HELOC of $150,000. You can then borrow up to that limit to spend the funds on whatever you want. And you only pay back what you borrow.
Say you need to spend $50,000 on a major kitchen renovation. You can borrow that $50,000 from your HELOC. You’ll then pay back what you borrowed in regular monthly payments, with interest.
HELOCs tend to come with lower interest rates than credit card
s or personal loans do, which makes them a more affordable option when financing home repairs or renovations.
Using your HELOC to fund improvements that will increase the value of your home is the best use of your HELOC dollars. You’ll even gain a tax benefit: You can write off the interest you pay on your HELOC if you use the funds for renovations or improvements that boost the value of your home.
What should NOT be financed with a HELOC
A dream vacation: You might want to fly to Europe or take that Alaskan cruise. But save up money to pay for it; don’t use your HELOC to fund it. If you fall behind on your HELOC payments, your lender can foreclose on you, eventually evicting you from your home and taking possession of it. Taking that risk to fund a vacation isn’t worth it.
Your or your children’s college education: Because the interest rates with HELOCs can be lower than what you’d get with private student loans, you might consider funding all or part of your or your children’s college tuition with a HELOC. Again, this is risky. If you stop making student loan payments, your credit score will tumble. But your lenders can’t take possession of your home. The same can’t be said if you stop making payments on a HELOC.
A big wedding: We get it: Weddings can be expensive. But again, funding a wedding — yours or one of your children’s — with a HELOC can put your home at risk. It’s not worth it for what is essentially a one-day event.
Stock market investments: You can make a lot of money by investing in the stock market. You can lose a lot, too. And if you use your HELOC to pay for your stock market investments? You might even lose your home if you fall behind on your payments. Again, the potential gain isn’t worth the risk. If you want to invest in the stock market, use your own funds that you’ve saved.
Credit card debt: This is a little trickier. Credit card debt comes with sky-high interest rates. It might make financial sense, then, to use a HELOC to pay off your credit card debt, as the interest rate attached to the money you’ve borrowed against your HELOC will be far lower. Again, though, there is risk. If you’re worried that you won’t be able to afford your HELOC payments, don’t borrow against your line of credit to pay off your credit card debt. Your credit card provider can’t foreclose on your home if you fall behind on your payments.
Heading into the New Year, Mortgage Rates Remain on a Downward Trend
Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.61 percent.
“The rapid descent of mortgage rates over the last two months stabilized a bit this week, but rates continue to trend down,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “Heading into the new year, the economy remains on firm ground with solid growth, a tight labor market, decelerating inflation, and a nascent rebound in the housing market.”
News Facts
- The 30-year FRM averaged 6.61 percent as of December 28, 2023, down from last week when it averaged 6.67 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.42 percent.
- The 15-year FRM averaged 5.93 percent, down from last week when it averaged 5.95 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.68 percent.
The PMMS® is focused on conventional, conforming, fully amortizing home purchase loans for borrowers who put 20 percent down and have excellent credit. For more information, view our Frequently Asked Questions.
Freddie Mac’s mission is to make home possible for families across the nation. We promote liquidity, stability, affordability and equity in the housing market throughout all economic cycles. Since 1970, we have helped tens of millions of families buy, rent or keep their home.
Home sales are expected to soar in these California cities next year
With mortgage rates finally easing, many California cities are expected to see home sales rebound significantly next year, according to a new forecast from Realtor.com.
Five metro areas are predicted to see double-digit, year-over-year sales growth in 2024.
They are Oxnard-Thousand Oaks (18%), Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario (13.8%), Bakersfield (13.4%), San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad (11%) and Sacramento (10.3%).
Home sales in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area are predicted to climb 9.2% after seeing declining sales for two years, analysts at Realtor are forecasting.
The online real estate listing service, which is certainly hoping for a turnaround, ranked the top 100 metro areas on two factors: expected single-family home sales growth and anticipated growth in median home prices.
In all six of those California markets, prices are expected to climb to more than 40% of the 2017-19 average, according to Realtor.
“Among California metros, an interesting split emerges. Five California metros entered our top 10 list of housing markets but none were Bay Area or Northern Californian metros,” Realtor notes in its report.
In 2024, Realtor’s analysts are expecting sales to decline in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara by 18.5%, six-percent in Fresno, and be largely flat in the San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley area.
Realtor also points out that California’s top markets tend to be more sensitive to mortgage rates than many other parts of the nation because less than a third of “homeowners” actually own their homes outright and, instead, owe money to a bank or lender.
Oxnard has the lowest share of homeowners who own their homes outright among the top 10 markets at 30.0%, followed by San Diego at 30.5% and Riverside at 38.4%.
by: Marc Sternfield
Private Mortgage Insurance: Is It as Bad as You Think?
Private mortgage insurance, better known as PMI, provides a type of financial safety net to your lender if you should stop paying your mortgage on time. How much you pay will vary, but PMI typically costs 0.1% to 2% of your loan amount.
That can add up. If you are taking out a mortgage of $300,000 and your PMI runs 1% a year, you’ll spend $3,000 a year on PMI. That comes out to $250 a month.
How to avoid PMI
You don’t always have to pay for PMI. Your lender won’t charge you for this insurance if you come up with a down payment equal to or higher than 20% of your home’s final purchase price.
Say you are buying a home for $300,000. If you come up with a down payment of $60,000 — equal to 20% of $300,000 — you won’t have to pay for PMI.
Is it worth it?
Here’s where the possible benefit of PMI comes in. Coming up with a down payment of 20% can be difficult, especially if you are buying a more expensive home. Consider that $300,000 home example: Can you come up with $60,000 to avoid PMI?
Today, you don’t have to come up with such a large down payment. You might qualify for a conventional loan — one not insured by a government agency — with a required down payment of just 3% of your home’s final purchase price.
For a $300,000 home, a 3% down payment comes out to $9,000. That’s not a small amount of money, but it’s far more doable than $60,000.
PMI is what allows mortgage lenders to accept smaller down payments. The extra financial protection provided by this insurance gives lenders the confidence to take on more risk when originating mortgage loans.
When considering your down payment options, you’ll have to decide whether you want to come up with more money to avoid paying PMI or whether you’d rather save that money to cover your loan’s closing costs or pay for other expenses.
PMI doesn’t last forever
Another piece of good news regarding PMI is that it doesn’t last forever.
Once you build equity in your home of at least 22%, your mortgage lender is required to drop your PMI payments automatically. Equity is the difference between what you owe on your mortgage and how much your home is worth. Once you hit that 22% equity level, you don’t have to do anything: Your lender will simply drop PMI and send you a notice of the resulting change in your mortgage payment.
You can also request that your lender drop PMI after you’ve built up 20% equity in your home. If you request this, your lender will usually order an appraisal to determine the current value of your home.
Writte by Don Amalfitano
Stretch It Out: Is a 40-Year Mortgage Right for You?
Like all fixed-rate mortgages, your interest rate will never change with a 40-year, fixed-rate mortgage. Your rate will remain the same until you pay off your loan, refinance your 40-year mortgage into a new loan or sell your home.
The difference between a 40-year mortgage and other fixed-rate loans comes in the term. The 40-year mortgage comes with a longer term than other loans, one that stretches four decades.
As with other mortgages, you’ll pay this loan back with interest in regular monthly payments. If you hold your loan for its full term, you’ll make 480 payments — 40 years of 12 monthly payments.
What is the benefit of a 40-year mortgage?
The biggest benefit of a 40-year, fixed-rate mortgage is the low monthly payment. Because the repayment period of this loan is stretched out over so many years, your monthly payment will be lower than if you took out a 15-year or 30-year, fixed-rate loan.
This could provide financial relief if you are worried about paying your other bills: Refinancing from a 15-year into a 40-year loan could save you hundreds of dollars a month.
What are the drawbacks?
There are some drawbacks to such a long-term loan. First, you’ll pay far more in interest with a 40-year, fixed-rate mortgage than you would with a shorter-term loan, sometimes tens of thousands of dollars more. That makes a 40-year loan one of the most expensive mortgages you can take out.
Second, it can be difficult to find lenders who provide these loans. These longer-term loans are nonconforming loans. They are also riskier for lenders because with a longer term, there is a greater chance that borrowers will miss payments. Because of this, fewer lenders provide these loans. You can also expect a higher interest rate when you do find a lender that originates 40-year, fixed-rate loans.
A look at the numbers
So, what is the difference in monthly payments and interest between 15-year, 30-year and 40-year, fixed-rate loans? Here’s a look at the differences:
Monthly payment:
- If you take out a 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage for $300,000 at an interest rate of 5.51%, your monthly payment will be $2,452, not including the money you pay for property taxes and homeowners’ insurance.
- If you take out a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage for $300,000 at an interest rate of 6.32%, your monthly payment, again not including taxes and insurance, will be $1,860.
- With a 40-year, fixed-rate mortgage for the same amount at an interest rate of 6.85%, your monthly payment, not including insurance and taxes, will be $1,831.70.
As you can see, there is a big difference in terms of the monthly payment when you compare 15-year and 40-year mortgages. But this difference isn’t quite as substantial when going from a 30-year to a 40-year mortgage.
Interest:
- With the 15-year mortgage above, you’ll pay a total of $141,595 in interest over the life of your loan.
- With the 30-year mortgage referenced above, you’ll pay a total of $370,488 in interest over the life of your loan.
- With the 40-year loan above, you’ll pay $579,215.50 in interest over the life of your loan.
As you can see, you’ll pay much more interest when paying off a 40-year, fixed-rate loan. You’ll have to determine whether the lower monthly payment is more important than the higher overall costs of this type of loan.
| Don Amalfitano |
| Managing Broker |
| Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel |
The Latest 2024 Housing Market Forecast
The new year is right around the corner, and you might be wondering if 2024 will be the right time to buy or sell a home. If you want to make the most informed decision possible, it’s important to know what the experts have to say about what’s ahead for the housing market. Spoiler alert: the projections may be better than you think. Here’s why.
Experts Forecast Ongoing Home Price Appreciation
Take a look at the latest home price forecasts from Fannie Mae, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), and the National Association of Realtors (NAR):
As you can see in the orange bars on the left, on average, experts forecast prices will end this year up about 2.8% overall, and increase by another 1.5% by the end of 2024. That’s big news, considering so many people thought prices would crash this year. The truth is, prices didn’t come tumbling way down in 2023, and that’s because there just weren’t enough homes for sale compared to the number of people who wanted or needed to buy them, and that inventory crunch is still very real. This is the general rule of supply and demand, and it continues to put upward pressure on prices as we move into the new year.
Looking forward, experts project home prices will continue to rise next year, but not quite as much as they did this year. Even though the expected rise in 2024 isn’t as big as in 2023, it’s important to understand home price appreciation is cumulative. In simpler terms, this means if the experts are right, according to the national average, after your home’s value goes up by 2.8% this year, it should go up by another 1.5% next year. That ongoing price growth is a big part of why owning a home can be a smart decision in the long run.
Projections Show Sales Should Increase Slightly Next Year
While 2023 hasn’t seen a lot of home sales relative to more normal years in the housing market, experts are forecasting a bit more activity next year. Here’s what those same three organizations project for the rest of this year, and in 2024 (see graph below):
While expectations are for just a slight uptick in total sales, improved activity next year is a good thing for the housing market, and for buyers and sellers like you. As people continue to move, that opens up options for hopeful buyers who are looking for a home.
So, what do these forecasts show? The housing market is expected to be more active in 2024. That may be in part because there will always be people who need to move. People will get new jobs, have children, get married or divorced – these and other major life changes lead people to move regardless of housing market conditions. That will remain true next year, and for years to come. And if mortgage rates come down, we’ll see even more activity in the housing market.
Bottom Line
If you’re thinking about buying or selling, it’s important to know what the experts are forecasting for the future of the housing market. When you’re in the know about what’s ahead, you can make the most informed decision possible. Connect me to chat about the latest forecasts, and craft a plan for your next move.
