Home Equity Increases $1 Trillion in Five Years ? Is the Market Peaking?
A new survey reveals that in the last five years, the equity in the California real estate market has increased by more than one trillion dollars. A trillion dollars is a large number to ponder, but put in concrete terms, it can be represented by a stack of one hundred dollar bills that is six hundred thirty one miles high! This astronomical increase in California home values isn't all that unique, however. Prices on the East Coast, particularly in the Washington, D.C. area, are increasing just as rapidly. There are areas on both coasts where home prices have tripled during the last five years. This, along with the dramatic increase in interest-only mortgages among homebuyers, suggests that home prices may be peaking.
In California, 35% of all mortgages written are interest-only mortgages. In Washington, the figure is a whopping 48%. With an interest-only mortgage, the homeowner pays only the interest on the home loan for the first few years of mortgage payments. After the agreed-upon period of time ends, the amount of the payment is adjusted to include a portion of the principal. This typically increases the amount of the payment by about one-third.
Interest-only mortgages have gained in popularity as home prices have increased, mostly because buyers otherwise would not be able to afford to buy homes. The problem with these mortgages is that for the first few years of payments, the buyers aren't actually paying anything for the home itself!What these statistics tell us is that in California, more than one third of buyers cannot afford a mortgage that allows them to actually contribute to paying for the home when they move in, and in Washington, the figure is nearly one half. Experts disagree on exactly when the hot real estate market will collapse, but it would seem to the casual observer that when half of all buyers can't actually afford to make payments on the home they've just purchased, the collapse may be near.What does this mean for potential buyers? Anyone considering purchasing a home in the red-hot markets in California or on the East Coast should carefully consider whether or not they can actually afford to purchase a home. Qualifying for a loan isn't good enough if you can't actually make payments that will reduce your principal. If may be wiser to buy in a cheaper outlying area and commute.
Others may wish to rent in the short term in hopes that the prices will soon decline. It is always difficult to predict which way the real estate market will go, but a market where one-third to one-half of buyers can't actually reduce their principal should set off an alarm for anyone considering a real estate purchase..
?Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a Website devoted to debt consolidation information and HomeEquityHelp.net, a site devoted to information on home equity loans.FHA Mortgage
Many people dream of owning their own homes but only very few are able
to pay cash for them. This is why FHA mortgages are one of the popular methods
to find a source for consumer credit. People who could not otherwise afford to
own a house become homeowners with the help of FHA mortgage insurance programs.
FHA is the Federal Housing Administration. As part of the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), one of the chief purposes of
the FHA is to help people obtain financing for their homes.
How FHA Mortgage Insurance Works
As stated earlier, FHA mortgage is a way for homebuyers to obtain
financing for their homes.
All home purchases require buyers to make a certain
set percentage of the total purchase price, called the down payment. What the
FHA mortgage insurance does therefore is to allow a homebuyer to make a modest
down payment and obtain...
Mortgages > FHA Mortgage
Flexible Mortgage Guide
Here is a useful flexible mortgage guide. Flexible mortgages are loans which allow you to increase or decrease the size of your repayments within certain limits. This type of mortgage is relatively new. Flexible mortgages come in all shapes and sizes. The most basic flexible mortgage runs along similar lines to a standard mortgage but with a few extra facilities such as the calculation of daily interest, the ability to make underpayments, overpayments and payment holidays.
The interest rate can be discounted, fixed, capped or variable, but has the big advantage that it is calculated daily or monthly instead of annually. This means that any capital repayment of the loan will affect the interest charged on the outstanding balance immediately. By making regular overpayments, the interest saved on the mortgage over the term can be quite significant. Interest is usually calculated on a daily basis, so as soon as you have made a payment you are reducing the interest payable. By having...
Flexible Mortgage Guide
Mortgages > Flexible Mortgage Guide
The True Cost of your Credit
The current house price boom has perhaps passed its peak as I write this, but that doesn't stop the mortgage companies from offering yet more new and tempting products that look like good deals for a consumer. But be warned - The standard mortgage, running over 25 years is set like that for a reason! When you see companies offering '40 year mortgages' or 'low start' mortgages, or perhaps even 'interest only' mortgages, you should understand these shiny new products may have a nasty sting ion their credit tail!Perhaps the ultimate expression of lending absurdity is Japan, where at the peak of their last boom, 'Grandfather - Father - Son' mortgages were common. These committed unborn future generations to mortgage payments incurred by their predecessors (a situation thankfully illegal in most parts of the world!). Could it ever happen here? Probably not, but the extension of 'standard' mortgage terms on lower interest rates are not actually a good thing for the ordinary Joe, even though...
The True Cost of your Credit
Mortgages > The True Cost of your Credit
California Reverse Mortgages
California Reverse Mortgages are a different kind of mortgages that are proving to be very popular with senior citizens. A Reverse Mortgage allows the property owner to stay in the house, unlike the regular kind of mortgage that dictates that the homeowner move to a different place when the property is mortgaged.
As with regular mortgages, the loan is provided based on the property equity of the homeowner. However, in this case, even with the equity secured the homeowner can still enjoy the benefits of staying in the mortgaged home while paying the EMI to the mortgage lender. A Reverse Mortgage is a very good option for retired individuals over 62 years of age who would hate to move from home while the same is being mortgaged. Also they need not change their lifestyle, as the Reverse Mortgage amount would provide sufficient funds to maintain the existing one.
Reverse Mortgages provide financial security while enjoying the comfort of one's home after retirement....
Mortgages > California Reverse Mortgages
How Can I Tell The Differences Between All Of The Home Loans On Offer?
There are literally hundreds of home loans available but lets just look at the three main categories.
- There are the Purchase Home Loans, where you are looking at buying a new home.
- You have the Refinance Home Loans where you could already be in a home but want to find a better deal.
- And you have the Home Equity Home Loans, where you want to tap into the equity you have sitting in your home that you can use for something else.
Mortgages > How Can I Tell The Differences Between All Of The Home Loans On Offer?
Miami Online Home Loans
Living in Miami, Florida has so much to offer. Tropical weather, mild winters, lovely beaches, a thriving night life, a diverse community, and great food are some of what you can find in this bustling city. Home prices have been increasing sharply the last several years, therefore loan financing continues to play an important part in the local economy. We'll examine some Miami Online Home Loans you can apply for today!
Adjustable Rate Mortgages - affording a new home is easier these days as variable rate mortgages or ARMs continue to grow in popularity. Interest rates on your ARM can be as much as one percent
lower than what you would pay for a fixed rate loan.
Rates are generally locked in for the first few years of a loan and then change as they are pegged to rates determined by the government.
Introductory Rate ARMs - Miami Online Home Loans are also available as Introductory Rate ARMs. Usually with these loans, the rate is extra low for...
Mortgages > Miami Online Home Loans
California Home Equity Mortgage Loans
While a home loan pledges equity in a house to the lender, a mortgage typically means that the lender keeps the deed and title to the property as security for the debt obligation.
Mortgage rates are typically lower than any other type of consumer debt.
With a continued rise in home prices in California, and a continued low interest rate environment, mortgages are in demand.
Economic conditions in California and the continued influx of migrant population continue to boost the demand for home equity mortgage loans.
Like the rest of the country, California home loan interest rates are constantly changing. It is a challenge, therefore to wade through myriad offers and schemes and arrive at the best loan for the homeowner's needs.
The mortgage market in California is very competitive and this works to the advantage of homeowners. Lenders continue to lower the requirements and some don't even check the borrower's income in order to underwrite...
Mortgages > California Home Equity Mortgage Loans
Florida Interest Only Mortgages
An interest-only mortgage is one in which you only pay back interest with no principal for a certain period of time.
After this time period, which is usually five to ten years, the payment increases to include repayment of both interest and principal.
Most lenders in Florida offer interest-only mortgages.
As with any other mortgage, this option works best if you understand its advantages and disadvantages.
If you need a lower payment initially and anticipate you will be able to make larger payments later, an interest-only mortgage may be the right choice for you.
Alternatively, if you want a larger mortgage to buy a more expensive house, an interest only mortgage may help because the initial payment you are required to make is smaller so you can borrow more.
Interest-only mortgages may also be convenient for people who have an irregular income.
If your cash flow is irregular and you still want to buy a house, an interest...
Mortgages > Florida Interest Only Mortgages
Mortgages
This page loaded in 0.04547 seconds.