You’re making monthly mortgage payments whether you know it or not.The question becomes are you making that payment on your behalf or that of your landlord. At VALoansMN we are prepared to demonstrate why it may be beneficial to you and your family to make that payment on your own behalf. It comes down to the choice between renting or buying a home with a VA loan.
There are some advantages to renting. First, and perhaps foremost, is the commitment to a property. There is little commitment as a renter. The landlord covers maintenance and repairs. You can walk away with little notice (generally 30 days unless there’s a lease involved. Being a tenant requires little up-front cost. This last point can also be said of buying your home with a VALoansMN home loan but more on that later.
To be a homeowner requires some forethought. How long do you plan on staying, can you afford not only the monthly mortgage payment but the maintenance, repairs and taxes. However, the initial upfront costs is minimal thanks the benefits of a VA loan. The VA loan is a rare commodity reserved for those who have served in the U.S. armed forces. A home can be purchased with ZERO DOLLARS down and some of the fees can also be rolled into the loan. We have argued for years here at VALoansMN that this mortgage loan is a true gem in the world of home finance. Never mind where mortgage rates might be today.
As Brad Christensen says you marry the home but you’re only dating the mortgage loan. If rates go down you can refinance the loan. Talk to Brad about how easy that can be. So, as you make your monthly mortgage payment (or rent) ask yourself this: who am I buying this home for? Is my monthly payment purchasing the home (or apartment) for my landlord or for my family?
Thousands of U.S. Veterans are sitting on the sidelines presumably waiting for home prices to decline. That belief may be pricing those side-liners out of the market. As we indicated in a recent blog post here at VALoansMN.com we remain in a sellers’ market. Prices are still going up although certainly at a much slower pace than the off-to-the-races increases we saw in 2021-22. Will this market continue to see increases?
Anyone who predicts the future is playing a fool’s game but we can look at historical information for some sense of what “might” be happening today. Many dooms-sayers compare this recent robust housing market to 2006-2008 and the bursting of a housing bubble. We’ve discussed differences in previous blogs so we’ll refrain from some repetition. In 2006 there was a government push to make mortgages available to almost anyone with a heartbeat. That policy rsulted in what became known as subprime mortgages. Many of those mortgages went into default and the market was flooded with foreclosures and short sale homes. What happens when there’s an increase in supply and a decrease in demand? Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner! Home prices fell off the cliff. That is NOT happening now.
We have seen some price reductions over the past year but that trend is now waining. In the Twin Cities area home prices have seen increases month over month of 1% to 4%. So, returning to the side-line crew, you may be waiting for little more than slight price increases. There is, of course, another major player in the housing market and that is mortgage loan interest rates.
We turn again to our crystal ball which, like all others, is VERY cloudy. Might we see a decrease in rates despite the FED’s recent rate hikes? There is historical data showing rates always decline in a recession. The powers-that-be in Washington are constantly saying we’re not heading into a recession. We can expect nothing different from those who want to remain in power. But a substantial number of those in the know say otherwise. This is an appropriate time to once again quote Brad here at VALoansMN: “you marry the house, you date the mortgage”. He of course means if and when mortgage rates decline from current levels you can break up with that loan and get another at lower rates. You don’t have to get rid of the home.
For more details on the current mortgage rates and all things home loans please call Brad at 612-240-9922.
Sellers still rule the housing market but they’ve lost much of the power they had two years ago. For VALoanMN clients and future clients this is actually good news. You may be thinking “how could a sellers market be good for me as a buyer?”. Here’s the truth about the real estate market: sellers’ markets are known as winners markets because everyone wins. If you’re considering the purchase of a home consider this; buyers prefer not to buy in a buyers’ market.
Generally speaking, in a buyers’ market home prices are going down. Buyers are shy about investing in a home if they believe in a few months or a year from now their house will be worth less than what they paid for it. However, in a sellers’ market home prices tend to increase thus making a purchase more attractive given the price you pay now will be less than the value in the future. Your home may seem like a good investment. So what does this mean to veterans considering the purchase of a home with a loan from VALoansMN?
Interest rates are about double from what they were 2 years ago so it is more expensive to borrow. But if the value of the home is increasing the cost of your mortgager may be offset. In a previous post we quoted VALoansMN’s Brad Christensen saying “you date the mortgage, you marry the house”. For clarification of that phrase call Brad 612-240-9922 so he can explain the benefit of that way of thinking.
Some economists say interest rates may decline due to a coming recession. History shows rates always go down in such an economic downturn. But what if they don’t? What if rates climb further as they did in the late 1980’s. In that period a VA loan rate of around 7% would have been an unreachable goal as rates were well into the teens. Get your VA Loan today and if rates decline in the future call VALoansMN and get a low-cost refinance to the lower rate. If rates continue to climb you’ll be considered a financial whiz for taking out a loan when rates were only 7% (or thereabouts).
If you’re somewhat confused about mortgage interest rates you are certainly not alone. In recent weeks we’ve seen VA loan rates increase dramatically, then retreat, then creep up again and, yet again, retreat from their highs. Let us begin by stating the oft repeated phrase “NO ONE KNOWS WHAT FUTURE RATES WILL BE”. We emphasize no one because of its importance in the statement. No one includes these we’ve come to rely on in the marketplace. This unpredictable future of rates seems to be complicated by an apparent lack of focus at the Federal Reserve as was pointed out in a recent Wall Street Journal opinion piece by University of Chicago trained Economist David Barker:
“The Federal Reserve’s credibility is in tatters. It predicted low inflation through 2021 even as the money supply exploded and higher inflation followed…But instead of lowering inflation and preventing recession, many of the Fed’s 400 economists are busy fighting climate change.”
Given the recent moves by the Fed it is apparent they believe a need for an increase in interest rates may be reduced. History, however, shows us inflation may only be tamed by still higher rates which may place us in a recession. This same history tells us the Federal Reserve’s interest rate (aka the Fed Rate) needs to be higher than the inflation rate. We are much below that rate yet the housing sector is already in a recession. The future of this sector is predicted in an analysis from the consultancy firm Deloitte:
“The housing sector outperformed the broader economy in the wake of the pandemic, as buyers and sellers found ways to navigate the pandemic’s restrictions. But the tables have turned. As the Fed has raised interest rates and inflation appeared, long-term interest rates have moved up dramatically. The result is a decline in housing starts from 1.7 million in Q1 2022 to 1.4 million in Q4. And house prices, which rose sharply starting in the middle of 2021, have stabilized and even started to fall in some places. Lower house prices will not be able to solve the affordability problem, however, because of the jump in mortgage rates…Deloitte expects the fall in construction to end by the middle of this year. Housing may bounce back for a year or two after the current downturn runs its course.”
But, no matter the ups and downs of rates or housing values, we believe the VA Loan benefit you’ve earned is still a very strong contender in the market place. If you purchase a home today and rates climb in the future you’ll feel like a genius. If, on the other hand VA loan rates decrease you are fortunate to be able to use the streamline refinance program available at VALOANSMN. For details on that benefit we encourage you to call Brad at 612-240-9922.
So VA mortgage rates have gone up but it still may make financial sense to consider buying a home. We’re going to spend some time in the next few paragraphs re-examining the question: should I continue renting or should I buy? First, we need to spell out a few assumptions necessarily made for comparison purposes.
If you are currently renting an apartment or house it may be time to take the plunge and become a homeowner. There are several advantages:
There are some disadvantages as well and at VALoansMN we want you to have the complete picture:
Perhaps a major factor in this consideration is money. Keep in mind we’re using the generalizations outlined above in our money discussion.
Cost of rent can vary depending on the size. A studio can rent for around $1,300 where as a 3 bedroom home will rent for closer to $3,500+. What could you buy for about $3,500 a month?
Using Redfin as our source the median home price in Minneapolis is $300,000, down almost 5% from a year ago, St. Paul $254,000 down about 2%, however, Eden Prairie was up almost 19%. This means half of all homes sold are price below this number and half are priced above. We’ll us the median price of $300,000 for our calculations.
Here’s the beauty of a VALoansMN mortgage, you do not have to have any downpayment. With your earned VA benefit you can finance 100% of the cost. The monthly payment for our median priced home would be about $2,000. That’s less than your current rent for 2 or 3 bedroom apartments. Of course there are property taxes to pay. Minneapolis tax rates are higher than the state in general so we’ll use worst case scenario. Taxes on our median price Minneapolis home will run about $400 a month. Then there’s homeowners insurance of about $100 dollars. (You should also be paying insurance as a renter which will likely cost about half the cost of the homeowners insurance). Add up the numbers and you can see you can actually save money by owning your own home.
We need to emphasize that we’ve used very general numbers for this illustration. To drill down on your real costs start with a call to Brad at VALoansMN (number for Brad above) then consult with an accountant or financial planner. A little due diligence may uncover a great spring for you and your family.
So, what happens when you fall in love? Are you driven by the passion? Do you overlook any potential problems that might develop in the relationship? Or perhaps you are cautious from the get-go and prefer dating for some time before making a long term commitment. Believe it or not there’s a corollary to buying a house. That is especially true in today’s market.
Back to our tempestuous lover who has fallen head over heals. That can be the result of walking into a home. Some realtors claim a buyer makes a decision on a house within minutes of walking through the front door. Head over heals. But mortgage rates have increased substantially in recent months (although, as of this writing they’ve slipped downward). This love affair is going to cost you money. You just have to have this house. So, what to do?
Brad at VALoansMN has a solution. If you’ve talked to him perhaps you’ve heard him say “date the mortgage, marry the house”. This makes a lot of sense in today’s housing market. As mortgage rates increased there is downward pressure on home prices. About a year ago we were definitely in a sellers’ market. We were seeing great price increases and yet we also saw some multiple offers which, in some cases, drove the sale price above asking. That is not the case now.
The pendulum has swung back toward the buyer giving you more power at the negotiating table. Realtors always seem to say “it’s a good time to buy” but there may be truth in that. Now is a better time to buy than say one year ago. Home prices have stabilized or have fallen. So when you fall for that home remember what Brad says; go ahead and marry the home because you’re only “dating” the mortgage.
Just because you’ve made a longer term commitment to the home doesn’t mean you will end up living with the mortgage for ever. You'll notice home loan rates go up and they go down. No one can predict the future. If you get a VA Loan today at 6% might that rate be less attractive due to a future of falling rates? So take advantage of another VA Loan benefit and refinance at a cost much lower than conventional loans. Remember, you’re only dating the mortgage. You’re not married to it. On the other hand let’s say inflation is unforgiving and rates tomorrow are higher than your 6%. In this scenario you may look like a financial genius for locking in today’s rate.
Don’t let fear of fluctuating rates keep you from your true love. Go ahead, get married to that house and remember, you’re only dating the mortgage. At VALoansMN we will help you with your love life. Well, at least in terms of housing and mortgages.
Perhaps our version of “build it and they will come” has indeed come to pass. Our version should read “write it and it will happen”. Two months back we predicted, based on historical data, that interest rates will drop in a recession. It’s happened every time since the early 1970’s. At the time of our writing this rates were zooming up, crossing the 7% mark. That is not the case today even though the economic gurus are shying away from use of the word “recession”. Say it isn’t so Joe! But, in fact, it is. Ask anyone on main street. But, here comes that silver lining in an otherwise gray cloud of downward moving economic numbers.
Despite the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee (the Fed) raising it’s Prime Rate 7 times thus far this year we’ve seen some decline in VA mortgage rates here in the upper Midwest. VALoanMN rates have tumbled in recent weeks. We suspect the perception of high rates have not followed suit.
Less than a year ago VALoansMN was able to procure rates in the 3% range. Then came the inflation (stagflation?) in the following months. So as we were getting used to very cheap money here came the increases catapulting to the 7% range. If we’re still seeing 6% mortgages as high it’s only because we’re comparing it to the lower rates available earlier this year. Surely we can all agree that a 6 is lower than a 7 and lower is good, right? But what will happen now?
The short answer is “no one knows”. We do mean NO ONE, not even the Fed (they so misjudged the severity of the inflation why would we trust their prognostications anyway?). We can only harken back to the data we reviewed in our earlier post. In every recessionary period since 1973 mortgage interest rates have DROPPED. The question becomes are we sliding further into a recession in the coming year?
Here’s the rub: you can sit on the sidelines hoping for dropping rates (or home prices) or you can take what’s available today and perhaps look back in a few years and think to yourself “wow, and I thought a VA Loan rate of 6% was high and look where we’re at today!” Any homeowner over the age of 50 can tell you what a high VA mortgage rate is and it is stated in double digits. Rates today may, in the long run, be very attractive.
Finally, we at VALoansMN/Luminate Home Loans wish you good tidings this holiday season. May you and yours make many good memories!
The rapid mortgage interest rate increase this year has shocked the real estate market. In 2020 VA Loans were below 3%. Today we’re seeing rates over twice that. Many home buyers or refinancers have not experienced this level of VA loan rates, but there is a silver lining in the rate cloud and it shows the strength of the Veterans benefit. This could be your pot of gold.
We know of a homeowner who took advantage of this Veterans’ benefit in 2020 using his loan to finance 100% of his purchase price. His VA Loan rate is just under 3%. But now, he’s had some life-changes and is preparing his home for sale. Fortunately his real estate agent contacted us and ask about the assumability of his current mortgage loan. Our Veteran is thankful he had sought out an agent who had familiarity with VA Loans.
“Yes”, we said, “another qualified buyer, veteran or not, chooses to buy this homie she can assume the mortgage at it’s current rate”. Our home owning veteran has made about 18 payments on that loan. His principal loan amount has decreased only slightly. Our new homebuyer can purchase this home and assume the current, very low interest rate.
In this somewhat slow real estate market here comes a home for sale that has an assumable mortgage rate less than half of today’s market rates. Here comes a very appealing opportunity for another buyer. This feature is but one of the benefits VALoansMN can offer. However, as they say on TV “wait, there’s more!”.
Staying with our home-selling Veteran he must now find a house in a new location and he will face today’s VA loan rates which are considerably higher than the loan he once had. But, no worries, he’ll obtain another VA loan to purchase his new home and, if rates return to lower levels, he can take advantage of the streamlined refinance offered at VALoansMN. Using this feature here’s no need for an appraisal nor is there any income verification. As Brad at VALoansMN puts it “you marry the house but you’re only dating the mortgage”.
Don't overlook your pot of gold. Call us today and we'll show you how easy it can be.
A home is NOT an investment. That’s what many money managers have told their clients. Really? Yes, really…mostly. If your consideration is just return on the dollar you may be disappointed. There is so much more to a house than its dollar value. This can be expressed with a very simple question; do you own a house or a home?
If your answer is house then you likely put a dollar value on the house. There’s nothing wrong with this outlook. Who doesn’t want to make a profit on any commodity when sold? Over time real estate can return profit but only if you sell. If you measure your wealth by dollars you may be shorting yourself.
What’s the difference between a house and a home? Each of us will answer in our own way. A Wall Street Journal reporter wrote an article titled "How Houses Eat Money" It’s a worthy read and may change your outlook. As you consider this it might be worth some serious thought concerning the value of a home.
A home is where you and your family live. It’s where memories are made, joys shared, tears shed and all else life has to offer. Returning to the concept of the house as an investment, what dollar amount would you place on these life experiences? Does this value change your mind on the cost of a home?
At VALoansMN we strive to enhance your value to meet your goals. Mortgage rates have increased this year but we’re also seeing some weakness in housing prices. But as you consider what’s best for you please keep in mind the value of your HOME