Monday, July 9, 2018

Challenges to Obtaining Manufactured Home


While most manufactured housing customers obtain a chattel 
loan—a personal property loan—there are significant potential cost savings for them in the mortgage loan market, according to a report from the Urban Institute.

In fact, in the report, the researchers at Urban Institute suggested costly chattel loans could be partially responsible for the decline in this affordable housing sector in recent years.

Abstract

Manufactured housing is one of the most affordable types of housing in the US, but the high cost of manufactured home financing may be contributing to its surprisingly low production. Our close look at Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data reveals that the loan most manufactured homebuyers obtain – the chattel loan – costs 4.4 percentage points more per year than a standard mortgage loan.
Despite this greater expense, more than half the manufactured housing borrowers who might qualify for a mortgage opt for a chattel loan instead. We conclude that policymakers should explore measures that make accessing mortgages easier for buyers of manufactured homes.

Addressing the high cost of financing for this affordable housing sector could help ease the current affordable housing supply shortage, the researchers said in a report.

Manufactured housing was significantly more popular in the past. From 1977 to 1995; records show 240,000 manufactured home shipments per year. In 2017, there were only 93,000 manufactured homes shipped.

The Urban Institute estimated an average rate spread of 5.61 percent for loans from manufactured housing lenders, well over four times the rate at general lenders, which the institute estimated at 1.20 percent.

“At a minimum, we conclude the difference between chattel and non-chattel lending is 4.41 percentage points,” the researchers stated.

On an $80,000 20-year chattel loan, this would translate to a savings of $2,600 per year, according to the researchers.

However, the researchers noted, “this does not mean everyone who takes out a chattel loan could save 4.41 percent in interest by switching to a mortgage.”

Borrower credit scores, incomes, closing costs, and land ownership can also impact the equation.

The report pointed out that borrowers who obtained chattel loans may have lower credit scores and lower incomes on average. 

The median income for a manufactured housing lender customer was $45,000. The median income for a general lender customer is $51,000.

Also, closing costs were likely to be more expensive on a mortgage loan than a chattel loan. “Even so, the cost differential between chattel and mortgage financing is significant,” the researchers maintained.

Another factor to consider is that not all chattel borrowers have the option of a mortgage loan. Chattel loans function as personal property loans where the home itself is considered personal property. This allows borrowers who own their home but not the land on which it sits to obtain financing. For a mortgage loan, the borrower must own both the house and the land.

However, “Data show that most manufactured homeowners taking out chattel loans might have been eligible for a mortgage,” according to the report.
This could be the result of a couple major convenience factors that can lead borrowers to choose a chattel loan, perhaps even without considering a mortgage loan. 

The first is that manufactured homes are titled as personal property, regardless of whether the owner owns the land on which the property sits. To obtain a mortgage loan, the borrower would have to go through a potentially complicated process of transferring the property to “real property.”

The second is that there are often chattel lenders offering loans at the same site where the homes are sold. Customers can purchase their home and obtain their loan at a one-stop shop all in one day.

While conceding that not every chattel loan borrower would qualify or opt for a mortgage loan, the researchers maintained there were significant savings for some customers.

They suggested policymakers encourage borrowers at least to consider a mortgage and to look into simplifying the process of switching over a title for a manufactured home.

“The reduced costs and greater protections could stimulate demand for manufactured housing and hence the production of these homes, adding units to the scarce supply of affordable housing,” the report stated.

Ready to Sell or Buy now is the Time, We have a wealth of information and 18 years of experience to help you get started. Visit us at WWW.PrecisionReal-T.com or if you prefer a more personal touch Call us today at 801 809-9866. 

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Saturday, July 7, 2018

Construction May Ease Inventory Shortage


There are more than 15 percent fewer entry-level homes 
under $200,000 on the market this year than last year,” said Hale. “In contrast, there are slightly more $350,000 plus homes on the market than last year.

If raises help buyers reach beyond entry-level homes, it could lead to a better match up of home shoppers and available homes.”

Friday’s numbers also indicated some hope for relief in housing supply. The data found that construction employment continued to trend up in June and had increased by 282,000 year over year.

“Specifically for the housing market, residential construction employment increased, which is critically important to increase the pace of housing starts and add more housing supply to the market.”  “Based on the increase of residential construction employment this year, it is not surprising that housing starts have been rising.”

“Over the past year, 282,000 total construction jobs have been added as builders work to add supply given the tight inventory and rising home prices.”

Money spent on construction of new structures in May rose 4.5 percent in May, compared with the same period a year ago. Revised April data indicated that month over month, total construction rose 0.4 percent above the revised April estimates. Residential construction also saw a slight uptick on a month over month basis, rising 0.8 percent in May.

On a year over year basis, total residential construction spends rose 6.6 percent, led by an increase in construction of new single-family homes that rose to more than growing 8.2 percent over the same period last year. While new home sales have been rising along with housing starts.

“We had previously expected improve builder margins by 10-15 percent, which we anticipated may have led builders to consider increasing activity at the lower-end of the market where inventory challenges are particularly acute. 

Are You Ready to Sell or Buy, now is the TimeWe have a wealth of information and 18 years of experience to help you get started. Visit us at WWW.PrecisionReal-T.com or if you prefer a more personal touch Call us today at 801 809-9866. 

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Friday, July 6, 2018

Declining Mortgage Rates


What does it Mean for Homebuyers? Mortgage rates continued to slip over the past week, continuing a trend that has been seen over the past five weeks, according to Freddie Mac's latest Primary Mortgage.

In this video, points to the Freddie Mac Home One program that's launching on July 29. This is a 3 percent down conventional program for homebuyers regardless of income and geography, and though it is a bit more expensive than a similar program by Fannie Mae, it's still a 'better option than FHA.

During the week, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.52 percent down from 4.55 percent last week. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, however, still remains above the 3.96 percent recorded during the same period a year ago. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage ended the week at 3.99 percent, down from 4.04 percent last week. 
For homebuyers, the decline in rates was good news. 'Mortgage rates may have a little more room to decline over the very short term. 'Although the current economic expansion is in its tenth year, residential single-family real estate was initially slow to recover. Now, backed by the demographic tailwind provided by millennials reaching the peak age to buy their first home, the housing market should have some room to grow going forward.'

Top 3 Housing Trends

A new down payment program by Freddie Mac, the efforts of the Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs), especially Fannie Mae, on making financing for condos easier, and how virtual e-closing expanding across the country are some of the latest trends that are shaping the housing market this month.
He also gives an update on condos and the announcements by the GSEs as well as FHA on making the financing process for these properties easier and more accessible.Some of the changes include Fannie and Freddie's initiatives to treat detached condos as SFR as well as FHA's list of approved condos.

'Condos are going to become easier for all of us in the industry.

Ready to Sell or Buy now is the Time, We have a wealth of information and 18 years of experience to help you get started. Visit us at WWW.PrecisionReal-T.com or if you prefer a more personal touch Call us today at 801 809-9866. 

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Thursday, July 5, 2018

Features That Sell Homes


When Americans buy a house, how homey it looks at a showing 
can have a huge effect on the sale price. That's down to the color of the kitchen cabinets and the presence of outdoor showers.

According to 2018 Paint Color Analysis, the very color of the paint on the features in a house can add significantly to the final sale price. The analysis measured photos from 135,000 home sales to see how colors affected the price.

The verdict: “Homes with black front doors, tuxedo kitchen cabinets, and periwinkle blue bathrooms sell for as much as a $6,000 premium.”  “Tuxedo kitchens, or kitchens where the upper and lower cabinets are painted in two different colors, sell for a $1,547 premium. White cabinets contrasted by a dark navy blue or black kitchen island were some of the most common tuxedo kitchens in top-performing listings.”

“For a seller, painting a front door is one of the least expensive home prep projects, but also one that can have a powerful impact on a home's sale price,” said home designer. 'While cool, neutral wall colors like tan and light blue are still popular, we're seeing a notable shift in home design where pops of color—particularly in darker hues of blue and gray to even black—are becoming increasingly popular. 

Contrasting colors, especially in kitchens and home exteriors add interest and dimension to a room that plays very well in listing photos and videos.”
On the other end of this dynamic, properties with more “style-specific colors,” like brick or raspberry red, tend to sell for $2,300 less than expected. Homes with yellow exteriors also sell for less, the report said.

Moving outside the house, studied what terms buyers use when searching for homes online. That study found that fire pits, pools, outdoor barbecues, and even outdoor showers are major attractants. Properties featuring terms like these translated into real numbers in May. According to the report, such terms added an average of nearly $60 per square foot to the value of a property in the states where they most appeared.

BBQs, pools, fire pits and other features are often associated with double-digit price premiums. Outdoor projects can help boost a home’s value by up to 10 percent.
Outdoor showers, barbecue stations, entertainment pools, and firepits are the top projects that researchers found with the biggest potential increases to a home’s price.

Things to Do in Salt Lake

There are two main factors involved in planning the perfect trip: making sure everyone has fun and experiencing things you don't experience every day. Luckily, there's so much to see and do in Salt Lake, the hardest part about planning your trip will be narrowing down your options, which range from the weird and unusual to the beautiful and exhilarating.

Also, entertainment pools—with enough space around them for others to lounge—could give a home a 26 percent increase in its value. In New York state, homes with such entertainment pools were 224 percent pricier per square foot than those without.

Firepits and backyard fireplaces are also proving to be a hot way for homeowners to boost their home prices. Homes with firepits or backyard fireplaces had a 25 percent premium, according to researchers.“Outdoor features can give a home a special quality in the market,” 

The term “outdoor shower” had an even larger impact. While only 3.5 percent of listings have the term, the price per square foot, on average, doubled. In New York, listings featuring outdoor showers increased per-square-foot-prices by 256 percent in May.

Less tangible, but enormously telling, listings using terms like “summer fun” and “summer days” were most common in cooler states. But those terms there often translated into real money. 

Ready to Sell or Buy now is the Time, We have a wealth of information and 18 years of experience to help you get started. Visit us at WWW.PrecisionReal-T.com or if you prefer a more personal touch Call us today at 801 809-9866. 

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Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Precision Realty & Assoc LLC


Sell or Buy now is the Time, We have a wealth of information and 18 years of experience to help you get started. Visit us at WWW.PrecisionReal-T.com or if you prefer a more personal touch Call us today at 801 809-9866.

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Tuesday, July 3, 2018

First-time Buyers on the Rise


The good news? It appears the tide could finally be turning, 
even as prices this year continue to climb and mortgage rates have moved up from 3.95 percent at the start of the year to 4.55 percent (as of June 28).

Homebuyer Demand is Rising, First quarter mortgage data, first–time buyers represented 46 percent of 7its purchased loans, the largest share in recent history and up from 42 percent a year ago.

What's fueling the increase? The sheer size of the millennial generation, along with the robust job market and millennials doing “adulting” things like getting married and having babies, are leading to more sales to first–timers.

Looking ahead, there are reasons to be optimisticthat more young adults will be diving into homeownership. The job market and economy continue to look healthy, there's substantial pent–up demand for increased household formation, and more millennials will enter the peak age of settling down, getting married and deciding to start a family – all indicators of stronger demand for home purchases.

But Where are the Homes? In last month's forecast, higher prices and mortgage rates pose as headwinds for the overall housing market, as do the stubbornly low supply levels that have led to slim pickings for home shoppers in most of the country in 2018.  

While inventory conditions are expected to remain tight in the coming months, those thinking about buying their first home are fortunately seeing improved prospects when it comes to getting a mortgage.
Whether it's through low down payment programs like Home Possible® and HomeOne® (available later this month), or recognizing the creditworthiness of those self–employed, Freddie Mac is committed to reimaging the mortgage experience through responsible lending, improving access to credit and sustainable homeownership.

“People listing their homes for sale in higher numbers this April and May is good news for buyers, and good news for home sales.” 

“But it’s still not enough to satisfy buyer demand, which means price increases will likely continue. ”

Are You Ready to Sell or Buy now is the TimeWe have a wealth of information and 18 years of experience to help you get started. Visit us at WWW.PrecisionReal-T.com or if you prefer a more personal touch Call us today at 801 809-9866. 

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Monday, July 2, 2018

Rents are Rising the Fastest


Rental Trends for Q2, Consumers on the hunt for a new rental 
home this summer can expect to pay higher prices than last year, especially for anyone searching for two- or three-bedroom homes. That’s according to the recently issued Q2 2018 HotPads Rent Report.

That rent prices rose 2.8 percent over the past year for both two- and three-bedroom rentals. Two-bedroom rentals are averaging around $1,310 per month, whereas three-bedroom rentals are sitting at around $1,445 per month. 

In comparison, average rent for a one-bedroom unit was around $1,275 in Q2, up 2.2 percent year-over-year.

In some cases, the rent price appreciation is obviously worse than in others. Median rent for a two or three-bedroom home is appreciating more than twice as fast as rent for a one-bedroom home in metros such as Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Austin.

Median rent overall was up 2.5 percent year-over-year, hitting $1,480 per month. With both home prices and rent on the rise across the nation, affordability concerns are deepening for many consumers looking to find a new home.

Rent growth has mellowed out to a steady rate recently, but overall prices are still high compared to recent years.”  “Two and three-bedroom rentals are seeing the fastest pace of price growth this year, usurping one-bedrooms as the fastest-appreciating segment of the rental market in April 2018.

New apartment construction tends to focus on studios and one-bedrooms, so the additional supply of smaller units has eased price pressures in that market segment. Renters looking for a larger apartment or home—including young families—should expect faster rent growth this year.”

That’s good news for investors in the single-family rental space. To read more about recent single-family rental trends, click here to see recent relevant stories.

Ready to Sell or Buy now is the Time, We have a wealth of information and 18 years of experience to help you get started. Visit us at WWW.PrecisionReal-T.com or if you prefer a more personal touch Call us today at 801 809-9866. 

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