Ready To Become A Home Owner In Elkhart County, Indiana?

You're ready to become a homeowner in Elkhart County, Indiana. So how do you know you'll measure up?

To answer the question, take a personal fiscal assessment. A solid look at your finances, specifically how much you currently owe, how much you have available for a down payment, and the approximate amount of your estimated monthly mortgage payments, will help you determine the kind of loan you'll be able to procure.

An up-front assessment will give you an opportunity to eliminate potential snap\gs that might occur in the borrowing process.

The best step a would be Home Buyer can take before beginning the loan application process is to get finances in ship-shape order. You can make sure your current credit standing is good by reviewing a personal credit report from a credit bureau. Inspect it carefully. If there are any errors at all, have them corrected. Lenders will be looking for late payments, bankruptcies and unpaid collections.

Next, take a look at your current debt load. Lenders will take into consideration how much debt you already have to determine how much they'll loan. Generally, loans are based on the borrower's debt-to-income ratio. This typically ranges from 27 to 29% of gross monthly income compared to a 36% gross monthly income pay out for all debts.

If you currently are paying off considerable debts such as credit card balances, cars, college loans, etc., this may lower the amount of loan for which you'll qualify. Try to pay off as many loans ahead of time as possible to increase your mortgage borrowing power.

Prospective Home Buyers who want outside help in determining their borrowing status can contact a Financial Counselor or Mortgage Lender. If you would like a suggestion for a lender, your Real Estate Professional can put you in contact with one. These experts will help you determine the amount of Mortgage Loan you can qualify for and what home price range you can afford.

Once the amount is established, you'll want to look at the four basic types of Mortgage Options. These include: 30-year fixed rate mortgages, 15-year fixed rate, adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs), and hybrid loans, which are a combination of fixed and adjustable.

To find out about these various home loan options in detail, you can talk with your Real Estate Professional Evelyn Johnston of Prudential One Realty, or broker or Lending Professional, read real estate books, attend home-buying and mortgage seminars or even surf the Internet.

You may also want to pre-qualify for a loan. Pre-approval takes the uncertainty out of house-buying. Through this process, the lending institution establishes exactly how much you can borrow. Paperwork for the loan is submitted, followed by a credit check, evaluation and verification of your creditworthiness, and finally, a loan agreement. As a Home Buyer, you will not be committed to making the home purchase for which you have pre-qualified, but you will have established your creditworthiness.

Sellers are more likely to look favorably on a potential Buyer who has pre-approval. And it can mean an advantage in getting the house you want over someone else, result in a quicker transaction and can possibly mean saving money on the price of the home.

In Elkhart County Indiana, Which Is Better For You, A Mortgage Banker or a Mortgage Broker?

In the "old" days-that is, before "creative financing"-home buyers in Elkhart County, Indiana had few financing options when it came to purchasing a property. However, in today's environment, a buyer has the choice of everything from a fixed, 15 or 30 year mortgage and an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) to an amortized 30 year mortgage with a balloon payment at the end of seven years.

Sound confusing? It can be, buy fortunately, there are numerous helping hands not only in Elkhart County, Indiana but other communities as well, for the perplexed home buyer. For instance, your local real estate professional Evelyn Johnston with Prudential One Realty can provide assistance. And so can a "mortgage banker" and/or "mortgage broker.

What is a mortgage banker and/or a mortgage broker? And how do they impact you when you purchase a home?

First, the mortgage banker is a lender. Mortgage bankers may consist of banks, insurance companies and large mortgage lenders. Going direct to one of these institutions can save time as well as money.

On the other hand, a mortgage broker is an intermediary whose role is to bring the lender - that is, the mortgage banker - and home buyer together. The mortgage broker may deal with one or many lenders and he or she acts as a facilitator. A competent mortgage broker can save a buyer time in finding a lender who will finance a purchase with attractive, highly competitive terms. Many mortgage brokers also provide advice and support to your local real estate professional.

Whether a buyer works with a mortgage banker or mortgage brokerthere there is one thing the home buyer should keep in mind. That is, the ultimate goal is to secure the "best" loan possible.

But what does "best" mean? For most buyers "best" can be classified into four areas:

(1) Service. Are the lenders noted for their service? What experiences have other buyers had with them? What are they going to do for you to make this process as rapid, smooth and "painless" as possible? Do they have special programs (like pre-approval or low documentation loans) that take the hassle out of the loan?

(2)Reliability. Do they keep their word? Do they deliver when they say they will? Previous clients--what do they think?

(3) Speed. Is loan approval done quickly and efficiently?

(4) Cost of the loan. Is it competitive? What is the interest rate? What is the cost of all the fees? (Be wary of "junk" fees, which your local real estate professional can help you spot). Be sure to compare the loan's Annual Percentage Rate (APR) , which considers the total interest rate and fees for a loan and lets you make a better comparison.

Still, even with these guidelines, selecting the right mortgage banker - mortgage broker can be confusing. However, there is an answer - talk to your local real estate professional. An experienced professional has dealt with many bankers and brokers. He or she knows who can offer you - the buyer - the best combination of service, reliability, speed and cost. And that's what financing a home is all about! Real Estate Agent Evelyn Johnston can help you if you are looking for a home in the Elkhart County Real Estate Market. Call 574-304-7148.

Elkhart County Real Estate Agent Evelyn Johnston Advises...

Every prospective homeowner would like to buy the best property in Elkhart County and their favorite neighborhood at the lowest price. That's the ideal situation, but in most cases, it's not easy to do. Usually, buyers have three property choices in an area --the sharpest, a mid-range or the "bottom of the line." So which one would you buy and why?
Obviously, the sharpest property usually carries the highest price tag. But buyers don't have to purchase the best-looking property in Elkhart County in order to generate maximum appreciation. In fact, many times the best approach is to stay away from the sharpest properties. Although these homes have an excellent appearance, percentage-wise they may not appreciate as much as a mid- or lower- priced home.
At the same time, stay away from the rock-bottom priced properties. These homes are usually priced lower for a reason, and the cause for the low price may not be readily remedied. For example, a corner property, one on a busy street or a property with a shorter driveway are worth less because of the inconvenience. Buying one of these properties takes less money, but it appreciates less. In the long run, it will not be as strong an investment as a home that does not have these drawbacks.
Instead, look for a property in the mid-range. Pick a home in Elkhart County that is between the top and bottom of the line. A buyer who stays in the mid-range will find that the property will appreciate, from a percentage standpoint, just as much --if not more-- than the higher priced homes.
Whether you prefer the top, middle or bottom of the line, the key is to carefully investigate an area, tract, or development before you buy. Travel down the streets; measure the traffic, examine the property, scrutinize nearby homes, calculate maintenance; talk to the neighbors, ask questions of your local Real Estate Agent,Evelyn Johnston of Prudential One Realty. Oftentimes I can provide you with valuable insight. Look at the surrounding communities. How do they appear? Communities that are adjacent to one another will impact each-other.
Certainly it takes time, but remember, your home is going to be the single largest financial investment you will ever make--and you want that investment to be a wise one!
For more information about the the Elkhart County Subdivisions, call Real Estate Agent Evelyn Johnston at 574-304-7148.

How Long Should It Take You To Find What You Want?

Often, I show only one home, after all, how many homes does one family need? A few buyers will look for years, but buyers who do that are not motivated. A motivated buyer will find a home within two weeks. Most of my buyers, here in Elkhart County, Indiana, find a home within two days.

Good real estate agents will listen to your wants and needs and arrange to show you only those homes that fit your particular parameters.

How Many Homes Will You See?

Studies show that your memory dramatically improves after eating carbs and slows upon eating sugar. So, layoff the soft drinks and have a hearty meal of carbs before venturing out to tour homes. The average number of homes I show to a buyer in one day is seven. Any more than that, and the brain is overloaded. Therefore, don't expect to see 20 or 30 homes, although it is physically possible to do, you probably will not remember specific details about any of them.

The Red shoes Experience

Women will relate to this. say you need anew pair of red shoes. You go to the mall. At the first shoe store, you find a fabulous pair of red shoes. You try them on. They fit perfectly. They are glamorous, priced right too. Do you buy them? Of Course Not! You go to every other shoe store in the mall trying on red shoes until you are ready to drop from exhaustion! Then you return to the first store and buy those red shoes. Do not shop for a house this way. When you find the perfect home, buy it!

How To Rate Inventory

• Bring a digital camera and begin each series of photographs with a close up of the house number to identify where each group of home shots started and ended.
• Take copious notes of unusual features, colors and design elements.
• Pay attention to the homes surroundings. What is next door? Do 2 story homes tower over your single story?
• Immediately after leaving rate each home on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest.

View top choices a second time. After touring homes for a few days, you will probably instinctively know which one or two homes you would like to buy. Ask to see them again. You will see them with different eyes and notice elements that were overlooked the first go around.

At this point, your agent should call the listing agents to find out more about the sellers motivation and to double check than an offer hasn't come in, making sure these homes are still available to purchase.

Making the Selection

I'll let you in on a little secret. I generally know which home a buyer is going to choose, and I suspect most other agents operate the same way. Its our intuition, but I make a practice not to steer buyers, and I insist buyers choose the home without interference from me. Its not my choice to make.

Real Estate Agents are required, however, to point out defects and should help buyers feel confident that the home selected meets the buyers search parameters.

Talk to you again soon!

Evelyn Johnston

Prudential One Realty

574-304-7148

evelyn@evelynjohnston.com

You Should Buy A Home, Right?

Just Married and everyone is saying you should own your home! That's what you've been hearing from family and friends, right? You should own your own home...or should you? Let's weigh the benefits and see if buying is for you...

1) Pride of ownership is the #1 reason why people yearn to own their own home. It means you can paint the walls any color you want, turn up the CD volume, attach permanent fixtures and decorate your home according you your own taste. Home ownership gives you and your family a sense of stability and security. It is making an investment for your future.

2) Appreciation. Although real estate moves in cycles, sometimes up, sometimes down, over the years, real estate has consistently appreciated. The office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight tracts the movements of single family home values across the country. It's House Price Index breaks down the changes by region and metropolitan area. Many people view their home as a hedge against inflation.

3) Mortgage Interest Deductions. Home ownership is a superb shelter and our tax rates favor home ownership. As long as your mortgage balance is smaller than the price of your home, mortgage interest is fully deductible on your tax return. Interest is the largest component of your monthly mortgage payment.

4) Property Tax Deduction. IRS publication 530 contains tax information for first time home buyers. Real Estate property taxes paid for a first home and a vacation home are fully deductible for income tax purposes.

5) Capital Gain Exclusion. As long as you have lived in your home for two of the past five years, you can exclude up to $250,000 for an individual or $500,000 for a married couple, of profit from capital gains. You do not have to buy a replacement home or move up. There is no age restriction, and the "over 55" rule does not apply. You can exclude the above thresholds from taxes every 24months, which means you could sell every two years and pocket your profit subject to limitation-free from taxation.

6) Preferential Tax Treatment. If you receive more profit than the allowable exclusion upon a sale of your home, that profit will be considered a capital asset as long as you owned your home for more than one year. Capital assets receive preferential tax treatment.

7. Mortgage Reduction Builds Equity. Each month, part of your monthly payment is applied to the principal balance of your loan, which reduces your obligation. The way amortization works, the principal portion of your principal and interest payment increases slightly every month. It is lowest on your first payment and highest on your last payment. On average, each $100,000 of a mortgage will reduce in balance the first year by about $500.00 in principal, bringing that balance at the end of your first 12 months to $99,500.

8. Equity Loans. consumers who carry credit card balances cannot deduct the interest paid, which can cost as much as 18% to 22%. Equity loan interest is often much less and it is deductible. For many homeowners, it makes sense to pay off this kind of debt with a home equity loan. Consumers can borrow against a home's equity for a variety of reasons such as, home improvement, college, medical or starting a new business. Some states restrict home equity loans.

So now you know, home ownership is the best decision for you. You are focused and certain. Good. Next time we will define search parameters!

Talk to you soon,

Evelyn Johnston
Prudential One Realty
Real Estate Agent
evelyn@evelynjohnston.com
574-304-7148

Congratulations on Your Marriage!

This is the beginning of a very special time in your life, just married! The Wedding is over and now it is time to get on with the Happily Ever After! Where do you begin? Most Newlyweds spend more money in the first year of marriage than settled marrieds spend in five years, according to a recent survey. There is furniture to buy, kitchen staples, automobiles, sheets and towels and a home to put it all in. That home is my specialty! I am a Real Estate Agent and I help take the stress out of the process! Call me at 574-304-7148 to talk about your options as a first time home buyer and the types of mortgages available just for you!