Dennis Balthazor

Phoenix new home sales up slightly

2010-06-02T22:36:00Z

The federal tax credit helped new home sales across metropolitan Phoenix increase enough in April to beat last year's pace.

There were 823 new home sales in metro Phoenix last month, reports the Phoenix Housing Market Letter. That compares to 789 in April 2009. It's the first month this year that new homes sales have topped last year's closings.

New home building in the region slowed last month as builders prepared for demand from the tax credit to wind down. There were 604 single-family permits issued in April, compared to 908 in March of this year.

Home purchases have to close by June 30th for buyers to receive the tax credit so the federal incentive could boost new home sales for the next two months.

Arizona Republic

May 27, 2010

Things To Avoid Before Buying a Home

2010-06-02T22:29:00Z

Many new homebuyers make the mistake of rushing out to buy things to fill their home with as soon as the seller accepts their purchase offer and the lender pre-approves their loan. But there are still a few major hurdles to overcome before the keys are handed out. Here are some things to avoid during the home buying process to assure your transaction goes as smoothly as possible:

Don't make an expensive purchase. It may be tempting to order that new sofa for your soon-to-be living room, but its best to avoid making major purchases like furniture, cars, appliances, electronic equipment, jewelry, or vacations until after the closing. Financing that furniture with a store credit card or even one of your own credit cards could jeopardize your credit worthiness during the time it means the most. Using cash to purchase big items can also create a problem because many banks take into consideration your cash reserve when approving your mortgage.
Don't get a new job. Lenders like to see a consistent job history. Generally, changing jobs will not affect your ability to qualify for a mortgage loan - especially if you are going to be making more money. But for some people, getting a new job during the loan approval process could raise some concern and affect your application.
Don't switch banks or move money around. As your lender reviews your loan package, you will likely be asked to provide bank statements for the last two or three months on your checking accounts, savings accounts, money market funds and other liquid assets. To eliminate potential fraud, most loans require a thorough paper trail to document the source of all funds. Changing banks or transferring money to another account - even if its just to consolidate funds - could make it difficult for the lender to document your funds.
Don't disregard your lenders requirements. You may have been pre-approved for the loan but your work with the lender is far from over. In order to process your loan, you need to meet certain requirements. Your lender will need copies of your bank statements, W2s and other paperwork. It is up to you to get it to him or her as soon as possible. Failure to submit certain qualifying documents could cause you to lose your loan and the financing you need to buy your home.

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This Weeks Priciest Home Sales in Phoenix

2010-05-19T13:39:00Z

The president of a scrapbook die-cutting company in Phoenix, two doctors, the founder of an information-technology company in Boise, Idaho, and the family of the former Schlitz Brewing Co. are among the buyers and sellers in this week's priciest home sales

$4,000,000.

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Desert Light LLC, a Delaware limited-liability company, paid cash for a six-bedroom, nine-bath, 12,898-square-foot estate on a little more than 2 acres at Doubletree Farms in Paradise Valley. It features grand-scale rooms for entertaining or private family time, intricate millwork and custom fireplaces. The home was sold by Wayne Merlino, as manager of 52nd Paradise LLC.

$2,875,000.

James J. Caron and his wife, Stacey, purchased a five-bedroom, 6 ½-bath, 8,200-square-foot home at Bret Hills in Paradise Valley. It features custom stones and tile, hardwood floors, millwork, built-ins, cabinetry and detailed crown molding. There is a chef's kitchen, wine room and home theater. Stacey Caron is co-founder, head designer and president of Spellbinders Paper Arts, a scrapbook die-cutting company in Phoenix. The home was sold by Towne Bank of Arizona

in Mesa.

$2,540,000.

Todd D. Levine and his wife, Mary, bought a six-bedroom, eight-bath, 9,800-square-foot Santa Barbara/Tuscan home at Hidden Village in Paradise Valley. Interior is by Est Est Interiors, and includes custom finishes throughout. Dr. Todd Levine is a neurologist. Dr. Mary Landau-Levine, a pathologist, joined Caris Diagnostics in Phoenix in 2007 to lead the dermatopathology practice. The home was sold by TLF Investments LLC, an Arizona limited-liability company whose members are Jeffry L. Bolstad and Bill J. Roach of Fountain Hills. Bolstad and Roach also are principals of Western Millwork Inc. in Phoenix. They purchased this home as an investment rental in March for $2.15 million.

$2,515,000.

Steven W. Sells and his wife, Ann, paid cash for a three-bedroom, three-bath, 4,450-square-foot home with pool on the western edge of the Paradise Valley Country Club golf course in Paradise Valley. Steven Sells founded SourceOne Inc., a technical solutions company based in Boise, in 1995. The company was acquired by ConvergeOne Holdings Corp. in December 2006. The home was sold by Tim M. Wolff and his wife, Robin. Tim Wolff is a principal, chief investment officer and president of the Wolff Co., a real-estate investment company in Scottsdale and Seattle.

$2,170,000.

31 Biltmore LLC, an Arizona limited-liability company whose sole member is Lorry Williams, paid cash for a seven-bedroom, 7 ½-bath, 7,601-square-foot home. It features three fireplaces, hardwood flooring, three-car garage, and pool with deck and patio. The home was sold by Charles R. Calteux, as trustee of the Marie Zarwell Uihlein Trust. Marie Uihlein was the wife of the late Erwin C. "Ike" Uihlein, former president and chairman of the board of the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Co. She passed away in 2006 at the age of 89.

Researched by John McLean and the Information Market.

May. 19, 2010 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

Phoenix Homes- Foreclosure Statistics April 2010

2010-05-19T13:25:00Z

Here are the latest Maricopa County statistics through April 2010. Properties that are in Notice of Default have dropped to 51,000 units. This would be the "Shadow Inventory" that we have heard everyone talking about. Notices of Default were up to 54,000 units in Maricopa County.

Please note this means that there will be lots and lots of Short Sales in the next year. The banks don't seem to be foreclosing on these properties.

Here is a recap of the stats :

1. Properties in notice of Default approximately 51,000

2. New Foreclosures in April 2010 approximately 1800

3. Sold at trustee sale to the lender in April 2010 approximately 400

4. Sold at trustee sale to a 3rd party in April 2010 approximately 200

5. Owner to Owner sales total Maricopa County April 2010 approximately 3137

6. Sold from from the lender total Maricopa County April 2010 Approximately 2104

7. $ Per Sqr. Ft. REO $82.34

8. $ Per Sqr. Ft. Owner to Owner $100.86

'09 sales pace driven largely by foreclosures

2010-01-19T23:21:00Z

Lenders in 2009 foreclosed on about 41,000 single-family detached homes in Maricopa County, according to a report from Arizona State University. That's more foreclosures than the Valley has seen during any previous year on record, accounting for more than 35 percent of all existing-home transactions, the report said.

Its author, Jay Butler, associate professor of real estate at the W.P. Carey School of Business, said overall home-resale volume in 2009 rivaled that of the real-estate boom's peak year of 2005, but for all the wrong reasons.

"That (2005 sales volume) was ... due to rising home values and a type of euphoria about real-estate investment," Butler said. "Now we're seeing a totally different type of activity driven by foreclosures."

Foreclosures were up in December, at 4,060, compared with the previous month's total of 2,985, and the median single-family home

price decreased to $140,000 from $143,000 in November, according to the ASU report.

Home resales increased, with 5,740 sales in December compared with 5,350 sales the previous month.

Compared with December 2008, foreclosures increased about 31 percent, the median resale price was down 4 percent, and resale volume was up 33 percent.

Some local analysts include parts of Pinal County in their data, but ASU's data include strictly Maricopa County. Both data sets showed similar trends.

by J. Craig Anderson - Jan. 15, 2010 02:01 PM
The Arizona Republic

Tax credit of up to $8,000 is extended for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing a principal residence.

2010-01-19T23:12:00Z

The Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 has extended the tax credit of up to $8,000 for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing a principal residence. The tax credit now applies to sales occurring on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. However, in cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, a home purchase completed by June 30, 2010 will qualify.

For sales occurring after November 6, 2009, the Act establishes income limits of $125,000 for single taxpayers and $225,000 for married couples filing joint returns.

The income limits for sales occurring on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before November 6, 2009, are $75,000 for single taxpayers and $150,000 for married taxpayers filing joint returns.

The following questions and answers provide basic information about the tax credit. If you have more specific questions, we strongly encourage you to consult a qualified tax advisor or legal professional about your unique situation. Who is eligible to claim the $8,000 tax credit?
First-time home buyers purchasing any kind of home—new or resale—are eligible for the tax credit. To qualify for the tax credit, a home purchase must occur on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. For the purposes of the tax credit, the purchase date is the date when closing occurs and the title to the property transfers to the home owner. A limited exception exists for certain contract for deed purchases and installment sale purchases. See the IRS website for more detail.

However, the law also allows home sales occurring by June 30, 2010 to qualify, provided they are due to a binding sales contract in force on or before April 30, 2010.

Persons who are claimed as dependents by other taxpayers or who are under age 18 are not qualified for the tax credit program.

What is the definition of a first-time home buyer?
The law defines “first-time home buyer” as a buyer who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase. For married taxpayers, the law tests the homeownership history of both the home buyer and his/her spouse.

For example, if you have not owned a home in the past three years but your spouse has owned a principal residence, neither you nor your spouse qualifies for the first-time home buyer tax credit. However, IRS Notice 2009-12 allows unmarried joint purchasers to allocate the credit amount to any buyer who qualifies as a first-time buyer, such as may occur if a parent jointly purchases a home with a son or daughter. Ownership of a vacation home or rental property not used as a principal residence does not disqualify a buyer as a first-time home buyer.
How is the amount of the tax credit determined?
The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.
Are there any income limits for claiming the tax credit?
Yes. For sales occuring after November 6, 2009, the income limit for single taxpayers is $125,000; the limit is $225,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return. The tax credit amount is reduced for buyers with a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) of more than $125,000 for single taxpayers and $225,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return. The phaseout range for the tax credit program is equal to $20,000. That is, the tax credit amount is reduced to zero for taxpayers with MAGI of more than $145,000 (single) or $245,000 (married) and is reduced proportionally for taxpayers with MAGIs between these amounts.
The income limits for claiming the tax credit were raised when the tax credit was extended. Are the higher limits retroactive?
No. The new income limits are only applicable to purchases occurring after November 6, 2009.

The income limits for sales occuring on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before November 6, 2009 are $75,000 for single taxpayers and $150,000 for married couples filing jointly.
What is “modified adjusted gross income”?
Modified adjusted gross income or MAGI is defined by the IRS. To find it, a taxpayer must first determine “adjusted gross income” or AGI. AGI is total income for a year minus certain deductions (known as “adjustments” or “above-the-line deductions”), but before itemized deductions from Schedule A or personal exemptions are subtracted. On Forms 1040 and 1040A, AGI is the last number on page 1 and first number on page 2 of the form. For Form 1040-EZ, AGI appears on line 4 (as of 2007). Note that AGI includes all forms of income including wages, salaries, interest income, dividends and capital gains.

To determine modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), add to AGI certain amounts of foreign-earned income. See IRS Form 5405 for more details.
If my modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is above the limit, do I qualify for any tax credit?
Possibly. It depends on your income. Partial credits of less than $8,000 are available for some taxpayers whose MAGI exceeds the phaseout limits.
Can you give me an example of how the partial tax credit is determined?
Just as an example, assume that a married couple has a modified adjusted gross income of $235,000. The applicable phaseout to qualify for the tax credit is $225,000, and the couple is $10,000 over this amount. Dividing $10,000 by the phaseout range of $20,000 yields 0.5. When you subtract 0.5 from 1.0, the result is 0.5. To determine the amount of the partial first-time home buyer tax credit that is available to this couple, multiply $8,000 by 0.5. The result is $4,000.

Here’s another example: assume that an individual home buyer has a modified adjusted gross income of $138,000. The buyer’s income exceeds $125,000 by $13,000. Dividing $13,000 by the phaseout range of $20,000 yields 0.65. When you subtract 0.65 from 1.0, the result is 0.35. Multiplying $8,000 by 0.35 shows that the buyer is eligible for a partial tax credit of $2,800.

Please remember that these examples are intended to provide a general idea of how the tax credit might be applied in different circumstances. You should always consult your tax advisor for information relating to your specific circumstances.
How is this home buyer tax credit different from the tax credit that Congress enacted in early 2009?
The tax credit’s income limits were increased, the documentation requirements were tightened, and the program's deadlines were extended.

GREAT NEWS! FHA Relaxes Property Flip Regulation For One Year

2010-01-19T23:06:00Z

The FHA relaxed the property flip regulations.

This waiver is effective for all sales contracts dated on or after February 1, 2010 and will end on January 31, 2011. Certain property may be resold and financed using FHA insured financing without waiting 90 days. FHA has temporarily waived the 90 day wait period, on certain transactions. This means that these recently purchased homes may be sold and financed with FHA insurance!

· Private sellers and investors are now eligible to take advantage of this waiver.

· These transactions must be arms-length, with no identity of interest between the buyer and the seller or other parties participating in the sales transaction.

· In cases where the sales price is 20% or greater than the seller’s acquisition, the lender must justify the increase in value with supporting documentation of renovation, repair and rehabilitation work.

o If no such work was performed, the appraiser must provide an appropriate explanation of the increase in property value since the prior title transfer.

o The lender must order a property inspection and provide that report to the home buyer. Buyer’s may be charged for the cost of this inspection.

Great news! FHA has increased Phoenix Area lending limits to $346250 from $271050

2009-03-09T14:13:00Z

Maricopa was raised to $346,250. Pima County was raised from $271,050 back up to $316,250. Feel free to follow the link to HUD's website for all other counties in AZ. https://entp.hud.gov/idapp/html/hicost1.cfm

This is welcomed news if you are looking to put down as little as 3.5% and for your sellers in these higher priced ranges. This will open up more properties that will be available for FHA financing.

Multiple offers making a comeback (Mainly Phoenix Metro Area Foreclosure Properties!) But highest bidder isn't always the winner

2009-02-02T13:11:00Z

In the current home sale market, it might seem ludicrous to make an offer on a listing if it means competing with another buyer. However, multiple offers are on the rise in some markets( especially the Phoenix Metro Foreclosure Market). But, it doesn't always mean that you need to pay a lot more than the asking price.

(If you would like a list of Phoenix Area Lender Owned & Foreclosure Homes --Click Here: Please fill out my form.)

Sellers are ever hopeful of receiving multiple offers. These days, this is usually an unrealistic expectation. That is, unless the listing is a prime property in a high-demand neighborhood where few homes are being offered for sale.

Price is a critical part of the equation. Some sellers price their homes low because they need a quick sale. If the price is below market, multiple buyers could step forward with offers. Sometimes an overpriced listing is reduced to market price or below and results in offers from more than one buyer.

Most multiple offers today are on low-end foreclosure properties. Investors make up a large part of the buyers in this segment of the market. In some areas of California and Florida, prices have fallen 40 percent since the market peaked in 2006.

HOUSE HUNTING TIP: Don't shy away from making an offer just because there is more than one offer. In some cases, a dozen or more buyers make offers on foreclosure properties that are listed at bargain prices. But, the highest bidder is not always the winner.

Even in non-distressed-sale situations, multiple offers in today's market don't always result in an overinflated sale price. For instance, a charming older home on a sought-after street in the Crocker Highlands neighborhood of Oakland, Calif., sold after only two weeks on the market with multiple offers. The property was listed for $1.3 million, and sold for $5,000 above that price.

In another case, buyers from the East Coast bought a home in Marin County in the San Francisco Bay Area. Against their agent's advice, they offered less than the asking price even though they were competing against other buyers for the property. Their offer was the lowest of three offers, but it was accepted by the sellers. The reason the sellers accepted the lower offer was that the winning buyers had solid financial backing.

There are far fewer financially qualified buyers in the home-buying market today than there were two years ago due to credit tightening, more rigorous financial qualification requirements and recent stock market losses. In some areas, as many as one-third of home sale transactions fail to close, often due to the inability of buyers to obtain the financing they need.

Sellers who receive more than one offer should carefully consider all aspects of the offers, not merely the offer price. An offer from an all-cash buyer who doesn't need a mortgage to finance the purchase, and who can close quickly, should be taken seriously even if the price is lower than the other offer(s). However, some all-cash buyers -- who are fully aware of their strong position in this market -- feel they are entitled to a major price discount.

Whether or not you'll have success countering for a higher price will depend a lot on the profile of the buyer. Buyers who intend to occupy the property for the long term are more likely to pay more than will investors who base their purchase decisions on the numbers, not their emotions.

THE CLOSING: Sellers should try to keep greed out of their decision when faced with multiple offers. Today's buyers are willing to walk away from a negotiation rather than pay over market value, or it they think the sellers are unreasonable.

Investors Return to the Phoenix Market- Thanks to Foreclosures

2008-10-30T14:04:00Z

Many foreclosed homes are bought by investors who can pay cash, market watchers say. That means fewer homes are going to buyers who plan to live there and hang onto the house for a while. Owner-occupied homes ultimately help an area's recovery.

The Valley's housing market is seeing the flipside of the investor cycle now. In 2004, investors cashing in on loose lending guidelines, the Valley's growth and relatively affordable housing started the buying frenzy that led to the wild run-up in home prices. Many of those investors, who didn't sell before prices dropped, ended up walking away from the homes and starting the Valley's foreclosure problem.

Aimee Jackson has been trying to buy a foreclosure home in the West Valley for the past six months, but the pharmaceutical sales representative keeps getting beat out by investors.

"I am pre-approved for a loan, and that's not easy now," said Jackson, who has been making offers on newer homes in Surprise, Peoria and Buckeye. "But lenders all seem to be going for the cash offers from investors. It seems unfair."

Jackson is going to keep looking at foreclosure resales because she doesn't think prices are going to go up on those properties anytime soon. She also doesn't think regular homeowners are pricing their houses low enough to compete with foreclosure properties.

Bettina Franco, a real-estate agent with Phoenix's HomeSmart, said lenders are trying to resell so many foreclosures now that homeowners trying to sell have given up trying to compete with them.

There is concern among real-estate analysts that investors will again hurt the housing market.

"In some areas of the Valley, we are starting to see the bottom for prices," she said. "But we need to get rid of all the foreclosures first and watch what investors are doing."

by Catherine Reagor - Oct. 26, 2008 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

30000 Phoenix area Homes Foreclosed On, To Date, In 2008

2008-10-30T13:58:00Z

As long as foreclosures continue to climb, home prices will fall.

More than 30,000 Valley homes have been foreclosed on so far this year. That compares to fewer than 1,500 foreclosures in 2006. Now, almost all of the homes are going back to the lenders, which are reselling them for bargain prices.

"It's clear foreclosures are putting a lot of pressure on home prices," said Tom Ruff, a real-estate analyst with the Information Market, which compiled housing-value data for The Republic.

The impact on prices is apparent. The Valley's overall median resale price without factoring in foreclosures is $215,000. The overall median resale price of a foreclosed home is $149,000. That foreclosure median pulls down the overall median resale price to $180,000. At the height of the housing boom in 2006, the median was $267,000.

Ruff said foreclosures could peak by the end of the year.

But that doesn't mean prices will have hit bottom because of the backlog of foreclosures that lenders still need to liquidate.

Foreclosure properties are dominating the Valley's housing market. In a few Valley neighborhoods, there are more foreclosure resales than regular resales.

Lower home prices are drawing more buyers, but they may not all be the types of buyers neighbors want.

by Catherine Reagor - Oct. 26, 2008 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

Phoenix leads nation in home price drop- Prices fell 30.7%

2008-10-30T13:46:00Z

Metropolitan Phoenix now leads the nation for home price declines, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price index released this morning. The Valley’s existing home price fell 30.7 percent between August 2007 and August 2008.

The Valley just beat out Las Vegas for the top spot for the biggest drop in home prices. The Nevada city’s resale home price has fallen 30.6 percent based on the index. Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego were all right behind with home price declines of more than 25 percent. Most of the country’s big metro areas posted home price declines. An index of the 20 largest U.S. cities fell almost 17 percent.

“The downturn in residential real estate prices continued, with very few bright spots in the data,” said David Blitzer, chairman of the Index Committee at Standard & Poor’s.

Cleveland and Boston were the only two major cities, tracked by the index, to post gains in home prices.

Metro Phoenix trailed Las Vegas and Miami for home price declines until August. The index lags about two months so researchers can gather all the necessary home data.

The S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index uses resale data to track home prices. It is considered one of the most accurate housing indexes in the country.

by Catherine Reagor - Oct. 28, 2008 10:52 AM
The Arizona Republic

$7500 TAX CREDIT For First Time Home Buyers!!!

2008-08-24T03:33:00Z

For aspiring home owners who find their goal stubbornly elusive, newly enacted legislation providing a tax credit of as much as $7,500 for first-time home buyers might just be the opportunity of a lifetime.

But like so many of the good things in life, time is of the essence for buyers who want to take advantage of this outstanding opportunity. Only homes purchased on or after April 9, 2008 and before July 1, 2009 are eligible. Use the links below to learn more about the tax credit.

First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit at a Glance

The tax credit is available for first-time home buyers only.
The maximum credit amount is $7,500.
The credit is available for homes purchased on or after April 9, 2008 and before
July 1, 2009.
Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit.
The tax credit works like an interest-free loan and must be repaid over a 15-year period.

For More information: http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/index.html or call Dennis Balthazor @ 623-776-6966

Congress May End Down Payment Assistance!!!

2008-07-28T23:16:00Z

The housing bill that’s expected to pass in the Senate this week seeks to end the seller-funded down-payment assistance programs that allow home buyers to put no money down on a home loan backed by the Federal Housing Administration. But experts predict a long battle may lie ahead for opponents of the assistance programs, which I wrote about in today’s WSJ.

“The down-payment assistance program has had nine lives,” says Howard Glaser, a former Department of Housing and Urban Development official who argues that the program represents a significant liability for the government.

Indeed, since 1999, the nonprofit groups that provide assistance have mounted a strong political effort to keep the programs intact, something that they succeeded in doing when the House preserved the programs in its housing bill that passed last month.

“These groups are amazingly adroit. They know how to play the game in Washington,” says Brian Chappelle, a mortgage consultant at Potomac Partners who worked at the FHA in the 1980s.

The programs have backing from minority and low-income homeownership groups and several vocal legislators, including Republican Rep. Gary Miller and Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters, both from Southern California.

For its part, the nonprofit organizations say that the FHA has a double-standard. Four years ago, it created its own no-money-down program through the American Dream Downpayment Act, and it relied heavily on groups like Nehemiah Corp. of America for business. “We are the activity that kept FHA alive,” says Scott Syphax, Nehemiah’s president and chief executive.

But the FHA, which has submitted for public comment a regulation that would end the programs, believes that this may be its best chance to end the programs because no-money-down loans have taken much of the blame for the current foreclosure mess and because the housing bill set to pass Congress will ramp up activity for the New Deal-era agency.

One sign that the tide may favor the FHA this time: earlier this year, the House had considered eliminating the down payment needed on an FHA loan, while the Senate had pushed for a 1.5% down payment, instead of the current 3%. The realities of the housing market have forced a change in course. The House is fighting to keep the 3% down payment level, while the Senate would increase the limit to 3.5%.

FHA Recent Loan Changes

2008-07-16T17:26:00Z

FHA LOAN CHANGES

In February, President Bush signed a bill that made a temporary increase to both conforming and FHA loan limits. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently released the new limits, which range from $271,050 to $729,750 depending on the county. Previously, they were capped at $362,790.

With FHA loans rising in popularity, especially among first-time homebuyers, these new limits could have a very positive impact. However, the changes are currently set to expire December 31, 2008, so you should act now to take advantage.

Benefits to Homebuyers

Many borrowers who were shopping in markets where entry-level homes were above the FHA loan limit may now be able to obtain an FHA loan. The most incremental change is likely to occur at entry-level and first-time move-up prices. The effects are also expected to have the greatest and most immediate impact in markets where entry-level home prices were above the previous FHA limits, such as California.

According to a statement released by the Federal Housing Administration, the change in loan limits will “give nearly 240,000 additional homeowners and homebuyers a safer, more affordable mortgage alternative.”¹ Because FHA focuses on 30-year fixed rate mortgages, homeowners may be able to avoid some of the risks associated with subprime mortgage products.

Click here to view the new FHA loan limits for counties across the nation.

FHA: Fast Facts

If you are unfamiliar with FHA loans, here are a few facts to know. One important point is that FHA does not actually loan money to the buyer. Financing is obtained through a mortgage company such as HomeAmerican Mortgage Corporation. FHA insures the lender against loss if the buyer defaults on the mortgage. The lender still has the final decision of whether or not to loan the buyer money, but having the FHA insurance can help them in making their loan decision.

In addition to offering insurance to the lender, FHA loan programs can offer many benefits. These are a few of the advantages:

Flexible qualification: FHA programs offer more flexible qualification, allowing more borrowers to obtain financing.
Less than perfect credit: FHA loans are often more forgiving of a buyer’s credit history. For example, buyers may still be able to qualify if they’ve had a bankruptcy as recently as two years ago.
Low down payment: Homebuyers typically only need 3-5% for their down payment, and this money may be a gift from a family member or other acceptable source.