What Do Americans Think About the Current Housing Market?

Photo: © Steve Greer - iStockphoto

Home buyers and investors alike are trying to gauge the health of the real estate market. One of the best ways to predict sales figures is to ask Americans if they plan on buying. The Fannie Mae National Housing Survey of May 2012 reported on the attitudes of 1,002 polled Americans toward the real estate market and the economy. The answers reflect the current—and the future—state of the housing market.

Higher Home Prices

Seventy-two percent of survey respondents believed that the current real estate market

was a good one to jump into, a one percent increase over the previous month. A much smaller 15 percent of respondents thought market conditions favored sellers. The reason—many respondents expected home prices to increase by an average of 1.4 percent, the highest value yet recorded in the National Housing Survey. This increase would incentivise many Americans to start their home searches before prices rise, while encouraging sellers to wait for a higher asking price. Another reason for the positive outlook is the belief of 41 percent of respondents that home mortgage rates will increase over the next year; buyers want to lock in their mortgages before rates increase.

Downturn in Personal Finances

Yet only 63 percent of those surveyed would buy in today's real estate market, down from 64 percent in April and 66 percent in March. This could be due to the answers respondents gave to questions about personal finances. Twelve percent of respondents expected to see a decline in their financial standing, while 46 percent expected their financial situation to stay the same over the next 12 months. Fifteen percent of those questioned stated their household income is lower than it was a year ago.

Positive Signs

While 32 percent of those surveyed said their expenses had increased significantly in the past year, that is the lowest value reported in the history of the survey and a four percent decrease from the month before. And a record-high 38 percent of respondents believed the economy was starting to improve.

Rising Rents

Survey respondents also foresaw an increase in rental prices. Forty-nine percent—the highest percentage recorded to date—believed rental prices would rise. On average, respondents expected rents to increase by 4.1 percent over the next year. It could be the rising rents, or it could be the dream of home ownership, but when respondents were asked what they would do if they were to move, only 32 percent would rent while 63 percent would buy.

Americans are approaching the American dream with a little more caution, keeping their finances and the future of the economy in mind—an approach that can only help the long-term stability of the housing market.

This Article was written for my NOLA Westbank Homes Newletter for July: Realty News

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Home Buying Process For FHA Homes & First Time Homebuyers

The following information is meant to help Buyers understand financing using FHA and is provided to us using information directly from one of HUD's Management Companies, HomeTelos First.  Their website info is given below.

FHA offers 1-to-4 unit residential properties HUD acquires as a result of a foreclosure action on an FHA-insured mortgage. FHA then becomes the property owner and offers homes for sale at consumer-friendly prices to recover the loss on the foreclosure claim.

You must have a Real Estate Agent to submit your offer. Any real estate broker registered with FHA may submit your offer and contract to purchase on your behalf. FHA will pay your real estate broker's commission using proceeds from the property sale.

FHA's homes are offered for sale at fair market value, based on a recent appraisal. Generally, FHA sells homes in what is known as an "Offer Period," during which a potential buyer's offer must be made. At the end of the Offer Period, all offers are opened and the bid providing the highest acceptable net return to FHA may then be accepted. Following the initial "Offer Period" homes remaining unsold are offered on an "extended" basis which means offers may be submitted any business day. If a bid on one of these homes is acceptable, the broker will usually be notified within 48 hours of FHA's acceptance of the offer.

Understanding HUD Properties and Financing Where do FHA properties come from? FHA, or the Federal Housing Administration, is part of the Federal Government's Department of Housing and                                                          Urban Development (HUD). FHA helps home buyers qualify for mortgage financing by offering lenders insurance against  home buyer default. When a home buyer defaults on an FHA insured mortgage, the lender may foreclose and take ownership of the home. The  lender then transfers ownership of the home to FHA in exchange for FHA paying the lender the balance that was due on the  mortgage. FHA sells tens of thousands of foreclosed properties each year using the expertise of industry experts such as  HomeTelos. If I want to buy a HUD property, can I use an FHA loan to buy the home? Yes! Your lender still needs to qualify you for an FHA insured loan. Remember, FHA does not make loans directly to homebuyers. You must go through your lender. However, FHA financing is not required. Your lender can guide you through available financing programs, including FHA. Does getting an FHA-insured mortgage help in buying a HUD Home? HUD may have more attractive downpayment terms on an FHA mortgage if a borrower is buying a HUD home. Check with your real estate broker regarding special terms or homebuyer incentives. Can HUD help if the property I am buying needs some repairs? Through the FHA, HUD offers Property Rehabilitation Mortgage Insurance, also known as a "203k loan". In this program a lender sets aside part of your mortgage in a repair escrow, which you can draw on to make needed repairs. Talk to your lender about FHA 203k loans, and if one is right for you. For more information on HUD Properties go to HUD's website at  http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/article/Homeowner/How_To_Buy_A_HUD_Home. For more information on HUD/FHA Properties go to: http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/ins/203b--df.cfm. For specific information on FHA Property Rehabilation Mortgage insurance Program, go to:  http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/203k/203kmenu.cfm. To find a specific FHA approved lender in your area, go to: http://www.hud.gov/ll/code/llslcrit.cfm.

	FHA's 9-step process for first-time buyers For first-time home buyers, there is a huge amount of information and guidance available. Sorting it out, and making sure that it is objective can be challenging.  Make sure you work with a Realtor you are comfortable with to help you and use the following guidelines.   FHA provides the best guidance in this area centered around 9 steps any soon-to-be homeowner should take. HomeTelosFIRST provides the information below that will guide you through these 9 steps, and give you plenty of support along the way. It may be surprising to you, but most homebuyers find their homes through the Internet. Feel free to start your journey by selecting homes currently available in your area, using the How To Search For A Home feature on the HomeTelosFIRST Homepage. The steps below can help you to refine your choice, and better help to smooth the road to buying the home that best meets your needs. Step 1. Figure out how much you can afford. To help you calculate how much you can afford to buy a home, FHA recommends you use models operated by Ginnie Mae, like FHA a part of HUD that supports mortgage financing. To get an answer to just how much you can afford, click on http://www.ginniemae.gov/2_prequal/intro_questions.asp?Section=YPTH Step 2. Should you rent or buy? Is this the right time financially for you to by? To see what works best for you financially, click on http://www.ginniemae.gov/rent_vs_buy/rent_vs_buy_calc.asp?Section=YPTH Step 3. Know your rights. You need to make sure you receive the information you are entitled to along your road to homeownership. You have the Right to.. Shop for the best loan for you and compare the charges of different mortgage brokers and lenders. Ask for a Good Faith Estimate of all loan and settlement charges from your lender before you agree to the loan and pay any fees. Know what fees are not refundable if you decide to cancel the loan agreement. Ask your mortgage broker to explain exactly what the mortgage broker will do for you. Know how much the mortgage broker is getting paid by you and the lender for your loan. Ask questions about charges and loan terms that you do not understand. Receive a credit decision that is not based on your race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, or whether any income is from public assistance. Know the reason if your loan was turned down. Ask for the HUD settlement cost booklet "Shopping for Your Home Loan" from your lender. Step 4. Shop for a loan. To find a lender and loan terms that best meet your needs, you should learn some of the terminology used, what can help you, and what can cost you. To help guide you in shopping for the right loan, check out this HUD booklet by clicking http://www.hud.gov/buying/booklet.pdf Would you comparison shop in only one store? To find mortgage lenders doing business in your area that are approved by FHA, go to http://www.hud.gov/ll/code/llslcrit.cfm Step 5. Check out Home-buying Programs Your lender usually knows about any local programs offered to first time homebuyers, but it is always good to check for yourself. One avenue to do so is to see what programs have been identified by local HUD offices. Click here to see what might be available in your state:http://www.hud.gov/buying/localbuying.cfm Step 6. Finding a qualified real estate agent to help you buy your home Nearly 75% of today's home are found and purchased through the Internet. This does not eliminate the need for you to select a qualified real estate agent to represent you. A qualified real estate agent provides the best security for any buyer in ensuring a great home purchase. You should expect your agent to: Develop a preliminary evaluation of a property (including both pros and cons) and provide an explanation of comparative property values in the area. Properly advise you on price and other advantageous negotiating options and prepare a purchase offer. Make a timely and complete offer on the home you are interested in buying. Notify you immediately regarding offer acceptance, offer rejection, or counter offers. Arrange inspections, warranties, and any certifications that might affect the value of the property. Accompany you on a final walk-through of the property before closing. Attend the closing and provide assistance to you and your attorney at the closing. Remember, your real estate agent can guide you, but only you know the home that is right for you. To locate a real estate agent in your area, click here to find agents you may wish to represent you: Find An Agent Step 7. Get a Home Inspection What you see may be what you get, but what about what you don't see? It pays to engage the trained eyes of a home inspector to make sure you fully understand the condition of the property you are buying. To learn more about home inspections, check out the information at this site:http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/housing/inspection/home.htm Step 8: Obtaining homeowners insurance Homeowners insurance is more than just a good idea. Your lender will require that you carry sufficient coverage to at least pay off your mortgage amount if your home were severely damaged. To get some background on what to look for in a homeowners insurance policy, clickhttp://consumeraction.gov/caw_insurance_homeowner_renter.shtml Step 9. Closing One of the most exciting moments of your life is actually closing on the purchase of your new home. To understand the process and remove stress from the event, try reading some background information provided at this website: http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/ramh/res/sfhrestc.cfm Congratulations, you made it through the 9 steps! The materials referenced along the way are not the only sources of information for you.  Always work with your Real Estate Agent to guide you through this process and give you more resources/ information. Find out more on HomeTelosFIRST Homepage @ www.hometelosfirst.com

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