15
Feb
By First Rate Financial Group
Mortgage Tips

Thinking About a New Home? 3 Reasons Why a Mortgage Will Be the Best Money You Ever Borrow

Thinking About a New Home? 3 Reasons Why a Mortgage Will Be the Best Money You Ever BorrowIn these days of low interest rates, it can be a great idea to get into the real estate market and invest in a home. However, if you don’t have the funds saved up to buy a home outright, it may seem like more of a burden than it’s worth. The good news is that you might qualify for a mortgage loan, which tends to come with more favorable terms than a traditional bank loan. Here are three reasons why a mortgage might just be the best money you ever borrow.

Taking Advantage Of Low Interest

Interest rates have been relatively low for a number of years, which can be a definite financial boon when it comes to your monthly mortgage payment. Unfortunately, though, the predictions forecast that rates are on the rise and that means home ownership may be a more difficult dream in the coming years. If you’re interested in getting a home at a lower price with a better interest rate, it may be worth getting a short-term loan for the long-term gain.

Begin To Invest

It will certainly improve your financial outlook if you have a financial plan and a monthly budget you stick to, but few things will help your money grow like investing. Fortunately, real estate is still one of the best investments you can make in terms of helping your money grow and ensuring your future fiscal success. While stocks and mutual funds can be a bit topsy-turvy if you’re not knowledgeable about investing, real estate can be a more reliable asset that’s easier to understand.

Giving Up On Rent

When investing in a home, there are few things more rewarding than not having to pay rent anymore. Instead of effectively tossing away money each month that you’ll never see again, you will be able to see your equity grow in the home and property you purchase. Plus, this equity can be used as leverage for investment in another home. It also means that no matter the downturn in the market, you’ll have a solid investment in something.

You may not like the idea of borrowing money for your mortgage, but it can be a good fiscal choice with interest rates on the rise and the opportunity to say goodbye to rent forever. If you’re currently considering borrowing and are planning on buying a home in the near future, contact your trusted mortgage professional for more information.

14
Feb
By First Rate Financial Group
Mortgage

What To Know About The 2-1 Buydown Program

What To Know About The 2-1 Buydown Program You are probably excited to close on your home, but you may have also seen that your interest rate might be a bit higher. If you are looking for a way to save money, particularly if you have a lot of work to do on the home, you might be looking for a way to reduce your interest rate during the first couple of years. One option is to perform a 2-1 buydown. What do you need to know about this option, and how do you know if it is right for you?

How A 2-1 Buydown Works

This is a special type of program that can help you slightly alter the financing on your home loan. Specifically, it has been designed to reduce the interest rate during the first two years of your mortgage. During the first year of your mortgage, your interest rate is reduced by 2 percent. Then, it is reduced by 1 percent during the second year. By the third year, the interest rate goes back to normal.

The Benefits And Drawbacks Of 2 – 1 Buydowns

Like any financing option, there are some benefits and drawbacks to consider. The biggest benefit is that you can save money during the first two years of your mortgage. This can provide you with extra money to complete renovation projects and home repairs. On the other hand, the drawback is that your monthly payments will go up during the first few years. If you don’t have the income to match your monthly payments during the third year, you might find yourself in some financial difficulty.

Should You Do a 2 – 1 Buydown?

You may also be interested in this type of financing option if you plan on selling the house in the near future. For example, if you think you won’t be there for very long, you may not care what the interest rate is going to do in the future. On the other hand, if you really plan on selling the house quickly, you may want to talk to a professional about other financing options that could be even better for your specific situation. That way, you don’t end up paying more money than you have to.

13
Feb
By First Rate Financial Group
Financial Reports

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – February 13, 2023

What's Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week - February 13, 2023Last week’s economic reporting included coverage of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech to the Economic Club of Washington and the University of Michigan’s data on consumer sentiment. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also published.

 

Federal Reserve: Chairman Jerome Powell Says the “Disinflationary Process” is Ongoing


Fed Chair Jerome Powell said in remarks made to the Economic Club of Washington that the “disinflationary process” has started, but he also indicated that January’s unexpectedly strong jobs report indicated that further interest rate hikes are necessary: “We think we need to do further rate increases and we think we’ll need to hold policy at a restrictive level for a period of time.” 

 

Several other senior Fed officials said that further interest rate hikes would be required to keep inflation in check; as 517,000 jobs were added last week after analysts predicted declining job growth as compared to the expected reading of 187,000 jobs added. The national unemployment rate fell to a 54-year low of 3.4 percent.

 

Analysts cautioned that the Fed would likely continue to raise rates to control inflation but Chairman Powell said that the Fed would likely raise rates only “a couple more times.”

 

Mortgage Rates, Jobless Claims Rise


Freddie Mac reported higher mortgage rates last week; the average rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages was three basis points higher at 6.12 percent. The average rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages rose by 11 basis points to 5.25 percent. 

 

Jobless claims also rose last week with 196,000 new claims filed as compared to the previous week’s reading of 183,000 initial claims filed. 1.69 million continuing jobless claims were filed as compared to the prior week’s reading of 1.65 million ongoing claims.

 

The University of Michigan reported that its initial consumer sentiment reading for February rose to an index reading of 66.4 as compared to the expected reading of 65.1 and last month’s index reading of 64.9. Consumer sentiment readings over 50 indicate most survey respondents were positive about current economic conditions. 

 

The University also released monthly readings on year-over-year inflationary predictions. February’s early reading predicts 4.2 percent year-over-year inflation as compared to January’s reading of 3.9 percent year-over-year inflation.
 


What’s Ahead


This week’s scheduled economic reports include readings on home prices, inflation, retail sales, and data on building permits issued and housing starts. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims will also be released.