Matthew Gardner, Windermere’s Chief Economist, recently completed his national housing forecast which details his predictions for the 2018 housing market, and here’s what he has to say:

Wondering what this means for you? Give me a call.

The latest from Matthew Gardner, Windermere’s resident economist… contact me with questions!

Matthew Gardner 2017 Forecast

For complete details about our market, please CLICK HERE to see the latest Market Action Report from our Regional Multiple Listing Service.

And, as you probably know, the bigger the better! It’s surprising how much your credit score can affect your monthly mortgage payment. If you’re buying a home and have a credit score between 760 and 850 the rate you qualify for could be more than 1.5% less than if your credit score was under 640.

For example: at the higher credit score the interest could be around 4.093% and at the lower score it could be as high as 5.682%. The principal and interest payment on a loan of $300,000 at the lower interest rate would be $1,448 per month. The payment for someone with a credit score of 640 or less would probably be closer to $1,738 per month for principal and interest.

Moral of the story, know your credit score.

If you would like a little more information, click here.  

I know I keep saying it but it’s true: if you haven’t refinanced your home, please investigate doing it now. Additionally, the interest rates still make buying a home, rental property or vacation getaway very appealing.

And, I believe that the right lender can vary depending on what you are trying to accomplish. There are new Federal lending laws, TRID, that were put in place in October 2015. These rules and the right lender will have a huge impact on the process of buying a home.

If you are refinancing, the timelines aren’t as critical. If you are considering any of the above, please give me a call. You want the right lender for the job. Call me if you would like a couple suggestions for a lender or if you want to find out the current value of your home.

The Federal Reserve raised short term interest rates in December of 2015. This was the first time those rates were raised since the recession! 

How will that affect home loans? Adjustable mortgages are more likely to be affected by this raise than 30-year mortgage rates. Those are not set by the Federal Reserve and are more affected by the 10-year Treasury Bond and inflation. That being said, it seems impossible that 30-year mortgage rates won’t increase in the next year but unlikely by leaps and bounds. 

Do you know someone thinking of buying this year? Sooner than later may be better based on rates, but I'm here to talk to them to answer questions or start the process. Let me know if you have someone in mind. Taking care of your loved ones and those you care about is top of mind for me.