Here are some fun events happening in and around Teton County this March! March 10: Wing Wednesday at Hayden’s Post Yonder Salmon Dusters - Bluegrass @ The Center for the Arts Theater March 10-13: Paul Cleckler @ Million Dollar Cowboy Bar March 11: Yonder Salmon Dusters - Bluegrass @ The Center for the Arts Theater Doc Powell @ Silver Dollar Showroom March 11-13: Jackson Hole Playhouse presents “The Love Shack” March 12: Chris Thompson & Alex Johnstone @ Silver Dollar Showroom March 12-13: Jackson Hole Moose Hockey Games @ Snow King Sports & Events Center March 12-14: Jackson Hole Downhill @ Teton Village March 13: Jackson Hole Food and Wine’s 5th Annual Winter Fest - Taste of Teton Village To-Go @ Teton Village Chris Thompson & Alex Johnstone @ Silver Dollar Showroom March 14: Aaron Davis @ Stillwest Brewery & Grill March 16: One Ton Pig @ Silver Dollar Showroom March … Continue reading...
Skip the Starter Home
For generations, people have begun their homeowner experience with a "starter" home. Part of the logic may be that by beginning with a smaller home, they can learn what it takes to run the home and discover some of the unexpected costs that come along with it. A slightly longer view into the future could suggest a different strategy. As of March 4, 2021, the average 30-year mortgage rate according to Freddie Mac was 3.02%; up .37% from the week of January 7th this year. At the same time, in 2020, the rate was 3.29% and in 2019, it was 4.41%. That is a difference of 28 and 139 basis points. The principal and interest payment on a $300,000 mortgage would have been $236 higher two-years ago and $44 more one-year ago. Today's low mortgage rates are saving buyers lots of interest especially when you factor in the median tenure for sellers is approximately ten years. Even though prices have increased over the last two years, some people may be able to afford more now with the lower … Continue reading...
Your Refund Could Open the Door
One of the silver linings to filing your income tax return is finding out that you are going to receive a refund that could literally open the door to owning a home. If you happen to be one of these fortunate taxpayers, your next decision is what to do with it. With the average tax refund near $3,000, it could be the ticket to buying a home sooner rather than later. Regardless of the size of your refund, it can be used toward the down payment or closing costs of the home. Most people think it takes 10% or more down payment to purchase a home, but actually, it is much less because of several low down payment mortgages . There are VA and USDA mortgages that allow for no down payment for qualified buyers. FHA has a 3.5% down payment program and FNMA and Freddie Mac have 3% down payment mortgages for qualified creditors as well as 5% down programs. Closing costs for originating new mortgages can easily range from two to three percent of the purchase price but most lenders will … Continue reading...
Transferring Property Prior to Death
Sometimes, as people approach the inevitable, they start trying to get their things "in order". They may even have a will, but they decide to transfer title to real estate prior to their death which could be an unnecessary expense for the would-be heir. Generally, when property is passed through direction of a will, the heir will receive a stepped-up basis which means that the fair market value of the property at the time of death becomes the cost basis for the heir. If the property were sold for that fair market value, there would be no gain and no capital gains tax due. However, if the property is gifted prior to death of the donor, along with the title to the property comes the cost basis of the property. The transfer of title does not trigger the capital gains tax but when the property is sold, the gain is calculated by subtracting the basis from the sales price leaving a capital gain subject to tax. In other words, the person receiving the gift does not get the stepped-up … Continue reading...
Is It Time to Cancel the Mortgage Insurance?
Mortgage insurance benefits the lender if a borrower with less than a 20% down payment defaults on their loan. Most conventional mortgages greater than 80% and all FHA loans require the borrower to have this coverage. Private mortgage insurance on conventional loans can range from 0.5% to 2.25% based on the loan-to-value and the credit worthiness of the borrower. A $350,000 mortgage would have a monthly mortgage insurance premium of $146 a month at the low-end of the scale and over $600 on the high-end. You may request that your mortgage servicer cancel the PMI when the principal balance reaches 80% of the original value at the time the loan was made. You should have received a PMI disclosure form when you signed the mortgage documents stating the date. If you have made additional principal contributions, it will accelerate the date. Other criteria considered to cancel the PMI on your loan is: The request must be in writing. You must be current on your payments with a … Continue reading...
Make Your Best Offer FIRST
This strategy is not about trying to negotiate the best price; it is about beating out the competition and buying the home. It may be difficult to understand until you have lost a few homes to better offers but when the reality of the situation is that there are not that many homes on the market, the competition heats up and different tactics are necessary. Sales in December were annualized at 6.76 million, a 22.2% increase year over year according to the National Association of REALTOR®. The median sales price is $309,800 which is up 12.9% from the previous year. Inventory for December fell to 1.9 months' supply from 3.0 months' supply in December of 2019. Six months inventory is considered a balanced market. Things that work in a buyer's market will not work in a seller's market. The shortage of available homes for sale has led to not only shorter market times but multiple offers that have sales prices above the listing price. Buyers, especially in entry to mid-level priced … Continue reading...
Home Insurance and Mortgage Insurance
Many homeowners with mortgages pay for both types of insurance but only one of them protects the owner. Homeowner's insurance covers damage to your property and losses from fire, burglary, vandalism, and other named natural disasters. When an insured has a loss, they file a claim with the insurance carrier which would be subject to the deductible mentioned in the policy. If the homeowner has a mortgage on the property, the lender will require that the borrower carry adequate insurance on the property and name the lender as an additional insured. This protects the lender that the home will continue to be sufficient collateral for the loan in case of a loss. Mortgage insurance is not like homeowner's insurance in that it is solely for the protection of the lender if the borrower defaults on the loan. Usually, lenders require mortgage insurance on any loan greater than 80% loan-to-value. Occasionally, they may require it on some loans less than 80% based on their underwriting … Continue reading...
Moving UP or DOWN
Staying at home in 2020 caused of lot of owners to think about how nice it would be to have a larger home to accommodate the additional activities that come along with isolating. Particularly for people with children at home or possibly, the potential of either adult children or parents coming to live with them. There are other owners who are trying to weigh the pros and cons of selling their larger home and downsizing. For entirely different reasons, the advantages could be very appealing to an owner. A smaller home is easier to maintain and usually, has lower utilities, insurance, and property taxes. Some people might be considering the convenience and ease of mobility of a single level home. It may be finding a location with proximity to the activities they are now interested in. A newer home might have less maintenance and be more energy efficient. Married taxpayers who have owned and occupied a principal residence for two years can exclude up to $500,000 of capital gain … Continue reading...
Rental Home Investments
Rental homes whether they be single-family detached properties, condos, two, three or four-unit properties share many of the same benefits. Most people instinctively understand many of the working parts because they are the same as their home. They have a basic understanding of value and how to maintain the property. The service providers for a home would be the same for a rental home. These properties allow an investor to obtain a large loan-to-value mortgage at fixed interest rates for up to thirty years. They appreciate in value, currently exceeding many other assets; have defined tax advantages and allow an investor more control than many alternative investments. Most lenders require 20-25% down payment and will finance the balance at rates close to owner-occupied homes. Buyer closing costs will add another three to four percent to the amount of cash needed to close. It is also prudent to have available funds for repairs and maintenance. There are successful real estate … Continue reading...
Pre-Listing Inspections
Imagine what happens when there is not a pre-listing inspection. The buyer contracts for the home with a provision for professional home inspection. When it is made, there could be things that the buyer didn't expect or even, anticipate. If it doesn't trigger an action to terminate the contract, the buyer will inevitably, ask the seller to make all the repairs. When presented with the buyer's request, the seller may take the opposite position of not wanting to do any of the repairs. The buyer could accept the property in its "as is" condition or negotiate the repairs or a reduced price with the seller. Any experienced agent can tell you that sometimes a mutually agreed negotiation is reached and other times, an impasse is met that cannot be resolved. The contract is terminated, and the house has to go back on the market but this time, a disclosure has to be made to all parties looking at the home which may deter showings. Taking a pro-active approach, by obtaining a … Continue reading...