The VA home loan program offers some pretty unbeatable benefits for active military members and veterans that definitely make the program worth exploring when searching for a home.

Are you thinking about selling your home? You never get a second chance to make a great first impression!

Tips for Success

• Find a great and experienced real estate agent! Do some research to find a real estate agent who is knowledgeable about your specific market, and then interview them to be sure they are a good fit for you.
  
  
• Curb Appeal Brings Them In! For better or worse, Buyers do tend to judge a book by its cover! You want to make sure potential buyer’s first impression of your home is a good one! 
  
  
• The Front Door Greets the Prospect! Repaint your front door and have a welcoming decoration.
  
  
• Nothing Brightens Like Paint! Fresh coat of paint in neutral tones goes far to make a room seem new and delivers a great return!
  
  
• Declutter & Clean, Clean, Clean! Less is more when it comes to getting your home ready to show! Do a clean sweep of counters, tables, windowsills and all other visible areas.
  
  
• Let the Light Shine! Open all the curtains and raise the blinds. It will let as much light in as possible if your showing is during the day and will make the house look inviting from the street if the showing is after dark.
  
  
• Repairs Can Make a Big Difference! Fix that dripping faucet, loose doorknobs, sticking doors & windows as well as any other minor flaws that can detract from the value.
  
  
• Conduct a Smell Test & Use Scent Sparingly! Foul odors, even slight ones can be a deal breaker, and you might not even notice them. Consider having an unbiased third party in to try to detect any lingering odors and resolve them with some deep cleaning.  

By Brittany Howard

Are you wondering if it is a good idea to sell your house right now? The answer may not be what you’re expecting. There is a lot of uncertainty in the market because of the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic effects. Let’s take a dive in to how it’s affecting seller’s in the real estate market.

2019 was a hot year for real estate sales and 2020 promised to be even better. The CABR’s Sales Press Release noted that in the first three months of this year sales were up 4.45% and in March home values continued to rise an additional 13.12 % over March last year. Low inventory and able buyers paired with attractive interest rates continued to bolster a healthy seller’s market.

Enter COVID-19 and now the world is on hold. Or is it? The number of homes sold in Ohio actually rose 6.5 percent in March from a year ago according to Ohio REALTORS. I have multiple buyers who are frustrated with the current lack of inventory and have heard the same from other agents. The real estate market does not seem to be waiting for the virus to run its course, so why are you?

According to an article published by the NAR, new listings are down overall 40% from this time last year. Some areas of our country have even seen new listings decline over 80% according to Realtor.com. So, what does that mean for you? A lot less competition and eager buyers! Right now, the median days on market for an average single-family residence is 9 days. Things are still selling and fast. No one knows when life will get back to normal. However, as things continue to calm down, more and more seller’s will be listing their homes and the buyer will have more to choose from.

Obviously, safety is the number one concern. Real estate is an essential business and we have adapted to this new work environment. There are very specific safety measures that we have put in place to keep our clients safe while still being able to conduct business and sell your home. Call us today to learn how we can provide some certainty in your selling process in these uncertain times. 

Purchasing a home is arguably one of the biggest financial decisions you will make in your lifetime. As you start your hunt, don't forget there will be other costs associated with your purchase then the price of the home. Here are 7 fees/expenses to keep in mind as you begin to budget.

Home inspection. This is a crucial step in the home buying process. The findings that come from the inspection can help you negotiate price and repairs. Generally, you can expect to pay between $300 to $500 depending on the home and the location. There may also be additional inspections required by your lender depending on the type of loan you are getting and property you are purchasing. 

Title services. Title services encompass the transfer of the title from the seller and a thorough search of the property’s records to ensure there are no liens or claims  to the property from another party.. Additionally, you may need to buy title insurance which will protect the lender or your investment in the home.

Appraisal fee. Before getting a loan, you will likely be required to get an appraisal of the home to determine its estimated value. This will be conducted by a third-party company and the cost can land anywhere between $300 and $1,000, depending on the size of the home.

Realtor Administrative/Processing Fees.  Some brokerages charge the Buyer at closing an administrative or processing fee. Please ask your Realtor if they charge any additional fees to you at closing.

HOA Fees. Many communities have a homeowners’ association that enforces monthly fees and typically charge the purchaser a new member fee.. This money is used for general maintenance and updates to areas like pools, parks, and more. 

Taxes. The taxes each buyer pays at the closing table differ, but it is not uncommon for it to be up to two months’ worth of county and city property taxes. Additionally, there may be taxes for the transfer of the home title.

Homeowners Insurance.  You'll definitely want to get homeowners insurance, which will typically cover you if your roof gets destroyed by a tornado, if your plumbing breaks and floods your basement, or if someone breaks into your house. Insurance quotes depend on multiple factors, including the value of your home, your insurance claim history, and the deductible you choose. 

Buying a home is a great investment, but make sure you understand the costs involved. You should be prepared for the various expenditures that you will have to cover before you ever dip your toe into the real estate market.

To avoid being blindsided by any of these costs, it’s a good idea to do your research and ask a lot of questions to both your Realtor and lender.

Our professionals will be able to help you plan ahead for the different costs you will face and give you guidance to your market and the cost of the homes at which you are looking.

Contact us today at 937.378.3800 so that we can talk about your goals and help make the dream of home ownership become a reality for you!

Learn About Our Virtual Home
Buying Program!

Now is a great time to take advantage of our Virtual Home Buying Program! Believe it or not, you can still explore the latest properties, attend showings, and close on your home without ever leaving the comfort of your couch. Here’s how it works:

Do you want to buy a house but think it is out of your reach financially? Well, you’re not alone. A major mortgage company recently did a survey that revealed that the number one reason that people don’t pursue their dreams of home ownership is because they think that they have to have 20% down. I was absolutely shocked when I heard that! What if I told you that you could quite literally buy a home for less out of pocket than you’ll spend furnishing it? Well buckle your seat belts, kids because it’s true and I’m about to tell you all about how to do it.

Use the right loan – Yeah, you’re parents or grandparents probably purchased their home with a 20% down Conventional loan. But, just like everything else lending has changed to meet the need of its current consumers. With options including 10% and 5% down conventional loans, a 3.5% down FHA loan, in-house portfolio loans at 3% down, all the way to no money down on USDA and VA loans the options are endless! The requirements will vary between loan types. Your lender and Realtor will help you figure out which is best suited to your financial needs and goals.

Cut out closing costs – So we’ve learned that we can buy a house with little to no down payment, but what about closing costs? Closing costs are what the lender charges to procure your loan. Each loan type is going to have different charges, but generally closing cost run between 2% and 3% of the purchase price. How can we lessen the blow of those costs? Ask the seller to pay, of course! It’s very common to request that the seller pay some or all of your closing costs. How much you request generally depends on your needs. But don’t worry; your lender will be able to tell you how much you’ll need to ask for!

Grant Money – Every year grants are rolled out by different lending institutions. Normally the funds allotted for the grants are limited which means there’s only so many individual grants they have available to give. While others are just programs lenders run until they stop. But for the most part, you’ll have to get ‘em while the gettins’ good! They’re not always available, though, so talk to your realtor and lender about what’s available and how it can help you!

Upfront costs – You do need some money to buy a house, even if you use a no money down loan and get your closing costs covered by a grant or seller! There are costs like home inspections, earnest money, and appraisals.  A typical whole home inspection is around $300 to $500, earnest money is a negotiable amount that is an upfront deposit that gets applied to purchase at closing (average in this area starts around $500), and sometimes a lender will have you pay for the appraisal upfront which is around $400 to $500.

So let’s put all of this information together into some actual numbers. I’ll use an example from a recent sale that closed. My buyer got a home under contract for $102,000. They used a 3.5% down FHA mortgage. They asked for $3,000 in seller paid closing costs and they qualified for a $2,000 grant from their lender.  They ended up bringing just over $2,100 to closing. Their upfront costs were about $300 for a home inspection and $500 in earnest money. So total out of pocket was right around $2,900. To buy a house!  So the question isn’t how much does it cost to buy a house, it’s how much do you want to spend!

Contact us today at 937.378.3800 so that we can talk about your goals and help make the dream of home ownership become a reality for you!

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Buying a home is one of the biggest financial transactions of your life, but it can be daunting if you’re unfamiliar with the real estate market. Don’t just call the number on the sign — go in with an expert on your side! Diligent representation and negotiations. Unlike an agent working on behalf of the seller, as your buyer’s agent, our loyalty and legal duty is to you. We’ll focus on finding what you want and negotiating aggressively on your behalf — no need to take a back seat to the seller. Better price. As your Realtor, our goal is to get you your dream home at the lowest price. A seller’s agent seeks the best deal for their seller, and that doesn’t always translate into the best deal for you. Don’t throw your money away! Let us find you a great home in your price range and negotiate to get you the best deal. The right home. With your wish list in mind, we will provide transparency and advise you on how well a property really matches your needs. A seller’s agent looking out for their client isn’t going to give you the full picture about a property’s fit for you. Set your own standards and we will help you meet them.   Simplicity of one agent. Having one reliable agent working on your behalf makes your home search easier and more successful. Not interested in dealing with multiple seller’s agents who aren’t tuned in to what you want? As your Realtor, we will guide you through your entire home search with your best interest in mind. Are you ready to find your dream home? Let us help you! Call today for a free consultation. 937.378.3800

How to be a Successful Buyer in a Seller’s Market

Years ago when I started my Real Estate Career we were still in the thick of a depressed market. Bank owned listings were prevalent and real estate investors were having a hay day! With foreclosures flooding the market buyers had a lot of options to choose from and sellers had to drop prices to compete. Buyers were happy! But things have shifted and buying a house now is a different experience all together.

Market forecasters say that we could see foreclosures only making up 1 to 3% of home sales this year. That means the housing market is essentially “back to normal”. Little to no foreclosures on the market means that there’s less to choose from and that the consumer home seller holds the monopoly. It’s a seller’s Market Ya’ll. So what can you do as a buyer to ensure a good home buying experience?

Set your expectations: Basic rules of supply and demand say that when supply is low, prices are up. What you WANT to pay for a home doesn’t determine its market value. If you are home shopping under the impression that you can effectively place a low ball offer, you’re going to get nowhere fast. Chances are if you find a home you like, there’s someone else who likes it too. Expect to be competing with other buyers. If you’re unsure if the asking price is fair ask your agent to show you what comparable properties are selling for.

Be prepared:  Since you’re likely to be competing with other buyers you want to make sure you’re ready to pull the trigger when you do find a home you like. You’ll need to have your pre approval ready when you start looking. You and your agent will need this to determine which type of financing you’ll be using, your price range, and the amount of closing cost you should be asking for from the seller. If you find a home you love and then have to get your financing together someone who was ready could already have your house pending.

Work with the right agent for you: Because the market is competitive for buyers right now, it’s more important than ever to have the right agent on your side. Not only do you want your agent to be knowledgeable but you also want to make sure that your schedule and communication preferences fit well together. What I mean by this is if you work until 6 during the week, you want an agent who has availability to work evenings. If you find a house on Monday you love but can’t see it until Saturday afternoon, it might be gone. Also, if you are an avid text message user who despises phone conversations you may want to rethink the Realtor who has a flip phone and wants to fax you documents. Everyone has their own methods that work best for them. While none of them are wrong, working with an agent who works the way you do can add a level of fluidity to your transaction.

Are you ready to get your purchase process started? Contact us today and we can get you pointed in the right direction!

The Perfect (Sales) Storm

The weather here in the tristate area has been anything but normal recently. We’ve went from a mild winter, to spring like warmth and tornados, to actual winter like temps and snow - all within about a week’s time! Although, the weather here in Cincinnati has always been quite finicky. How’s the saying go? “If you don’t like the weather just stick around, it will change.” Well, so goes the real estate market.

There’s a storm brewing in the market. A few conditions are coming together to make it a perfect storm for sellers. Here’s what the forecast models are showing:

High demand, low supply – In the Cincinnati MLS we generally run an average of 10,000 units for sale. Give or take. When the market was flooded we had over 20,000 units which was more supply than the market needed therefore demand dropped and it was overwhelmingly a buyer’s market. But right now we are at around 5,000 units for sale in the Cincinnati MLS. That’s half the normal supply! This creates a higher demand and means buyers are competing, not sellers.

Rising Values – What does high demand do? It makes values go up! Here’s an excerpt from the Cincinnati Area Board of Realtors Press Release. These values reflect January 2017 sales information, “The average home price climbed to $180,681 compared to $166,130 a year earlier, a +8.76 % increase. At the same time, the inventory of homes for sale, as of January 31, continued its year-over-year declining trend to 4,867 from 6,647 a year ago, down – 26.78 %.’ I’m not making this stuff up!!!

Low Interest Rates – Interest rates are still hovering the in the low 4’s. This is up just slightly from last year but is still extremely low! Great, right? But how does it affect you as a seller? Glad you asked! Low rates mean that a buyer has more buying power. Here’s an example; let’s say that a buyer wants to keep their monthly payments right around a grand. If the interest rate is 4.5% they could purchase a home at $200,000 and have a monthly mortgage and interest payment of $1,013.37. Let’s change that by just 1%. At 5.5% a buyer would have to purchase a home for $180,000 to have a monthly payment of $1,022.02. A 1% increase in interest decreased the buying power by $20,000!!

All of these conditions coming together at the same time are really creating a perfect storm in the market. We’re gearing up for another strong year. But we need more listings to support the buyers out there looking! If you’ve considered selling but weren’t sure if it was the right time, now could be the perfect time for you. Contact an agent at Ring Real Estate today to find out!