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REinventing MLS
Get All the Facts about PMI
When it comes to buying a home, whether it is your first time or your fifth, it is always important to know all the facts. With the large number of mortgage programs available that allow buyers to purchase a home with a down payment below 20%, you can never have too much information about Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI).
What is PMI?
Freddie Mac defines PMI as:
“An insurance policy that protects the lender if you are unable to pay your mortgage. It’s a monthly fee, rolled into your mortgage payment, that is required for all conforming, conventional loans that have down payments less than 20%.
Once you’ve built equity of 20% in your home, you can cancel your PMI and remove that expense from your mortgage payment.”
As the borrower, you pay the monthly premiums for the insurance policy, and the lender is the beneficiary. Freddie Mac goes on to explain that:
“The cost of PMI varies based on your loan-to-value ratio – the amount you owe on your mortgage compared to its value – and credit score, but you can expect to pay between $30 and $70 per month for every $100,000 borrowed.”
According to the National Association of Realtors, the average down payment for all buyers last year was 10%. For first-time buyers, that number dropped to 6%, while repeat buyers put down 14% (no doubt aided by the sale of their home). This just goes to show that for a large number of buyers last year, PMI did not stop them from buying their dream homes.
Here’s an example of the cost of a mortgage on a $200,000 home with a 5% down payment & PMI, compared to a 20% down payment without PMI:
The larger the down payment you can make, the lower your monthly housing cost will be, but Freddie Mac urges you to remember:
“It’s no doubt an added cost, but it’s enabling you to buy now and begin building equity versus waiting 5 to 10 years to build enough savings for a 20% down payment.”
Bottom Line
If you have questions about whether you should buy now or wait until you’ve saved a larger down payment, meet with a professional in your area who can explain your market’s conditions and help you make the best decision for you and your family.
Blog Post via KCM Blog
Homes are Selling Fast Across the Country [Infographic]
![Homes are Selling Fast Across the Country [INFOGRAPHIC] | MyKCM](https://d8yi0qr1xsq5x.cloudfront.net/2017/04/25170948/20170428-Days-on-the-Market-STM-1046x1354.jpg)
Blog post via KCM Blog
Slaying Home Buying Myths [Infographic]
![Slaying Home Buying Myths [INFOGRAPHIC] | Keeping Current Matters](https://i0.wp.com/d3sj2vq3d2xms.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/21104036/Slaying-Myths-KCM-2.jpg)
Some Highlights:
- Interest rates are still below historic numbers.
- 88% of property managers raised their rent in the last 12 months!
- The credit score requirements for mortgage approval continue to fall.
Blog post via KCM Blog
MRED Chicagoland Report for March, 2017
We can comfortably consider the first quarter to have been a good start for residential real estate in 2017. There was certainly plenty to worry over when the year began. Aside from new national leadership in Washington, DC, and the policy shifts that can occur during such transitions, there was also the matter of continuous low housing supply, steadily rising mortgage rates and ever-increasing home prices. Nevertheless, sales have held their own in year-over-year comparisons and should improve during the busiest months of the real estate sales cycle.
New Listings in Chicagoland were up 0.5 percent for detached homes and 3.3 percent for attached properties. Listings Under Contract increased 12.9 percent for detached homes and 13.9 percent for attached properties.
The Median Sales Price was up 13.6 percent to $232,800 for detached homes and 5.2 percent to $192,500 for attached properties. Months Supply of Inventory decreased 20.1 percent for detached units and 23.8 percent for attached units.
The U.S. economy has improved for several quarters in a row, which has helped wage growth and retail consumption increase in year-over-year comparisons. Couple that with an unemployment rate that has been holding steady or dropping both nationally and in many localities, and consumer confidence is on the rise. As the economy improves, home sales tend to go up. It isn’t much more complex than that right now. Rising mortgage rates could slow growth eventually, but rate increases should be thought of as little more than a byproduct of a stronger economy and stronger demand.
MRED real estate professionals can log into MREDLLC.com and click on the Statistics tab to get the latest Lender Mediated and Monthly Market Indicators Reports. You can also click on the Local Market Updates choice under the Statistics tab and use our Interactive Market Analytics map for the latest local market metrics.
Any questions? Please contact MRED’s Help Desk at 630-955-2755 or help.desk@MREDLLC.com.
Major Enhancements are LIVE in connectMLS!
You asked, we listened! Based on your feedback, some major changes and upgrades have been made to photos and the Private Listing Network (PLN)!
Photo Highlights:
Unlimited photos per listing (think before you print!)
- High Definition (HD) photos
- Restrict selected secondary photos from being distributed to third party websites (ex. IDX, realtor.com, etc.) when the listing goes off-market (Photo rule has been revised)
NOTE: Please be aware that with unlimited photos, if you are printing reports, the number of pages of the report will increase. Please use print preview before printing!
Private Listing Network Highlights:
- Search for homes via a map search!
- Create a search and receive email notifications when listings become available
- Create your own custom reports
- Use “Next” and “Previous” to move between listings
- And much more!
Are you experiencing issues or have any questions? You can always contact the MRED Help Desk at 630-955-2755 or help.desk@mredllc.com
Again… You Do Not Need 20% Down to Buy NOW!
A survey by Ipsos found that the American public is still somewhat confused about what is required to qualify for a home mortgage loan in today’s housing market. There are two major misconceptions that we want to address today.
1. Down Payment
The survey revealed that consumers overestimate the down payment funds needed to qualify for a home loan. According to the report, 40% of consumers think a 20% down payment is always required. In actuality, there are many loans written with a down payment of 3% or less.
Many renters may actually be able to enter the housing market sooner than they ever imagined with new programs that have emerged allowing less cash out of pocket.
2. FICO® Scores
The survey also revealed that 62% of respondents believe they need excellent credit to buy a home, with 43% thinking a “good credit score” is over 780. In actuality, the average FICO® scores of approved conventional and FHA mortgages are much lower.
The average conventional loan closed in February had a credit score of 752, while FHA mortgages closed with a score of 686. The average across all loans closed in February was 720. The chart below shows the distribution of FICO® Scores for all loans approved in February.
Bottom Line
If you are a prospective buyer who is ‘ready’ and ‘willing’ to act now, but are not sure if you are ‘able’ to, sit down with a professional who can help you understand your true options.
Blog post via KCM Blog
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