Please read the data facts below and react accordingly. Meaning hurry up and call me so we can help you buy that house while interest rates are AMAZING low.

Low Mortgage Interest Rates Create More Incentive Than First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit

With interest rates dipping as low as 4.25% to 4.75% on a 30 year fixed, the tax credit gone should not make much of a difference in the minds of home-buyers. However, that has not been the case.  So far the mortgage application volumes since the tax credit ending has been very low.  Most borrowers have not yet realized that due to the low interest rates that the long term benefits of owning a home is more beneficial today than the customer who bought their home 3 to 6 months ago.  The reason for this phenomena is due to interest rates creeping down to all time low levels between 4% to 5%.  Most homeowners who took advantage of the first time home-buyer tax credit paid for mortgage rates in the ranges of 5.25% to 5.75% range.

So let me give you 2 great examples using a $90,000.00 loan and a $180,000.00 loan of the benefits today buying a home versus the tax credit of yesteryear.

Example #1:

First Time Home-buyer bought a $100,000.00 home and put 10% down during the first time home-buyer tax credit.
The loan was for $90,000.00 at a rate of 5.5%.  That Principal and Interest payment is $511.01.  This borrower earned the $8,000.00 tax credit.

vs.

The same First Time Home-buyer bought a home today at $100,000.00 and put 10% down.  The loan was for $90,000.00 but now the estimated rate is 4.75%.  That Principal and Interest payment is $469.08.  The borrower did not earn $8,000.00 but
is now saving $41.93 a month.  over 360 payment or 30 years, this total:  360 payments X 41.93 =  $15094.80 in payment
savings.

This is basically 2 times more beneficial than the first time home-buyer tax credit.

Example #2:

First Time Home-buyer bought a $200,000.00 home and put 10% down during the first time home-buyer tax credit.  The loan was for $180,000.00 at a rate of 5.5%.  That Principal and Interest payment is $$1022.02. This borrower earned the $8,000.00 tax credit.

vs.

The same First Time Home-buyer bought a home today at $200,000.00 and put 10% down.  The loan was for $180,000.00 but now the estimated rate is 4.75%.  That Principal and Interest payment is $938.97.  The borrower did not earn the $8,000.00 but is now saving $83.05 a month.  Over 360 payments or 30 years, this total:  360 payments X $83.05 = $29,898.00 in payment savings.

This is basically 4 times more beneficial than the first time home-buyer tax credit.

The hard part is predicting the interest rates, and these rates will not stay this low forever. If you felt you missed out on the tax credit, quit kicking yourself.  You can still get that home and get the same benefit.  Yes it is not instant money, but it also does not come with tax consequences if you sell your home early (please seek CPA about that).

The reason I shared this is because I feel we all got sucked into believing all the gimmicks and tax credits as a sole reason to buy a home. The real reasons are right in front of you.  With prices and interest rates at all time lows now is the time to act.

Gary Miljour- Mortgage Lending for Tempe Arizona

Proceed with Confidence

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Sunstreet Mortgage, LLC NMLS#145171

Gary Miljour Licensed Loan Originator NMLS#207208

MLS# 4398934 Beds/Baths: 3 / 2 SF: 1,589 / County Assessor Year Built: 1974 Pool: Private EF: 32FRDXP2G Approx Lot SqFt: 9,317 / County Assessor Apx Lot Size Range: 7,501 – 10,000 Level: Single Level Dwelling Type: Single Family – Detached Subdivision: Brownmore Estates

Tax Municipality: Mesa

Ele Sch Dist: 004 – Mesa Unified District Elementary School: Field
Jr. High School: Poston
High School Dist #: 004 – Mesa Unified District High School: Mountain View

Remarks: Great Mesa family home. Walking distance to Top rated schools (Poston/Mtn View). Home was just painted and is move in ready. 3 large bedrooms, 2 full baths. fireplace in family room. Huge lot with big front and backyards. Backyard has a large pool, garden and grassy area. Also has a private den/bonus room with outside entry. No HOA

Beds/Baths: 4 / 2.5
SF: 2,493 / County Assessor

Year Built: 1996
Pool: Private
EF: 42.5FRDXP2.5G
Approx Lot SqFt: 6,478 / County Assessor
Apx Lot Size Range: 1 – 7,500
Level: Two Levels
Dwelling Type: Single Family – Detached
Subdivision: Palm Valley Phase 1
Tax Municipality: Goodyear
Marketing Name: Palm Valley
Planned Cmty Name: Palm Valley
Model:
Builder Name: Diamond Key
Hun Block: 2275 N
Map Code/Grid: P29
Bldg Number:
Ele Sch Dist: 079 – Litchfield Elementary District
Elementary School: Palm Valley
Jr. High School: Western Sky High School Dist #: 216 – Agua Fria Union High School District
High School: Millennium

Remarks: Excellent location in sought after Palm Valley. Close to golf course, shopping, I10, schools and much more. Well maintained 4 bedroom home. Spacious eat in kitchen with a bay window and large pantry. Brick fireplace in the family room. Master suite features a separate shower & tub and double sinks. Backyard has a sparkling pool, covered patio and mature landscaping.

Agritopia is one of the neatest communities in the valley. It offers homes from 1200-to over 5000sft with casitas and basements. Once a family farm and now a living, breathing community with a farm in the center that provides fresh seasonal foods to its farmer market and two neighborhood restaurants; Joe’s Farm Grill & The Coffee Shop.

The homes have a very different feel as they are modeled after a more mid-western architecture. They have large front porches, white picket fences & detached garages.

Take a look at the available homes for sale in Agritopia. This list is updated daily, so check back for the most recent listings.

Just two blocks from the Sycamore light rail station (only 30 minutes to downtown with NO TRAFFIC.)

These homes rarely come up for sale so don’t miss this opportunity. Completely remodeled kitchen in 2009. Custom cabinetry, with lots of storage and new appliances. Wood flooring. Open split-floorplan with a private master bedroom and completely remodeled bathroom with garden tub. 2 large guest bedrooms with walk-in closets. Completely remodeled 2nd guest bathroom. Separate office/den with outside entry. Huge laundry room with storage. Large toy garage/workshop in backyard++ a large storage shed/building. Multiple citrus trees and large shade trees in backyard. Play gym, sand box and large grass play area for kids. All lots in community have irrigation rights too. (only $60.yr to water lawn) This home is move-in ready and a must see.

Property is located at 1258 West Pepper Place Mesa Az 85201 (click for listing and photo tour)

Priced at $130,000.00

[listingsearch type="listingids" listingids="4391411"]

Compounding these issues is the phenomenon of “strategic” defaults. That means a homeowner who can pay his mortgage stops because he sees no reason to continue paying for an asset that is worth less than the debt it carries.

A 2009 study said about 25% of foreclosures are so-called “strategic” defaults—that translates to 700,000 of the 2.8 million foreclosures initiated in 2009.

Is Walking Away a Strategy?
Is it possible that many people are so short-sighted about the investment they’ve made in their homes?

Let’s say a homeowner bought his home at the peak of the market in 2006 for $220,000, the median home price that year. We’ll say he put 5% down and got a 30-year mortgage for $209,000. Now, fast-forward to 2009, when the median home price dropped to $173,000.

If this is a fixed-rate mortgage at 6% interest, the balance at the end of 2009 is $198,000. If our homeowner sells, he’s lost his down payment plus four years of principal and interest payments, a total of $71,144, and he still has to make up the $25,000 difference between the selling price and the balance of the mortgage.

$209,000 (original mortgage amount in 2006)

$198,000 (mortgage balance in 2009)
-$173,000 (home value in 2009)
$25,000 (difference between the 2009 sell price and mortgage balance)

The “wisdom” of the strategic default is to take the $71,144 loss and save yourself the $25,000 hit by walking away instead of selling.

Time for a Reality Check
Maybe, in some alternate reality, this is “wisdom.” That alternate reality would have to be based on stagnant home values and banks that don’t come after you for what you owe them. Let’s try a true reality check:

Reality #1 – Your home is an investment, and any investment—even real estate—will go up and down in value. Walking away from your mortgage now is the equivalent of selling your stock portfolio at the bottom of the market. You guarantee yourself a loss if you don’t stick with your investment until values come back up.

Reality #2 – Home values will recover. If our homeowner sticks it out and stays in his home, he’ll be back to even in five years, based on a conservative 5% rate of appreciation. In less than 20 years, his home will have doubled in value. That is wisdom!

Reality #3 – The bank is not letting you off that easily. Lenders are covered up with foreclosures, so while homeowners who walk may not hear from the bank right away, they are by no means off the hook. Some banks will pull credit reports to see who is current on their other payments to determine if a default is “strategic.” Banks will go to court to garnish wages or hijack tax refunds—whatever it takes to get what they’re owed.

If you are truly unable to make your mortgage payments, you still should not walk away. You signed the contract, so you’re under a moral obligation to pay. If you truly can’t pay and keep food on the table, then it’s time to talk with the bank about a possible short sale.

Article from Dave Ramsey. Find out more at www.daveramsey.com

I will be speaking from my experiences over the last 3+years of Helping homeowners with loan modifications and short sales. Have you tried to modify your loan in the past only to be declined? Learn how and why the banks do what they do, and how the Govt & insurance companies plays into some of those decisions.

I will also share with you the many positive experiences, and success stories. This is a must attend event, our goal is to help and encourage everyone that attends.

************

here are the details on the class:

Does your current economic situation have you confused and frustrated about what to do with your home?

Register now for this free event

Matt Dunshie is a recognized expert in real estate, with particular experience in the areas of short sales and foreclosures. Matt will explain various real estate related issues and answer specific questions to help simplify these complicated topics.

You won’t want to miss Mortgages, Foreclosures and Short Sales Uncovered on Saturday, May 1 from 4:30-6 p.m. on the Mesa Campus or Sunday, May 2 from 4:30-6 p.m. on the Gilbert Campus.

This class will cover:

What every homeowner should know about the local real estate market.
What are the different types of sales, whether you are buying or selling.
Homeowner options- loan modifications (HAFA HAMP), short sales, deed in Lieu and foreclosure.
How different types of loans are treated in AZ i.e. Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, USDA, HELOC, etc
Let us help you sort your way through these programs and uncover the myths that are out there.

See you there!

Date/Time: 5/1/2010 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM Add To Your Calendar
Contact: Vicki Jensen
480.924.4946
Vicki.Jensen@cccev.com

Register now for this free event

This is the first weekend on the market and it will not last. Stop hassling with bank deals and come visit this property. It qualifies for the 2010 home buyers tax credits and we can ensure you will close on-time.

contact us to schedule a private tour or request a photo tour by email.

address: 2662 E Wesson Drive Chandler Az 85286 (see map below)

View Larger Map

Not a Short Sale or Bank Owned property. We can close in time for the buyer to receive the tax credit! One bedroom and full bath located downstairs. Master bedroom is upstairs and features walk in closets and a balcony. Large master bath with dual vanities and a seperate shower and jacuzzi tub. Bonus room/loft! Light and bright eat in kitchen with a pantry and center island. Neutral decor throughout. Property is located next a park! 3 car garage with a seperate garage door to backyard – great for toys!

Address: 708 N 110th Street Mesa Az 85207

I will be speaking from my experiences over the last 3+years of Helping homeowners with loan modifications and short sales. Have you tried to modify your loan in the past only to be declined? Learn how and why the banks do what they do, and how the Govt & insurance companies plays into some of those decisions.

I will also share with you the many positive experiences, and success stories. This is a must attend event, our goal is to help and encourage everyone that attends.

************

here are the details on the class:

Does your current economic situation have you confused and frustrated about what to do with your home?

Register now for this free event

Matt Dunshie is a recognized expert in real estate, with particular experience in the areas of short sales and foreclosures. Matt will explain various real estate related issues and answer specific questions to help simplify these complicated topics.

You won’t want to miss Mortgages, Foreclosures and Short Sales Uncovered on Saturday, May 1 from 4:30-6 p.m. on the Mesa Campus or Sunday, May 2 from 4:30-6 p.m. on the Gilbert Campus.

This class will cover:

What every homeowner should know about the local real estate market.
What are the different types of sales, whether you are buying or selling.
Homeowner options- loan modifications (HAFA HAMP), short sales, deed in Lieu and foreclosure.
How different types of loans are treated in AZ i.e. Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, USDA, HELOC, etc
Let us help you sort your way through these programs and uncover the myths that are out there.

See you there!

Date/Time: 5/1/2010 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM Add To Your Calendar
Contact: Vicki Jensen
480.924.4946
Vicki.Jensen@cccev.com

Register now for this free event