2017年4月24日 星期一

Would-be to Should-be

Would-be to Should-be

Some would-be buyers have emotional reasons to own a home like having a place of their own where they can raise a family, feel safe and secure and enjoy their friends’ company. Other buyers’ dominant reasons might be financial in nature such as building equity or lowering their cost of housing.

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Regardless of what might be motivating people to want their own home, it is easy to justify that now is a good time to purchase. Let’s look at a $250,000 example using a FHA loan. 

The total payment will be about $1,835 dollars a month. If the payment is lower than the rent a person is paying, that should encourage a person to continue investigating.

In this example, when you consider the monthly principal reduction, the monthly appreciation and the tax savings, even with money added for monthly maintenance, the net cost of housing is less than half the total house payment.

Considering all those advantages, the would-be buyer is spending over $1,100 per month more to rent than it would be to own. In a year’s time, they would lose close to $14,000 which is more than the down payment of $8,750 required on this price home.

Most would-be buyers understand that a home is a big investment but they may not understand the advantage of the leverage caused by the low down payment mortgage. The benefits extend beyond a return on the down payment but to the value of the home.

In this example, the $8,750 down payment grows to an equity of $73,546 in seven years based on 2% annual appreciation and normal amortization on a 30-year loan. If you calculated that as a rate of return, you’d be challenged to find anything that could compare with it.

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To see what your numbers might look like, check out this Rent vs. Own. If you need any help or have any questions, contact us. Part of our greatest satisfaction is helping would-be buyers understand why they should-be.

Texas law requires all real estate licensees to give the following information about brokerage service click here
Wendy HuangMBA,SRS, GRI, CRS, IRES, e-pro, ASP, ALHS, SFR, RFC, RE/MAX Premier Group, RE/MAX Hall of Fame, 
RE/MAX Lifetime Achievement ; Over 22 years' experience!
Helping Over 1000 Families Meet Their Real Estate Needs !!!
Direct: 972-365-7888  


Plano real estate, Frisco real estate, Allen real estate, DFW real estate, Dallas real estate, McKinney real estate, Coppell real estate, Highland park real estate, TX real estate, Addison Real Estate, Allen Real Estate, Anna Real Estate, Carrollton Real Estate, Collin County Real Estate, Coppell Real Estate, Dallas Real Estate, Denton County Real Estate, Distressed Properties, Flower Mound Real Estate, Frisco Real Estate, Irving Real Estate, Lewisville Real Estate, McKinney Real Estate, Murphy Real Estate, North Dallas Real Estate, Parker Real Estate, Plano Real Estate, Prosper Real Estate, Richardson Real Estate, The Colony Real Estate, Wylie Real Estate

2017年4月3日 星期一

Rentals are IDEAL


Rentals are IDEAL

Rental homes are the IDEAL investment because they offer a higher rate of return than other investments without the volatility of the stock market. With certificates of deposit and bonds at less than 2%, people need an alternative investment that they understand and with a reasonable amount of control.
In this case, IDEAL is an acronym identifying the advantages of rental properties.

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  • Income from the monthly rent contributes to paying the expenses and a return on the investment.
  • Depreciation is a non-cash deduction that shelters income for some investors.
  • Equity buildup occurs with amortized mortgages because each payment is composed of interest owed and principal reduction to retire the loan by the end of the term.
  • Appreciation is achieved as the value of the property goes up.
  • Leverage can increase the return on investment by using borrowed funds to control a larger asset.


These individual benefits working together make rental real estate a good investment for today’s economy. Increased rents, high rental demand, good values and low, non-owner occupied mortgage rates contribute to positive cash flows and very favorable rates of return. 
To find out more about how rentals might complement your current investment plans, contact your real estate professional.




exas law requires all real estate licensees to give the following information about brokerage service click here
Wendy HuangMBA,SRS, GRI, CRS, IRES, e-pro, ASP, ALHS, SFR, RFC, RE/MAX Premier Group, RE/MAX Hall of Fame, 
RE/MAX Lifetime Achievement ; Over 22 years' experience!
Helping Over 1000 Families Meet Their Real Estate Needs !!!
Direct: 972-365-7888  


Plano real estate, Frisco real estate, Allen real estate, DFW real estate, Dallas real estate, McKinney real estate, Coppell real estate, Highland park real estate, TX real estate, Addison Real Estate, Allen Real Estate, Anna Real Estate, Carrollton Real Estate, Collin County Real Estate, Coppell Real Estate, Dallas Real Estate, Denton County Real Estate, Distressed Properties, Flower Mound Real Estate, Frisco Real Estate, Irving Real Estate, Lewisville Real Estate, McKinney Real Estate, Murphy Real Estate, North Dallas Real Estate, Parker Real Estate, Plano Real Estate, Prosper Real Estate, Richardson Real Estate, The Colony Real Estate, Wylie Real Estate

2017年3月27日 星期一

Save the Cost of Mortgage Insurance

Save the Cost of Mortgage Insurance

During the banking crisis in the Great Recession, certain types of mortgages were unavailable that are once again being offered. Fortunately, the 80-10-10 mortgage is one of those making a reappearance and it can save borrowers a considerable amount of money. 

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The objective of an 80-10-10 mortgage is to avoid the expense of mortgage insurance for buyers wanting a 90% loan. A buyer can obtain an 80% first mortgage and a 10% second mortgage with a 10% down payment and not be required to have private mortgage insurance. 

For example, a buyer could put $30,000 down on a home priced at $300,000 and get an 80% first mortgage without mortgage insurance. The borrower could get a second mortgage, either through the same lender or a third party.

In the example, the 80-10-10 would save a buyer $193.71 per month which can be a considerable amount of money over a ten-year period. The interest rate on the second loan will be higher than the first because there is more risk. 

Helping buyers make better choices is a valuable service real estate professionals can provide. Having the right tools and information can make the decisions easier to understand. Using an 80-10-10 calculator, you can see what the savings might be for your situation.


Texas law requires all real estate licensees to give the following information about brokerage service click here
Wendy HuangMBA,SRS, GRI, CRS, IRES, e-pro, ASP, ALHS, SFR, RFC, RE/MAX Premier Group, RE/MAX Hall of Fame, 
RE/MAX Lifetime Achievement ; Over 22 years' experience!
Helping Over 1000 Families Meet Their Real Estate Needs !!!
Direct: 972-365-7888  


Plano real estate, Frisco real estate, Allen real estate, DFW real estate, Dallas real estate, McKinney real estate, Coppell real estate, Highland park real estate, TX real estate, Addison Real Estate, Allen Real Estate, Anna Real Estate, Carrollton Real Estate, Collin County Real Estate, Coppell Real Estate, Dallas Real Estate, Denton County Real Estate, Distressed Properties, Flower Mound Real Estate, Frisco Real Estate, Irving Real Estate, Lewisville Real Estate, McKinney Real Estate, Murphy Real Estate, North Dallas Real Estate, Parker Real Estate, Plano Real Estate, Prosper Real Estate, Richardson Real Estate, The Colony Real Estate, Wylie Real Estate

2017年3月6日 星期一

Before You Pay Cash for a Home

The National Association of REALTORS® reports in its 2016 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers that 12% of all buyers paid cash for their home.

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Before paying cash for a home, a buyer should decide if they might put a loan on the home in the near future.  It may affect the ability to deduct the interest on a mortgage placed on the home at a later date.

Homeowners can currently deduct the interest on up to $1 million of acquisition debt which are the borrowed funds used to buy, build or improve a home. Paying cash for a home establishes acquisition debt at zero. The only deductible interest to the owner would be home equity debt which is limited to $100,000 over acquisition debt.

Paying cash certainly seems like a simple decision but it may limit a homeowner’s ability to deduct interest on a future mortgage. You can get more information about this from IRS Publication 936 or from your tax professional.




Texas law requires all real estate licensees to give the following information about brokerage service click here
Wendy HuangMBA,SRS, GRI, CRS, IRES, e-pro, ASP, ALHS, SFR, RFC, RE/MAX Premier Group, RE/MAX Hall of Fame, 
RE/MAX Lifetime Achievement ; Over 22 years' experience!
Helping Over 1000 Families Meet Their Real Estate Needs !!!
Direct: 972-365-7888  


Plano real estate, Frisco real estate, Allen real estate, DFW real estate, Dallas real estate, McKinney real estate, Coppell real estate, Highland park real estate, TX real estate, Addison Real Estate, Allen Real Estate, Anna Real Estate, Carrollton Real Estate, Collin County Real Estate, Coppell Real Estate, Dallas Real Estate, Denton County Real Estate, Distressed Properties, Flower Mound Real Estate, Frisco Real Estate, Irving Real Estate, Lewisville Real Estate, McKinney Real Estate, Murphy Real Estate, North Dallas Real Estate, Parker Real Estate, Plano Real Estate, Prosper Real Estate, Richardson Real Estate, The Colony Real Estate, Wylie Real Estate

2017年2月26日 星期日

Not Available for All Buyers

Not Available for All Buyers

Lenders regularly publish mortgage rates but they may not be available for all buyers. 
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Imagine that the mortgage payment based on an advertised rate influenced a buyer to make an offer on a home. After negotiating a binding contract, this buyer makes a loan application and finds out that for any number of possible reasons, that rate isn’t available. 

Even if the person does financially qualify for a loan at a higher interest rate, it will not be the payment that the buyer expected when the contract was negotiated.

Lenders evaluate several factors such as the borrower’s credit score, debt-to-income and loan-to-value ratios. These variables are used to assess the risk associated with the repayment of the loan.

While mortgage money is a commodity, it isn’t priced the same way items are that involve cash for goods. The lender puts up the money today based on a promise from the borrower to repay over a long term, possibly up to thirty years.

The simple solution to avoid surprises such as the one described here is to get pre-approved at the beginning of the home search process. Since pre-qualification does not mean the same thing to all lenders, call if you’d like a recommendation of a trusted mortgage professional.



Texas law requires all real estate licensees to give the following information about brokerage service click here
Wendy HuangMBA,SRS, GRI, CRS, IRES, e-pro, ASP, ALHS, SFR, RFC, RE/MAX Premier Group, RE/MAX Hall of Fame, 
RE/MAX Lifetime Achievement ; Over 22 years' experience!
Helping Over 1000 Families Meet Their Real Estate Needs !!!
Direct: 972-365-7888  


Plano real estate, Frisco real estate, Allen real estate, DFW real estate, Dallas real estate, McKinney real estate, Coppell real estate, Highland park real estate, TX real estate, Addison Real Estate, Allen Real Estate, Anna Real Estate, Carrollton Real Estate, Collin County Real Estate, Coppell Real Estate, Dallas Real Estate, Denton County Real Estate, Distressed Properties, Flower Mound Real Estate, Frisco Real Estate, Irving Real Estate, Lewisville Real Estate, McKinney Real Estate, Murphy Real Estate, North Dallas Real Estate, Parker Real Estate, Plano Real Estate, Prosper Real Estate, Richardson Real Estate, The Colony Real Estate, Wylie Real Estate

2017年2月13日 星期一

What Would You Give?

Yogi Berra said he’d give his right arm to be ambidextrous. While most first-time home buyers are not going to that extreme, it is interesting to see what sacrifices are being made according to the National Association of REALTORS® 2016 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.42271463-250.jpg
  • 43% - cut spending on luxury or non-essential items
  • 34% - cut spending on entertainment
  • 27% - cut spending on clothes
  • 14% - canceled vacation plans
    9% - earned extra income through a second job
  • 7% - sold or decided not to purchase a vehicle
  • 44% - did not need to make any sacrifices
Forty-percent of first-time buyers experienced some difficulty during the mortgage application and approval process. Single, male buyers expressed a higher incidence of difficulty than single females and married or unmarried couples.
Pre-approval from a qualified mortgage lender before the home search process begins is still considered the best advice for all buyers who will purchase with a mortgage. Your real estate professional can make recommendations for a loan officer that could help you avoid unnecessary aggravations.


Texas law requires all real estate licensees to give the following information about brokerage service click here
Wendy HuangMBA,SRS, GRI, CRS, IRES, e-pro, ASP, ALHS, SFR, RFC, RE/MAX Premier Group, RE/MAX Hall of Fame, 
RE/MAX Lifetime Achievement ; Over 22 years' experience!
Helping Over 1000 Families Meet Their Real Estate Needs !!!
Direct: 972-365-7888  


Plano real estate, Frisco real estate, Allen real estate, DFW real estate, Dallas real estate, McKinney real estate, Coppell real estate, Highland park real estate, TX real estate, Addison Real Estate, Allen Real Estate, Anna Real Estate, Carrollton Real Estate, Collin County Real Estate, Coppell Real Estate, Dallas Real Estate, Denton County Real Estate, Distressed Properties, Flower Mound Real Estate, Frisco Real Estate, Irving Real Estate, Lewisville Real Estate, McKinney Real Estate, Murphy Real Estate, North Dallas Real Estate, Parker Real Estate, Plano Real Estate, Prosper Real Estate, Richardson Real Estate, The Colony Real Estate, Wylie Real Estate

2017年2月8日 星期三

Mortgage Loans from Relatives

Occasionally, when dealing with close relatives who might also become heirs, signing a note and handling the paperwork properly may seem like a needless effort but it could mean the difference in being able to take a legitimate interest deduction.

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Home mortgage interest is deductible only if the loan is a secured debt which involves the buyer signing an instrument like a mortgage or deed of trust that makes the ownership of the home security for the debt. That instrument must then be recorded or otherwise perfected according to state or local law and the home, in case of default, must be able to satisfy the debt.

In a family situation, a parent, grandparent or other relative may decide to loan a buyer the money to purchase a home because they have it available and it isn’t earning much in certificates of deposit. They offer to loan it for a rate equal to what a conventional lender is charging but without the fees. 

While it may appear to be a win-win situation, there could be problems if things are not done correctly. Even if the borrower makes the payments, they are not entitled to an interest deduction unless three criteria are met: 1) sign a debt instrument specifying the terms 2) securing and record the debt properly and 3) the home is sufficient collateral for the loan.

It would be prudent to consult with an attorney before you sign the final settlement papers to be comfortable that both buyer and the lender-relative are complying with IRS regulations. For more information, see IRS Publication 936 – Home Mortgage Interest.


Texas law requires all real estate licensees to give the following information about brokerage service click here
Wendy HuangMBA,SRS, GRI, CRS, IRES, e-pro, ASP, ALHS, SFR, RFC, RE/MAX Premier Group, RE/MAX Hall of Fame, 
RE/MAX Lifetime Achievement ; Over 22 years' experience!
Helping Over 1000 Families Meet Their Real Estate Needs !!!
Direct: 972-365-7888  


Plano real estate, Frisco real estate, Allen real estate, DFW real estate, Dallas real estate, McKinney real estate, Coppell real estate, Highland park real estate, TX real estate, Addison Real Estate, Allen Real Estate, Anna Real Estate, Carrollton Real Estate, Collin County Real Estate, Coppell Real Estate, Dallas Real Estate, Denton County Real Estate, Distressed Properties, Flower Mound Real Estate, Frisco Real Estate, Irving Real Estate, Lewisville Real Estate, McKinney Real Estate, Murphy Real Estate, North Dallas Real Estate, Parker Real Estate, Plano Real Estate, Prosper Real Estate, Richardson Real Estate, The Colony Real Estate, Wylie Real Estate