Loan programs have been cancelled, standards have tightened,and lenders have imploded.  Have buyers run out of options?

Far from it!  The truth is that mortgages written today are more solid than ever, safe for buyers as well as lenders. Interest rates for conforming mortgages are still at very reasonable, historically low levels.

While it’s true that many of the looser and more extravagant financing options are gone or going away, buyers still have options. Here are some of the programs available from reputable lenders:

• Traditional

• FHA

• VA

• ODVA

• Flex 100

• My Community

• Oregon Bond

• Programs for First Time Homebuyers

While there may be a lot of panic in the markets today, the cycle will run its course as it always has. Lenders who have stayed focused on professional service and results for their clients remain on solid financial ground and are available to meet the needs of buyers today.
 
from: Equity Home Mortgage, which was founded in 1997 through a partnership with RE/MAX equity group, inc. and Eagle Home Mortgage LLC.  Eagle Home Mortgage, LLC is wholly owned by Lennar Corporation, who is currently the second largest home builder in the U.S.

Instead of guessing about the income needed for someone to buy your home, have your favorite lender print up a flyer giving 3 different ways the buyer can finance.  I have done this for years and it is amazing how many times a seller has said something along the lines of: “It is amazing that someone could put $120,000 down on my house and their payment is over $3,000 per month…who can afford that?”  This might help adjust your expectations to be more realistic.  For lending information and assistance, go to www.equity-home.com.

If you have a question about a legal issue, you will need to consult with an attorney.  Do not rely on your real estate agent for legal issues…they are licensed and educated in REAL ESTATE!

If you have a question about the tax ramifications of selling your property, you need to talk to an accountant. Do not rely on your real estate agent…they are qualified in REAL ESTATE, not accounting!

In July of 2002 if new listings were to cease, it would take 4.7 months to sell all the houses at the then rate of sales.  In July 2007, it would take 30 DAYS LONGER THAN THAT! Yup, it would take 5.7 months to sell all of our listings at the current rate of sales.  TERRIBLE!  We have almost 1/3 more homes to sell than we did five years ago! 

Look at closed sales for the year to date for July 2002 at 2,337 vs. 2,624 for July of this year!  THAT IS A 12% INCREASE IN SALES!  THAT IS TERRIBLE!  Wait A minute…a sales increase is actually a good thing. 

In July of 2002 the average market time was 61 days.  The average market time this past July was 52 days!  THAT IS TERRIBLE! 

Appreciation must be TERRIBLE!  In the market we are in, prices are dropping like a rock!  For example, our office does a lot of business in Hillsboro/Forest Grove, and the annual appreciation rate year to date in 2002 was 5.7%.  This year, for the same time period, it dropped clear down to 10.8%.  Isn’t that UP almost double?  In Gresham, the appreciation rate went from 1.2% to 12.7%.  What a travesty!  The Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS) showed three areas in July of 2002 that had negative appreciation, and none in 2007.

We are in a state of emergency in this country regarding foreclosures.  They are at an all time high.  Well, they are at an all time high in Illinois, Michigan, California, Colorado, Arizona and Florida.  In our area, foreclosures are actually down.  Foreclosure rates in

 I don’t pretend to ignore the fact that the real estate market is much different today than it was a couple of years ago.  Financing is more difficult.  The real estate market is and always will be very cyclical in nature. 

The problems in the early 1980’s were much different.  High interest rates (12% to 18%) were prevalent.  Unemployment was high.  Today we have good employment, a bustling economy and low interest rates. 

While we face a different set of problems today, they are not yet, and probably won’t become overwhelming…unless you let them, and that would be TERRIBLE!