Do Your Finances Meet The 28/36 Rule?

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If you’re considering buying a home, especially as a first-time buyer, it’s important to take a close look at your finances before you start shopping.

Start with the 28/36 rule. Many lenders use it to determine credit eligibility.

The “28” refers to the percentage of your gross monthly household income that should be allocated for housing costs each month, including principal, interest, taxes and insurance. The “36” represents the total debt that you carry. It shouldn’t exceed 36 percent of your total income.

As long as your monthly debt – like car, student loan and credit card payments – doesn’t exceed the 36 percent, you’re probably in good shape to qualify for the loan amount that meets your “28” calculation.

There’s a sample 28/36 calculation in the RE/MAX Home Buying Guide. Check it out. The guide is a great reference.

Looking for more personal attention? Let us guide you through the entire home-buying process.

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A Good Market For First Time Home Buyers

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What Makes a Market Good for First-time Homebuyers?

Maybe you can’t relocate to the markets in the new “Top 10 Markets for First-time Homebuyers” list from Realtor.com (although you might already be in one of them!), but the metrics used by Realtor.com to compile the list gives great hints of what to think about if you’re considering buying a home in your current area.

The report – which listed Pittsburgh, Tampa, Philadelphia and Fort Worth among the top markets – considered these five factors:

1. Popularity of the location
2. Affordability
3. Available inventory of homes for sale
4. The typical time it takes for homes to sell there
5. What the employment climate is like

All of these factors (among others) help real estate professionals determine whether markets favor buyers or sellers, and whether the real estate climate is considered favorable or challenging. They’re also factors you can look into, too, as you start researching your options for buying a home.

But every market is unique. And when you’re ready to start the homebuying process, the best way to fully understand the market conditions in your area is to talk to a real estate agent who knows, that’s US! =) Contact us today and we would be more than happy to assist you as a first time home buyer!

First Time Buyers- 5 Ways To Prep For A Home Purchase

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Spring may seem ages away now, but fall is actually the perfect time to start planning for a post-winter purchase. In actuality, it’s less about the season – real estate isn’t tied to weather, after all – and more about the time frame needed to properly prepare

So how to prepare?

1. Check your credit – Requesting a credit report is actually one of the easiest things you can do; clearing fraudulent activity is one of the hardest. That’s why it’s important to check your credit history early in the process if you’re thinking about buying. If you find something negative on your report, it could take months to clear things up. The U.S. government allows for one free report each year from each of the three national credit bureaus – TransUnion, Experian and Equifax. Visit annualcreditreport.com for your free reports. It’s a great first step.

2. Pay down debt – This might seem like a no-brainer, but banks don’t want to see that you have a whole lot of stuff and not a whole lot of money. Banks need to know you’ll be able to pay their loan first and foremost, and they like to see a high credit score, which debt negatively affects. So start paying off those credit cards, and put off purchasing that new car or making any other major purchases until after you’ve secured a mortgage. Speaking of mortgages…

3. Build a down payment – Conventional wisdom says a down payment should be no less than 20 percent of the home price. A 20-percent down payment is something to shoot for, but it’s not necessarily required or entirely realistic, particularly for first-time homebuyers. A 3.5 percent down payment is the minimum required to secure an FHA loan. So although you might not end up bringing 20 percent to the transaction, you will have to prepare to bring some cash to the transaction.

4. Research neighborhoods – This is where the fun starts. If you’re not sure which part of town you’re looking to live, get out and explore! Drive around, walk the streets, visit the shops and eat in the restaurants. If you don’t see yourself living there, then move on to the next community. And don’t forget to research school districts – even if you don’t have children or don’t have children in public schools. Homes in good school districts move the fastest when it’s time to sell – should that day ever come.

5. Get pre-approved – Unless you’re paying cash, nothing shows a seller you’re ready to buy quite like having a pre-approval letter from a lender. Plus, you’ll know exactly how much you can borrow, which can guide you toward properties in your price range. Plan to secure a pre-approval just before you start looking at homes. Meet with several lenders to determine which company you trust most and which one can offer you the best terms and interest rate. Oftentimes, your real estate agent can provide you the names of reputable lenders.