Smart Home Technologies and the Impact on Home-Buying Decisions

Written by Gulfside-WpAdmin Posted in BLOG

Technology is everywhere, and always evolving. I’m sure you’re familiar with the term “Smart Home.” These tech-savvy builds take tech into consideration with a heavy influence on everything from air temperatures to security. But, at the end of the day, do these updates help you get more for your home come time to sell? Let’s dive into the many factors of these money-saving devices.

Features of a Smart Home

Before you can understand the values, and possible returns, on Smart Home additions, it is first important to know what these technologies are. Today’s market has a wide variety of home features that can be controlled often from the SmartPhone in your pocket.

Today’s devices can turn lights off and on, unlock your doors from afar, and even control your thermostat without a human’s touch. You can use an app to control lights, security cameras, visual and audio devices (stereos, televisions, etc.). There are robot vacuums, pet cams to keep an eye on our four-legged fur-babies, and even air purifiers working from an app. The doorbell camera has become nearly commonplace. Homes are changing, for sure. But, is it worth it?

Do Smart Devices Save You Money

While you are the occupant of your home, these “Smart” additions can bring you some savings. Controlling your thermostat, for example, can help you to keep the temperatures in your house stable. These devices can now also “learn” your family habits, turning down temps at night while you all sleep, but back up before it’s time for morning showers. These HVAC controls save you on energy bills by reducing usage when no one is home.

Other devices save you time and potentially money by doing tasks for you. Instead of hiring a cleaning service, a Roomba can get floors clean on its own. This can save on cleaning costs, having an automated and programmed device doing the job for you. Smart Appliances, such as a temperature-controlled refrigerator, reducing your use of energy, saving on your utility bills.

Smart security additions can keep you safer, and there is really no way to put a price on that. If cameras, alarms, door- and window-triggers, and emergency services on virtual stand-by deters burglars from entering your home, there is really no cost savings that could matter. Your family is safer, and this is a win for any homeowner.

The Return on Investment of Smart Home Features

If you are about to sell your home, you’ll find some more positives due to your smart devices. For example, 59% of climate-conscious Americans say they’re willing to pay more for homes already equipped with smart technologies. This shift over time has impacted the residential real estate market in a great way.

Overall, the trend shows that people do want more tech in the home, and are willing to pay for it. This means value can be added with such installations. Real estate professionals should understand Smart Home features, such as security systems, to be sure they are keeping up with tech-savvy buyers.

According to Forbes, most sellers of smart homes realize 50% returns on their investment.

“However, the more significant benefit may be that buyers tend to choose to purchase smart homes more readily than houses without the technology,” says Deane Biermeier, Forbes’ contributor and home improvement expert.

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What’s Going On With Interest Rates?

Written by Gulfside-WpAdmin Posted in BLOG

In the ever-changing landscape of the real estate market, one factor that consistently influences decisions is the interest rate.

For well over a year now, realtors, mortgage brokers, homeowners, and potential home buyers alike have been nervously watching the rates as they leapt ever higher from their all-time low back in 2020.

But recently, there have finally been some significant developments in this area that potential home buyers and realtors should be aware of and may find hopeful.

Current State of Interest Rates

The average top-tier 30-year fixed mortgage rate has seen a drop from over 8% in October to under 7.5%.

As of December 8, 2023, the rate stands at 7.09%. This is a significant decrease and represents a 4-month low in mortgage rates.

While other elements of the economy, such as job stats and inflation rates, continue to cause the mortgage rates to fluctuate, it appears that they are fairly stable.

A Downward Trend?

What’s even more interesting is that these rates may finally be legitimately trending downward. This is a crucial development, as it could potentially lead to an increase in home buying activity.

However, it’s important to note that Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS) prices are moderately weaker, which may result in higher mortgage rates. Additionally, when certain aspects of the economy, such as the labor market, are strong like they are now, can also keep interest rates high.

Overall, however, we can say we have legitimately observed a downward trend over the last 4 months, and it seems to be holding steady.

Practical Implications for Home Buyers and Realtors

This downward trend in mortgage rates has several practical implications for potential home buyers and realtors.

Lower Monthly Payments: With lower interest rates, the monthly mortgage payments will be lower for the same loan amount. This could affect the budgeting for potential home buyers and provide realtors with more options to present to their clients.

Increased Affordability: Lower interest rates could make some homes more affordable for potential buyers, especially those with tight budgets or those looking at higher-priced homes. Realtors can use this information to guide their clients toward homes previously considered out of their price range.

Market Dynamics: However, the decrease in rates could potentially stimulate the housing market, as more buyers might be able to afford homes. This could potentially lead to an increase in home prices over time, providing realtors with the opportunity to close more deals. But it also means the new sense of affordability may be under threat as housing prices go up.

What’s It All Mean?

The current interest rate presents both opportunities and challenges for potential home buyers and realtors.

Many have been waiting for interest rates to come down to feel like they can better afford to purchase a home. So lower rates may encourage those potential home buyers back out into the market and coax them into making a purchase.

However, because this will increase demand, housing prices will likely begin to climb again, perhaps simultaneously with the decrease in rates. This will, ironically, make housing less affordable.

Perhaps what homebuyers and realtors alike should focus on is this – houses will likely not fall in price. They will continue to increase, possibly rapidly if demand suddenly increases.

So, if you are needing to get into your own home, or to purchase a bigger home, now is more affordable than a year from now.

The silver lining is that, by all appearances, the interest rates are finally beginning to cool off, so it is hopeful that within a year, you may find a good opportunity to refinance for a lower rate which will make your mortgage even more affordable.

But if you wait for the interest rates to cool off to a number you like, you may discover that the home you need is no longer in your price range.

Stay Up To Date

It’s important to stay informed about these developments and understand their implications. But the housing market, interest rates, and economic impacts are complex, to say the least.

Consulting with a financial advisor or mortgage professional could provide more personalized advice based on individual circumstances.

At Gulfside Mortgage Services, we have a passion for helping our clients get into the home of their dreams and helping them thrive. We have survived two decades of economic ups and downs and housing market ups and downs (including the crash of 2008).

We have the expertise and experience required to help you or your client find the lending options they need. Give us a call today to learn more about current interest rates and what they mean for you.

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Common Credit Headaches and How to Handle Them

Written by Gulfside-WpAdmin Posted in BLOG

For many folks, delving into the weeds of their credit is probably the least favorite step in preparing to buy a home – it’s certainly not an exciting one.

And there’s really no question as to why.

Understanding your credit score and all the activities that can hurt it or improve it can be complicated and confusing. It’s stressful, too, because there’s the possibility that you discover your score isn’t as good as you thought, or you find out there are items on your credit report that don’t belong.

But like it or not, credit plays an enormous role in the process of securing a mortgage loan and buying a home.

Since questions about credit come up a lot, we here at Gulfside Mortgage Services decided to write this article to help with the top five credit questions we get.

How do I Check My Credit Report?
This is an easy step but unfortunately many do not realize they can do it for free. You should never have to pay to see your credit report.

One of the best resources you can use to check your credit report is annualcreditreport.com. You can check your report weekly for free. Furthermore, they allow you to check all three reports available from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

Additionally, some credit card providers will allow you to check on your credit score for free as well.

How do I Dispute Errors on My Cre-dit Report?
It is important to review your credit re-ports carefully, as this is a major way to catch identity theft and erroneous charges, both of which can hurt your credit score and negatively impact your eligibility for a good mortgage.

If you find what you believe to be an error in your credit report, you can dispute it and have it corrected. Both the business that reported the infor-mation and the credit bureau it was reported to must correct wrong infor-mation, and they have to do it for free.

You will need to dispute the error with each credit bureau that has the wrong information separately. Take the following steps to officially dispute an error:

1) In writing, explain what you believe is wrong, include the bureau’s dispute form (if they have one), and copies (not originals) of documents that support your claim. Make sure you include your full name and address, as well as a copy of your report with the mistakes circled. Keep record of everything you send.

2)So that you know the credit bureau receives the letter, send it by certified mail and pay for a “return receipt.”

3) You can also submit disputes online or by phone, but be sure to have all of the previously mentioned documentation ready to include in the email or at hand while on the phone.Once received, the credit bureau has 30 days to investigate and must get back to you with their decision. To learn more about submitting disputes and other steps you can take, visit consumer.ftc.gov

Does Shopping for Loans Hurt My Credit Score?
The answer is technically ‘yes,’ but only slightly if you’re doing it right.

There are two key factors to understand about how searching for loans impacts your score.

First, all inquiries occurring within 30 days of scoring have no impact on the score at that time. Once more than 30 days have passed, all inquiries within that time frame only count as a single inquiry.

Second, multiple inquiries for loans of the same type (mortgage loans, for example) will also count as a single inquiry if they occur within the same 45-day period. The assumption here, again, is that you are ultimately seeking one line of credit, so looking at multiple loans only counts once.

But all of that also depends on you making your multiple inquiries within the same 30-45 days. If you make multiple inquiries in one month, put your search on pause, and then make more inquiries in the next month, and spread it out, the inquiries will hit your credit more than once, which may start to add up.

So, the best advice is to do your loan shopping in a fairly short time. Make sure you are ready to move forward when you begin searching for specific mortgages, so when you find a good rate, you are jumping on it.

Additionally, note that even when inquiries do hit your credit score, they only have a minimal impact. A single inquiry typically only lowers a FICO score by less than five points, depending on a person’s credit history. Consumers who have a shorter credit history or few accounts may see a greater impact. But among the five categories used to make up a FICO score,journey and discovered that your cre-dit is less than ideal, there are steps you can take to improve it.

First, pay your bills on time. Payment history, including de-linquent payments, hits your credit score.
Lower your debt. Try to keep your credit utilization below 30%. Focus on paying down some of those credit cards.
Don’t close old accounts! Length of credit history matters. While it is tempting to close a credit card account you have fi-nally paid off, DON’T! It can hurt your score. If you don’t want to be tempted to use it, just cut the card up and get its info off any digital payment apps.
Do limit your new credit inqui-ries. Try to keep new inquiries within a short period so that they only count once on your score.

It may take a little time, but taking one or all of these steps will improve your score and you may even see some immediate improvement.

Have More Questions?

We hope the above guide will help answer some of your more pressing questions regarding credit concerns within the mortgage process.

If you have more questions about how credit factors into mortgage qualification, you can visit our website or give us a call at (941) 485-4222 to learn more!

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For Potential Home Buyers in Florida: Additional $36 Million Hometown Heroes Funds Available November 6th

Written by Gulfside-WpAdmin Posted in BLOG

Breaking News, Florida Home Buyers: Additional $36 Million Hometown Heroes Funds Available NOW!

Florida Housing Lenders have reason to celebrate as an exciting development has just been announced that could make homeownership dreams come true for many individuals in the Sunshine State.

At its October 27th meeting, Florida Housing’s Board of Directors approved the allocation of an additional $36 million to the Hometown Heroes (HTH) Loan Program.

This program has been a remarkable success, assisting over 13,000 eligible first-time borrowers who live and work in Florida. The news of this financial boost is set to bring renewed hope to potential homebuyers across the state.

What is the Hometown Heroes Loan Program?

The Hometown Heroes Loan Program is designed to support those who are diligently serving their communities but who are in need of financial assistance to purchase their first homes.

The additional $36 million allocated to this program is a testament to its effectiveness and the positive impact it has had on aspiring homeowners in Florida.

You Must Act NOW

The most crucial piece of information for prospective homebuyers is that this additional funding will become available on Monday, November 6th.

However, it’s important to act swiftly because the demand for HTH funds is expected to be high, and the available funding may be committed quickly after its release. This means that if you are considering applying for this program, it’s essential to get prepared and ready to move forward as fast as possible.

It is also important to note that additional funding for the HTH Program is not expected to be available until sometime in 2024.

A Narrow Window of Opportunity

The opportunity to secure a portion of this $36 million is a limited one.

Reservations should only be made for loans that can meet the program’s timeline, which stipulates a 60-day window from Loan Reservation to Loan Purchase by the servicer, Lakeview.

Who is Eligible?

To be eligible for the Hometown Heroes Loan Program, borrowers must be employed full-time by a Florida-based employer and work 35 or more hours per week. This is an essential requirement to keep in mind when considering your eligibility for this program.

This additional funding is a fantastic opportunity for potential homebuyers in Florida, particularly those who have been tirelessly serving their communities.

Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or you know someone who is, this financial boost to the Hometown Heroes Loan Program offers a chance to achieve homeownership dreams.

Florida Housing encourages all potential applicants and housing lenders to review the HTH Program Guidelines to ensure they meet the program’s requirements. It’s crucial to be well-informed and prepared to take advantage of this limited-time opportunity.

A Ray of Hope

With the increase in interest rates and home prices in Florida over the last two years, home ownership has felt like a pipe dream to many.

But this news is undoubtedly a ray of hope for those who have been struggling to make their homeownership dreams a reality. With the allocation of $36 million in additional funds, Florida Housing is demonstrating its commitment to supporting the residents of the state in their pursuit of homeownership.

Florida Housing expresses gratitude to all those who have supported the Homebuyer Loan Program, and they are excited to continue helping residents achieve the dream of owning their own homes.

With the Hometown Heroes Loan Program’s success and this additional funding, the path to homeownership in Florida just became a little brighter.

Today is the day the funds are released, so act swiftly, and let the journey to homeownership.

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Homebuying for the Self-Employed

Written by Gulfside-WpAdmin Posted in BLOG

The self-employed represent a growing number of Americans. According to Gallup estimates, approximately 36% of US workers function as gig workers in some capacity, and over 17 million people categorize themselves as self-employed.

Yet, despite this significant portion of the market, lending and homebuying continue to be an exceedingly confusing, daunting, and frustrating experience for these individuals.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

So, we’d like to take a look at what the challenges for self-employed buyers actually are and clear up some misconceptions about these perceived challenges. And we want to provide you with some key do’s and don’ts of mortgage basics for self-employed borrowers, whether you are a realtor wanting to better serve this client group, or you are a self-employed home hunter.

Challenges for Self-Employed Buyers

There are two main difficulties that self-employed home buyers face.

Unpredictable/inconsistent income
Lack of traditional tax documents that fairly represent their income

The first problem tends to be especially true for newer business owners, while both new and long-standing business owners deal with the second.

Even when a business is thriving, tax returns will not necessarily represent their ability to pay on a loan, since many business owners take every possible deduction they can on their taxes.

A self-employed individual may have a take-home of over $200K, but after deductions, their tax return may only reflect $60K. The difference in loan amounts available based on those numbers is obvious.

Furthermore, many self-employed buyers are working with 1099s rather than W-2s, further complicating the ability to provide the necessary documentation for traditional home loans.

Misconceptions about Lending Options for Self-Employed

Too often, self-employed home buyers, and even realtors, do not recognize that there IS a solution to this predicament.

Many are stuck with some of the following misconceptions:

Business owners should stop claiming deductions on their taxes for a couple of years so their tax returns reflect higher income before they can buy a home.
Buyers can’t be approved for a loan without traditional tax documents, like W-2s.
Buyers can only get a home loan based on tax returns.
Alternative loans, such as bank statements and cashflow loans, are too hard to close.
Self-employed buyers can’t get pre-qualified for a loan because of unpredictable monthly income.

These misconceptions are causing many small business owners to miss out on the opportunity to buy the home of their dreams and are leading a lot of realtors to miss out on a significant portion of the home buyer market.

It should not be hard for self-employed individuals to buy a home. There are many excellent mortgages for self-employed borrowers that look at cash flow and bank statements rather than tax documents to determine eligibility.

So don’t be discouraged, and don’t turn your self-employed clients away! Instead, give us a call and we can walk you through home loan options for self-employed individuals, like bank statement loans.

What is a Bank Statement Loan Program

Bank statement loan programs are designed for buyers who don’t have the traditional tax documents or proof of income that standard buyers have.

Rather than relying on W-2s and tax returns to determine a client’s eligibility for a loan, these lending programs review the potential buyer’s bank statements and cash flow during a period of time, often up to two years or more, to determine the size of loan they qualify for.

Furthermore, at Gulfside, we have tools that can help you and/or your client review bank statements to help accurately determine what they will qualify for beforehand. This will help you know what can honestly be afforded so that the home search is better focused.

With self-employed mortgage options and tools like these, the home of your or your client’s dreams may actually be well within reach, and much sooner than you realized!

Some Do’s and Don’ts for Self-Employed Home Buyers

All of this said, there are still steps that you, or your client, as a self-employed home buyer can do to make the loan process much smoother and successful. There are also things to avoid.

Let’s look at some do’s. DO:

Look into bank statement lending programs.
Look for a realtor or lender who offers bank statement loans and other self-employed mortgage options.
Be prepared to collect two years of bank statements and other documents proving your business’ legitimacy.
Work hard to maintain an excellent credit score to further demonstrate your ability to pay the mortgage.
CALL US at Gulfside to learn more about self-employed home loan options and the best way to navigate the process.

Let’s also look at the “don’ts.” If you are self-employed or a realtor, DON’T:

Quit taking deductions on your income!
Rely on tax returns for getting approved for a loan.
Settle for a realtor or lender who wants you to quit taking deductions or won’t work with you based on your business income.
Turn away good clients/buyers because they are fully or partially self-employed.
Wait to contact us to discuss self-employed home loans because you think you have to have a certain amount in cash or wait for tax returns to reflect higher income.

At Gulfside Mortgage in Venice, Florida, our team of experts is eager to help you navigate the self-employed home loan process.

We can help you determine what you may be approved for so that you have a satisfying home search process, and we can lead you to the best mortgage options so that you can get into the house of your dreams.

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