A lot of lenders are sending out letters stating that they are going to start accepting loans at higher loan limits well ahead of the Fannie Mae announcement. |
Before banks wanted to see three comparable sales. Now lenders are asking for a fourth and a fifth comparable. |
I think people who were trying to get into investment properties and trying to flip them won't see those financial advantages with the short-term rates being higher than the long-term rates. |
I think they're probably going to do one more at the next meeting for another quarter per cent because they think that inflationary figures are still running a little higher than they would like. |
I'm seeing some gradual softening of about 5 percent in real estate prices so far this year, but nothing precipitous that would indicate a bubble exists. |
If sales prices come down a little bit, it will open the doors for more buyers to come into the housing market. |
It was quiet, but the last few weeks have been brisk. |
Monday morning is usually my busiest time. I've had only a half dozen applications today. |
One great [last-minute problem] is when the borrower applies for mortgage and changes job in the middle of the application ? and they don't tell us. We have to get a letter of employment or contract or pay stub to prove he's working at new job, and that can delay processing. |
The fallout of higher short-term rates will be seen in second mortgages, lines of credit, car loans and consumer loans. |
We also see consumer confidence down a little bit. Houses are on the market a little longer. We're not seeing a softness in prices just yet. That could be the first sign that we do see where the housing market could be cooling down. |
We're making a transition from a seller's market to a buyer's market. Inventory is starting to swell. |
What I do for people is I look at the weighted average of what their mortgage rate is. |
You're going through a fire drill before closing, lining up inspectors, attorneys, getting paperwork together. It's a lot easier if you already have the loan in place. |