Still Renting?

If You Can Afford to Rent…

Then You Can Probably Afford to Own.

The cost of renting in many areas is now greater than the cost to buy. Even with mortgage rates on the rise, it is still more affordable than renting. Some say mortgage loans are impossible to obtain without perfect credit and/or 20% down.

Want the truth? Read on, and we’ll cite the three basic factors for qualifying for a home loan. 

• Income – If you have a job or steady source of income, you’re off to a great start. If you’re already able to pay your rent on time each month, this could actually be easier than you might think. 

• Assets – You rarely need a 20% down payment. In reality, many programs will work with 5%, 3.5% or 3%, and in some cases, even 0% down. As well, closing costs can sometimes be paid by lenders, sellers or come from gifts or grants. So if you think you’re out of luck just because you don’t have tons of cash, no worries. Chances are still good there’s a solution that may work.

• Credit – Your credit is likely in good shape if you pay your bills on time and have avoided major issues like bankruptcy, foreclosure, short sales and judgments. Requirements will always vary, but there can still be reasonably flexible loan options, such as the FHA and Fannie Mae which both allow for low credit scores.

That’s it. These three items are the fundamentals of mortgage lending. Exceptions will exist, but don’t be fooled into thinking the process is impossible. For those who work and pay their bills, there may not be a whole lot standing in the way of homeownership.

 Here is an example of Buying a home vs. Renting based on today’s mortgage rates with the plan of selling your home in 10 years.

Renting versus Owning

I would like the opportunity to consult with you and start you on the path of Homeownership.  Whether it be for Today or planning for Tomorrow!

           Bill Nickerson NMLS #4194  | 978.273.3227  | Email | Website

Ways to Build Credit

Find out how to build credit and maintain a healthy credit score with help from Mortgage Equity Partners.

Keeping a healthy credit score is integral to maintaining your financial wellness and moving toward your life goals.

And if your credit score isn’t quite where you want it to be, the good news is that it’s not set for life; your credit score can always improve with the help of smart financial practices. If you’re looking for ways to build and maintain a healthy credit score, take action with these tips.

1. Stay on top of your bills.

While it might sound obvious, you need to pay your bills on time, every time. This is one of the simplest ways to build credit, as it shows lenders that you are a responsible borrower. Making timely payments has a positive impact on your credit score, so be sure to stay on top of deadlines or set up an auto-pay system for your accounts. Remember, your bill payment history accounts for approximately 35% of your credit score, and even just one late payment can leave a negative mark.¹

2. Keep track of spending.

Budgeting is important in any financial situation, but it’s especially helpful when it comes to managing your credit cards. If you start to see that your monthly spending is getting close to your credit limit, it may be a good idea to increase your limit or consider scaling back on expenses. Your credit utilization ratio (how much available credit you actually use) has an impact on your credit score. Utilizing a small portion—we recommend 30% or less—of your available credit will go a long way in strengthening your score.

3. Pay off debts quickly.

According to a NerdWallet study, the 2018 average total of credit card debt owed by a U.S. household was $6,803. If you’ve missed any payments in the past, your credit score has probably dipped a little; however, you can minimize the impact of that debt by paying it down quickly.  Get back on track by cutting out unnecessary expenses and creating a payment plan. A good credit building practice is to never borrow more than you are able to pay back. Ultimately, the amount of debt you carry matters as it determines about 30% of your credit score.¹

4. Diversify the credit you use.

Having a solid credit mix plays a positive role in your credit health, demonstrating your ability to manage multiple types of debt at the same time. It’s not necessary to have each one, but a mix of credit cards, retail accounts, installment loans, mortgage loans, and student loans may help improve your score. Evaluate the different types of credit you have open and make sure it’s a healthy mix of open and closed-end credit. Open-end credit refers to any loan where you can make repeated withdrawals and repayments, like a credit card. Closed-end credit refers to a loan that is fixed for a period of time with regular payments, like a car loan or mortgage. Your credit mix accounts for approximately 10% of your credit score.¹

5. Try a credit monitoring service.

Credit monitoring services such as Privacy Guard, Credit Karma, and Identity Force are designed to help protect you from identity theft by keeping a close watch on your credit report. After signing up for a service, they watch over your credit activity and alert you of any changes to your accounts, helping you avoid fraud and identity threats. This is especially important because the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) uncovered that the number of credit card numbers exposed in 2017 totaled 14.2 million, which was up 88% from the previous year.² Some services even offer personalized advice on how to maintain a healthy score. Monitoring your report may not be an instant way to build credit, but being proactive can help you quickly identify and solve potential threats before they have a chance to hurt your credit score.

6. Be patient.

The length of your credit history makes up about 15% of your credit score.¹ Depending where you are on your credit journey, it will take some time to age your credit history. In the meantime, focus on your financial habits and see where improvements can be made. Paying bills on time every time, paying off debts, keeping track of spending, and routinely monitoring your credit are all great ways to build credit over time.

Continue your credit journey.

if you ever have any questions on how to build credit or keep up positive financial habits. We can walk you through actionable steps to improve your existing plans, or help you get started.

Bill Nickerson | NMLS #4194 | Mortgage Equity Partners | Burlington

Email | (c) 978-273-3227

Worried about Rising Mortgage Rates?

The overall costs of Lending has been on the rise for the last several months. With the latest Inflation Rate of 9.1%, this will cause the Federal Reserve to raise rates again and most likely more aggressively than previous rate hikes.

We have come up with a SPECIAL program to relieve this stress! You can now LOCK in to Today’s Mortgage Rate while you are shopping for a home. This allows you to shop up to 90 Days with the security of knowing you are locked in.

This program is good for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loan limits in your area. Here is a link to the Fannie Mae Loan Limits in your Area. Depending upon the County you are in will determine the maximum loan amount for this program.

For more information on this program, feel free to call or email me anytime!

Bill Nickerson | NMLS #4194 | Mortgage Equity Partners | Email | (c) 978-273-3227

How will the higher Mortgage Rates affect your Buying Power?

We have been spoiled with mortgage rates over the last few years  as we saw the the 30 Year Fixed Rate get to the 2.50% range.  As we move forward in 2022, mortgage rates have already started to climb.  Rates are in the 4.00% to 4.25% range and we now have to adjust our purchasing power. Each half of a percent (.50%) in mortgage rate equates to about $25,000 of buying power. Depending upon when you were “Pre-Approved” for a mortgage, the new rates may greatly affect the home you now qualify for.

What should you do? Call your Lender or Bank and have your “Pre-Approval” updated to reflect the current mortgage rate of today.  This will bring your purchase price and loan amount down as these higher rates will increase the overall cost of your mortgage payment.

Why is this happening?  When the Fed raises the federal funds target rate, the goal is to increase the cost of credit throughout the economy. Higher interest rates make loans more expensive for both businesses and consumers, and everyone ends up spending more on interest payments.

Those who can’t or don’t want to afford the higher payments postpone projects that involve financing. It simultaneously encourages people to save money to earn higher interest payments. This reduces the supply of money in circulation, which tends to lower inflation and moderate economic activity—a.k.a. cool off the economy.

 Click here to learn more about mortgage rates

Economists have been warning us for the last few years, mortgage rates have to go up!  The longer you wait, the more it will cost to buy a home. Or another way to look at this, you buying power could drop by 10% or more for each 1% increase in mortgage rate.  Buy now while the mortgage rates are still low as we may not see these rates again in our lifetime!!

For more information on Mortgage Rates and Programs, feel free to call or email me anytime.

(C) 978-273-3227 or Bill’s Email 

Senior Loan Officer | NMLS #4194 | bill.nickerson@flagstar.com

The Home Buying Deal Killers

Buying a home is very exciting. However, nothing can be a bigger disappointment than finding out that your loan is denied before you are about to close your transaction!

You’re a week away from having the keys to your new home and your loan officer calls to let you know that your loan was denied due to a change in your financial profile. This can and does happen, But there are a few things that you can do to make sure that this won’t happen to you.

Keep the following points in mind while you are in the process of buying your home:

1. Don’t Apply for New Credit of Any Kind.  Don’t respond to any invitations to apply for new lines of credit and don’t establish new lines of credits for furniture, appliances, computers, department stores etc.  Even if there are no payments for 12 months, we will need to count this debt against you.  This will also have an adverse effect on your credit score.  Wait until your loan closes to purchase items for yourself and new home.  It is also important to limit the amount of times you have your credit pulled, as each occurrence will need to be explained.

2.  Don’t Max Out or Over Charge on Existing Credit Cards. Running up your credit cards is the fastest way to bring your score down.  Once you have engaged in the loan process, try to keep your credit card balances to below 30% of the available limit.

3. Don’t Close Credit Card Accounts. If you close a credit card account, it can negatively affect your FICO scores as your credit is based on History.  You may have a card that is never used, but dates back 10 years and your scores do weigh heavily on this. If you really want to close an account, wait until after you close the loan.

4. Don’t Raise Red Flags to the Underwriter. Don’t change your name and address, don’t co-sign on another person’s loan. Don’t open up a new checking/savings account, make sure your taxes are filed. The less activity that occurs while your loan is in process; the better it is for you.

5. Don’t Make Large Unexplained Deposits Into Bank Accounts. Any Deposits into your bank accounts that do not match your past income history will be questioned by an underwriter unless the deposit is documented as a gift or can be explained.  This includes cash deposits and moving funds from one account to another. Make sure you write your offer check from the same account you intend on writing your purchase and sales deposit.  All bank accounts must be verified.

6. Don’t Make Changes to Your Employment/Income. Employment stability is a huge factor in the underwriting loan process.  Quitting or changing jobs or even moving positions within the same company can greatly endanger your loan approval.   Inform your loan officer immediately of any changes to your job, position or income and even the hours you work.

7. Your Down Payment:  Do you have your down payment all set? Is it in one account?  Have this prepared before you purchase your home.  Whether it is gift funds, liquidation of your retirement or moving funds from one account to another.  By having these funds all in one account, it will simplify the process.  If you receive a Gift, let’s say for $1,000 from family, Don’t deposit $900 or $1100, as this will be hard to explain why the amount is different from the Gift amount.  Keep it Simple!

8. Do not make any Large Purchases:  If you purchase furniture with no payments for a year, banks will debt you for this.  If you buy a small home in cash, banks will debt you for the taxes and insurance.  College Tuition, even if the loans are deferred, banks will add this to your debts.

Bottom Line: Don’t Make Any Adjustments/Transfers in Your Financial Picture. If you even had to question your decision, make sure you talk to your loan officer first. Don’t make any changes in investments, Move your accounts or transfer, close accounts, open new accounts, or substantially alter your asset picture.

Share this with anyone you know who may be purchasing a home.

Remember, if you have a question, please call me anytime!!  It may be the difference in owning your new home or being denied!!

Bill Nickerson | NMLS #4194  | (c) l 978-273-3227 | Email Me.

Bill’s Website

Let’s Talk Credit: Understanding your Credit Score

Did you know?

• FICO is an acronym for Fair Isaac and Company.
• In the 1950’s, Fair Isaac and company created the mathematical calculation that is used to determine your credit score.  It is a tool that was designed to determine one’s credit score and dependability in paying bills.
• The terms credit score and FICO score are used synonymously.

Twenty or so years ago, lenders and banks would obtain the credit scores from the credit report as a reference point.  Loans were based on the overall financial strength of a borrower and their ability to repay a loan.  The Scores were important but they were not weighed nearly as they are today when making a decision.  If scores were on the low side, compensating factors were looked at such as: additional monthly reserves, the amount of credit accounts you carried, the amount of credit accounts that carry balances, do you have a retirement accounts, etc.  Banks in general want to see that you have at least 6 months of reserves in case you should leave your job and have a few months to carry the loan.  In the case where the loan is riskier or may be a low down payment, the lender will want to see more months of reserves, upwards of 12 months.

Your credit history shows the investor your ability to repay and manage debt.  The older the line of credit, the greater the chance of the scores being higher as credit is based on history.

In today’s lending market, your credit decision is first based on the score and can have an effect on your final mortgage rate.  In general, most banks will not lend on loans with scores that are under 640 unless there is an exception or compensating factors, but this is very limited.  Many banks today won’t go below 680 and don’t allow for any compensating factors as they feel these mortgages are far too risky to have on their books.  Based on current mortgage guidelines, if your score is under 740, it will affect the price of your mortgage rate and you are penalized.

When making a credit decision, banks and lenders will pull your credit report that offers three different reporting agencies;  Experian, Trans Union and Equifax.  The middle score of the three credit bureaus is used.  Over time, these scores will be very close to each other.  Consumers who are just starting to build credit may find a discrepancy in these scores as not all creditors are required to report to all three bureaus.

Look at how a Credit Score affects your Mortgage Rate

The higher your FICO scores the less you can expect to pay for your loan. For example, on a $200,000 Loan using a 30 YEAR FIXED RATE MORTGAGE.
Your FICO score is:	Your Interest rate is	And your payment is
740-759	3.875%	$940.47
739-720	3.990%	$953.68
700-719	4.125%	$969.30
680-699	4.250%	$983.88
660-679	4.500%	$1,013.37
640-659	4.625%	$1,028.28
As you can see in this example using a snapshot of the same day’s rate, a person with a FICO score of 760 or better will pay $88 less per month for a $200,000 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage than a person in the lowest score category. Mortgage Rates are only used as an example and do not reflect the interest rate market of today.

Mortgage programs such as FHA allow for low credit scores so that you can get the most competitive rate but this comes with a price.  FHA will charge mortgage insurance, a monthly fee as well as an up-front fee that will be rolled into the loan amount.  After these insurance fees, a mortgage rate of 4.00% will net a rate of 5.40% with the costs of mortgage insurance that is being charged.  A mistake many borrowers make; chasing the lowest interest without truly understanding the real costs of the mortgage.

Written by Bill Nickerson

 

10 Things to do before listing your home

 To help make the selling process easier for you, it makes sense to have your home inspected before listing it.  It may sound like a hassle but it could save you a lot of money and stress early on.  The inspection will pinpoint red flags and areas that have potential problems.  It also gives you the opportunity to address those issues before listing your home.  Having your home already inspected ultimately also gives the prospective buyers the comfort and confidence that the seller actually cared about their home in the first place.  Be sure to share this information with prospective buyers by supplying a copy of the home inspection.  It is perfectly okay to choose not to have your home inspected before listing.  If you take this route, just be sure to do your own pre-listing home inspection to keep things significantly less nerve-racking and not terribly costly before the buyer’s home inspector comes through.

Here are 10 areas to look at/fix up before listing your home.

1.  Fix any deteriorated paint jobs.  Touch up any dings on the walls or woodwork, scrape and paint any flaking areas.

2.  For furnaces over 10 years old; pay to have it serviced and cleaned.  Then display the inspection papers (store them in a Ziploc bag) by taping to furnace.

3.  Make sure all toilets are flushed.  Nothing worse than having a seldom used toilet not functioning properly.

4.  Run water down sinks and bathtub drains.  All drains need to flow steadily.  No slow drains!

5.  Check for leaks under sinks and in vanities.  Tighten up joints if necessary.

6.  Check out the condition of the roof.  You want things to look normal: no missing shingles.

7.  Clean out the gutters.  They need to be free of debris for good drainage.

8.  Open and close all windows.  Check for springs working properly so windows don’t slam down. Make sure all the locks work and windows close tightly.

9.  Test any appliances like the dishwasher that you are leaving behind.  You want them working properly. Make sure all burners/oven are working on your stove.

10.  Test the auto reverse on the garage door.  Make sure the safety mechanism works.

For more information about Home Inspectors or how to prepare to list your home, call or email me anytime.  Bill’s Email  | Phone 978.273.3227

Before Putting Your Home on the Market

• Documents you will need
  • Deed
  • If you have right of ways, deed restrictions or easements get the documentation that clearly spells out the restrictions of the property.
  • Know if you are in a flood plain – FEMA’s website can be helpful.
  • Go to the Town Hall:
    • Field card at the assessor’s office
    • Get your most recent  paid tax bill
    • A plot plan
    • Title V report if it has been complete and the pumping schedule
    • Talk to the engineering department get a sense of any upcoming projects that may be done around the home.
    • Building department will have a list of all permits pulled and renovations done to the home including electrical, plumbing and addition upgrades
  • If you are in a condo
    • Condo financials to include the budget,  the last three months condo association meeting minutes and if they have it a list of current and future project that are going to be done to the properties
    • Condo Rules and Regulations
    • Master Deed and Master Insurance.
    • Verify there are no pending lawsuits with association
    • Know the owner occupancy rate of your complex
  • Home List
    • Create a list of renovations and updates that have been done to the property
    • Get utility bills for the last 12 months: Electric, oil, gas, propane, plowing, landscaping…
    • Write a letter to potential buyers of what you love about your home, neighborhood and town.

For more information about selling your home, feel free to contact me anytime.  I can be reached at 978-273-3227 or email be here: Bill’s Email

Bill Nickerson | NMLS #4194 | www.billnickerson.com | 978-273-3227 | bill@billnickerson.com

3% Down and No Mortgage Insurance on 2, 3 and 4 Family Homes

With the announcement from Fannie Mae of increased loan limits for 2019. Not only are the Fannie Mae loans benefiting, so are the MassHousing loans!  Did you know that Mass Housing (MHFA) loans are a safe and affordable alternative to FHA Mortgages.  Did you know the Mortgage Insurance for FHA never goes away!  Mass Housing still offers its mortgage program that features Low Down Payments, as little as 3% down with No Mortgage Insurance!  This product provides financing (purchase or refinance) up to 97% of the appraised value of the home without the hefty mortgage insurance payments that are typically associated with low down payment programs. MHFA follows Fannie Mae Guidelines, which means the traditional loan limit is $484,1350!

This special program is available for owner occupied; one to four family properties including condominiums on both purchase and refinance transactions. With a low fixed rate, the down payment can be a gift on single family homes.  The MassHousing Mortgage with No Mortgage Insurance is a great choice for low and moderate income home buyers.

The 2019 Fannie Mae Loan Limits

• 1 Family Loan Amount of $484,350
• 2 Family Loan Amount of $620,200
• 3 Family Loan Amount of $749,650
• 4 Family Loan Amount of $931,600

Features of the Mass Housing Loans for 1 to 4 family homes

• As little as 3% down on single-family homes and condos
• As little as 5% down on 2, 3 and 4-family homes
  • 3 and 4 Family require 700 Credit Score
• No mortgage insurance required
• Income limits as high as $123,660 in many cities and towns
• Fannie Mae loan limits apply, borrower up to $484,350
• Approved community second mortgages allowed
• Credit scores as low as 660 (additional conditions may apply)

Advantages:

• Gift funds can be the source of the down payment on single family homes
• The interest rate will never increase
• Competitive fixed rates
• Safe, fixed-rate limited cash-out refinance option

Call me to learn why this innovative program is an attractive alternative to an FHA mortgage!  Remember, this program allows for the same low down payment options as FHA with no mortgage insurance. 

Bill Nickerson

What are Closing Costs?

Closing costs are an accumulation of charges paid to different entities associated with the buying and selling of real estate. For buyers in Massachusetts, closing costs will come to about $3500 plus lenders title insurance and any pre-paid items such as real estate taxes, insurance and interest.

There may be closing costs customary or unique to a certain locality, but closing costs are usually made up of the following:

Third Party Fees (The Hard Costs)

• Attorney’s fees (yours and your lender’s if applicable)
• Appraisal
• Credit Report Fee
• Lenders administrative costs
• Recording fees
• Plot Plan or Survey fee
• Title insurance (yours and your lender’s)
• Loan discount points (click to the left to see if points are worth it)
• Any documentation preparation fees

Pre-Paid Items:

• Property taxes (to cover tax period to date)
• Interest (paid from date of closing to the following first of the month)
• First payment to escrow account for future real estate taxes and insurance
  • 3 to 4 months of real estate taxes to be held in escrow
  • 2 months of homeowners insurance to be held in escrow
• Paid receipt for homeowner’s insurance policy (including fire and flood insurance if applicable)
• First premium of mortgage insurance (if applicable)

Additional Items that No One Tells You About:

• Purchase and Sales Review
• Recorded Homestead Act
• Representation from a real estate attorney other than what the bank provides
• Home Inspection
• One Year of Homeowners Insurance up front
• Owners Title Insurance
• Buying the Oil in the Oil Tank of your new home

For more details regarding these items, please see my blog post: Home Buying Closing Costs: What to Expect

Or for more clarification on closing costs and how you can save your buyers money, feel free to contact me anytime at bill@billnickerson.com