The Top Reasons Why American Americans Buy Homes

Real Estate: 2016 Will Be the Best Year in a Decade

Why You Should Hire A Professional When Buying A Home!

Two weeks ago, we posted a blog which explained that current increases in home prices were the result of the well-known concept of supply & demand and should not lead to conversations of a new housing bubble. Today, we want to look at home prices as compared to current incomes.

Here is a graph showing the monthly mortgage payment on a median priced home in the U.S. over the last 25 years:

Mortgage payments are currently well below the historic average over that time period. Purchasers are not overextending themselves to buy a home like they did on the run-up to the housing crash.

Lawrence Yun, the Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors, recently explained in a Forbes article:

“Even though home prices are climbing far above people’s income, exceptionally low mortgage rates have permitted people to buy a home without overstretching their budget. For someone making a 20% down payment, the monthly mortgage payment at today’s mortgage rates would take up 15% of a person’s gross income. During the bubble years, it was reaching 25% of income. The long-term historical average is around 20%. Therefore, a middle-income household does not need to overstretch their budget much if at all to buy a typical home.”

Bottom Line

Due to low interest rates, demand for housing has dramatically increased. This has caused a jump in home prices. However, low interest rates have also allowed the monthly cost of buying a home to remain well below historic norms. We are in a strong housing market, not a housing bubble.

Data provided by ActiveRain.com. ActiveRain is an online community of real estate professionals who exchange best practices, write real estate blogs, and get free education from the industry and their peers.

Here are the top mistakes real estate agents commonly see made by homeowners looking to sell their house.

1. Overpriced Home

Nothing shocking here. This was far and away the most common mistake sellers make that prevent them from selling their home. 

If you overprice your home there is a pretty good chance no one is going to want to buy it. Real estate agents do not set the real estate market. A great real estate agent will suggest a price at which to list your home based on comparable homes that have already sold in the market. Overpricing a home to 'see if you can get someone to bite' is not a strategy employed by someone really serious about selling. Overpricing a home will lead to missed opportunities with buyers that are serious about buying in the range at which your home should be listed.

The first week during which a home is listed will generally be the time that the most eyeballs are on the home and the largest potential pool of buyers will be exposed to the listing. Setting a price that reflects the market is essential to selling! This is exacerbated in a downward trending market. Many a seller has lost thousands, even tens of thousands of dollars chasing a market down after setting a listing price that was outside what the market was willing to bear.

Margaret Goss, a Broker with Baird & Warner on the North Side of Chicago gives you a few reasons that an agent will take your overpriced listing and then shares the repercussions of making the decision to price your home too high. 

2. Showing Availability - It's Difficult to Set a Showing

The chances your home will sell when buyers can't get in to physically inspect the property are minuscule. Sellers need to understand that listing a home for sale is going to lead to some inconveniences in your normal routine. Many serious buyers may want to physically inspect a property during times which may not be convenient for the seller. Knowing this, motivated sellers need to understand that flexibility in when you allow the home to be sold could have a direct impact on the sale of your home.

It's not uncommon for sellers to see 8, 10, even 20 homes during a showing tour with their agent. If your house isn't on that list because you only do showings on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm, you will miss out on ready, willing and able buyers. 

As a seller, realize that the more people that can see the home in person, the more chance you have to find the buyer that wants your home. Eric Kodner, a broker with Madeline Island Realty in La Pointe Wisconsin shares a real life example of an unavailable seller costing herself a sale and a lot of money.

3. Cluttered Space - Unwilling to Depersonalize or Remove Clutter

Sellers are sometimes unwilling to either make the effort, or unwilling to compromise how they live in their home during the time the home is on the market for showings. Serious sellers realize that by depersonalizing the home and removing unwarranted clutter, it allows potential buyers to more easily visualize their own things in the house.

When you live in your home day in and day out, you become comfortable with your own 'things'. In many cases, however, your 'stuff' can make a room feel smaller than it actually is and in some more extreme cases, your 'stuff' can completely distract someone from visualizing the potential of a room. We know you are proud of your kids as the shrine in the living room displays all of their ribbons, trophies and diplomas from the last 20 years. But for a buyer, this is only a distraction. 

Many agents will make recommendations about ways to remove clutter or depersonalize your home. Some will even suggest that a professional homestager be brought it to completely maximize the space and create a setting maximizes the buyers ability to visualize their own things. The key thing to remember here is these suggestions are not personal and you may have to be a little uncomfortable so that your house puts it's best foot forward.

Ralph Gorgoglione, a real estate agent with the John Aaroe Group in Los Angeles reminds us that "as a seller, the most important thing to realize is that, yes, your crapola means a lot to you. But it means nothing to anyone else." Especially a buyer trying to visualize their own stuff in your house.
 

4. Unpleasant Odors in the House

"Mr and Mrs. Seller, your house stinks!"

Most agents aren't going to be this blunt. But in some cases they wish they could be. They'll take a more tactical approach and say something like.....'during the time your house is on the market, it might be a good idea to smoke outside'.

But what they know is that nothing will stop a potential buyer in their tracks faster than a strong odor of any sort. In some cases this could just be the left over smell from last nights dinner. In more extreme cases, agents tell horror stories of entering homes that have a bad smell of pet urine or smoking. 

The main concern for the buyer is, of course, "is the house going to smell like this once we move in?" Real Estate agents confirm that many a buyer has passed on a home after coming to their own conclusion on that answer. 

Your agent isn't suggesting a fresh coat of paint and new carpet because they don't like how things look. They are making this suggestion because they realize that the smoke odor in your home is going to be a major turn off for anyone thinking about buying your home.

Real estate broker Dick Greenburg with Elevations Real Estate, LLC in Fort Collins Colorado even goes so far as to suggest "homes with bad odors don't sell because buyers are having intense and complex negative reactions that are beyond working around."

5. Seller Unwilling to Make Repairs Prior to Listing

No seller wants to spend a few thousand dollars making repairs to a house you are about to sell. Agents understand that. But they also understand that few buyers want to move in to a house that needs a bunch of work done immediately upon moving in. 

One of your objectives to selling your home is to make it as appealing as possible to as wide of an audience as possible. If the seller is unwilling to make repairs, and a buyer doesn't want a bunch of work upon moving in, you've shrunk the pool of potential buyers for your property.

Some sellers may want to offer the buyer a credit at closing for certain repairs. Real estate broker Chris Ann Cleland, with Long and Foster in Gainesville, VA shares with us why that strategy isn't better thanmaking the repairs yourself before putting the home on the market.
 

6. Sellers Unwilling to Negotiate with Buyers

Setting a market price on a home is not an exact science. Many real estate agents will give the seller a range in which they predict the home will sell. As a seller, you should always want the most money the market will bear. That being said, the unwillingness to negotiate with buyers can turn away even the most serious buyers.

Price is not the only condition which is open to negotiation. Buyers and sellers can negotiate on dates, fixtures that might stay with the home, repairs and a host of other sticking points. Sellers that refuse to negotiate and are set on digging in their heels are much less likely to find a willing and able buyer.

Don't be insulted by low offers. Buyers want to get the home for the best price and on the best terms they can. Just like a sellers wants to sell for the best price on the best terms. It's rare that either party walks away from a negotiation with everything they want. Motivated sellers understand this and are willing to negotiate.

Debbie Reynolds, a broker with Prudential PenFed Realty in Clarksville Tennessee, cautions sellers against being unwilling to negotiate as well as second guessing your original listing price. 

7. Bad Photos in the MLS

This one will most likely fall on your real estate agent. But knowing that bad photos in the MLS can be an impediment to the sale of your home, as a seller it's imperative that you demand great photography from your agent.

Studies show that greater than 85% of people are going online as a part of their research for buying a home. Most buyers will probably first be introduced to your home online. Poor photos could be cause for them to disregard your home before they ever set foot in it. 

The photos used to market your home are generally the first impression any buyer will have of your home. When picking an agent to list your home, ask to see examples of photos from previous listings. Do their photos make you want to take a look at the home?

Never let your home go on the market without photos! If it means waiting a day or two before listing, wait. A large number of potential buyers in your market will be exposed to your home the first day it goes on the market. Having great photos the first day the home hits the market is a must.

Tammie White, a REALTOR® with Benchmark Realty LLC in Franklin Tennessee tells us why "it is crucial to have professional photographs to show off your home."

8. The Home is Just Plain Messy

You were late for work this morning so you ran out of the house without picking up from last night's dinner. Not a big deal.....unless you have potential buyers that will be stopping by. 

Some people may be able to look past the dishes stacked up in the sink, but enough buyers won't be able to look past the mess. Remember, buyers want to envision their things in your house. The more obstacles you put in the way, the harder time they have connecting with the home emotionally.

Take the time every day to make sure everything is cleaned up and the home is in showing condition. 

Woody Edwards, a REALTOR® with First Choice Realty in Chesterfield Virginia is reminded of an old saying his grandmother used to have, "never leave home until the home is in dying condition". This couldn't be more true than when selling your home. 

9. Sellers Who Like to Play Tour Guide During Showings

Almost every real estate agent who participated agreed that sellers should leave the house during showings. Some sellers want to stick around and make sure buyers see all the important features of a home. The problem with that.........as a seller you don't know what's important to a buyer. 

Sellers that hover around during a showing will make the buyer nervous. They won't feel comfortable discussing things they like or dislike about the house with their agent. In addition, most buyers like to explore a little bit. Interested buyers tend to do things like open cabinets and check in closets to get a better sense for the entire home. A hovering seller can make this very uncomfortable for some buyers.

Bottom line......leave the house when it's being shown. Your presence there will only make things worse. Karen Feltman, a real estate agent with Skogman Realty in Cedar Rapids Iowa gives you a couple ofspecific ways that a seller's meddling during showings can hurt or kill a deal. 

10. Picking the Wrong Agent

You decided to list with your aunt or with your friend that just got in the business. You paid no attention to their experience or what they do to market a home. Maybe not the best idea. 

Real Estate agents will often suggest interviewing more than one agent. You'll never know if your aunt is going to do a good job of marketing your home for sale if you have nothing to which to compare her. 

4 Strategies to Improve Your Debt-To-Income Ratio and Qualify for a Mortgage

You obviously need a steady job and sufficient income to support a monthly mortgage payment, but the mortgage lender will also evaluate your debt before approving your application. And unfortunately, too much consumer debt can bring your loan to a screeching halt.

Debt-to-income ratio refers to the percentage of monthly income that’s used to pay debt. When applying for a mortgage loan, lenders look at an applicant’s front-end ratio and back-end ratio. The front-end ratio, also called the housing ratio, is the percentage of your gross monthly income used to pay the mortgage. The back-end ratio is the percentage of total minimum debt payments (including the mortgage payment) in relation to gross income.

You might think your debt isn’t a big deal, especially if you pay on time. What you may fail to realize is that too much debt can ruin your chances of qualifying for a mortgage. Lenders don’t expect applicants to have zero debt. But they do expect a reasonable level of debt.

Typically, your front-end ratio should be no more than 28% to 31% of gross monthly income, depending on the type of mortgage. Total debt payments, or the back-end ratio, should not exceed 43%. Some people apply for a mortgage with confidence, so being rejected because of debt often comes as a chock. From a lender’s standpoint, excessive debt strains an applicant’s budget. And when applicants are overextended, there's a higher risk of default.

Being rejected for a mortgage can put a black cloud over your day, week or month, but a high debt-to-income ratio is fixable. Here are some of the best strategies for improving your ratio and qualifying for a mortgage.

1. Pay off credit cards and loan balances

If your mortgage lender won’t approve a loan because of debt, paying off credit cards and loans is one of the quickest ways to get your application approved.

Sometimes, applicants are rejected because their debt-to-income ratio is slightly over the percentage allowed by the lender. Paying off credit cards or loan balances can free up cash in your budget, which can help you qualify. Just make sure you check with the lender first. While paying off debt can improve your debt ratio, it can also drain your cash reserve, and you may not have enough money for your down payment, closing costs and other mortgage-related expenses.

2. Apply with a joint applicant

Some heads of households apply for a mortgage in their name only. But if there’s too much debt, the lender may reject his application until he pays off balances or increases his income.

Since income isn't something we can increase overnight, you might make headway by adding your spouse to the mortgage application, even if he or she only works part-time. The lender will calculate your combined income, which can result in an overall lower debt-to-income ratio— providing your spouse doesn't have too many of his or her own debts.

3. Seek new employment

Changing jobs during the lending process is dangerous, especially since lenders prefer at least 12 months of consistent income. But if you switch jobs and remain in the same field and earn the same salary or more, you shouldn’t have any issues finalizing the loan. Therefore, if you can't qualify for a particular amount because of a higher debt ratio, getting a job that pays considerably more can reduce your ratio and help you qualify.

If your gross annual income is $45,000 or $3,750 a month, based on your existing debt the lender may conclude that the most you can spend on a mortgage payment—including principal, taxes and insurance—is $1,050. Since this limits how much you can spend on a property, you might not qualify for homes with a higher price range. But if you found a new job earning an additional $10,000 a year, the lender may say you qualify for a mortgage with a payment of $1,283, giving you wiggle room to buy a more expensive home.

4. Get rid of a car loan

You may not have a lot of credit card debt, but an expensive auto loan payment can have a tremendous impact on how much you're able to spend on a property. You can also improve your debt-to-income ratio by getting rid of an expensive auto loan and buying a cheaper car.

Let’s say you’re paying $600 a month for your car. Eliminating this loan can potentially free up $600 in your budget—money that can be used to qualify for a mortgage loan. Maybe you can purchase a car and only pay $300 a month. It’s a win-win. You’ll still have transportation to get from point A to point B, yet a cheaper auto loan expense can improve your debt ratio and help you qualify for a mortgage faster.

4 Strategies to Improve Your Debt-To-Income Ratio and Qualify for a Mortgage