real estate prices “doubling
Florida Real Estate Bubble Stock Market Crash History Bear Market Forecasting Stock Market Crash! - The authority on the market crash phenomenon Home | Site Map | Blog | News Term Glossary | Book Review | Bear Market Sites Florida Real Estate Bubble The 1920’s, in America, were a time of great prosperity. Skilled and educated working Americans had jobs providing numerous fringe benefits, paid vacations and pensions. In addition, automobiles were becoming commonplace for the wealthy and middle class allowing cross country travel. This good fortune set the stage for the Florida real estate bubble . Starting in 1920, many Americans became enamored by the materialistic and prosperous lifestyle of the time. During this time, the stock market was moving forward at an extremely fast pace. Many investors were becoming quite wealthy. Florida became a hot spot for these newly rich people, who didn’t enjoy the cold. Many whole families took vacations to Florida. It was at this point that tourism started booming and land prices were skyrocketing. Many astute investors took notice and started buying Florida real estate. The population in Florida was growing exponentially and housing couldn’t meet the demand. Florida became the “playground of the rich and famous”. Illegal casinos and drinking parlors became widespread in Miami. At this point, almost anybody could invest in Florida, even without much money. Credit was plentiful and soon everybody in Florida was either a real estate investor or a real estate agent. In 1922, the Miami Herald became the heaviest newspaper in the world as a result of its humongous real estate advertisements. People in the North heard about the real estate prices “doubling and tripling”, causing a snowball effect. Capital was rapidly pumped into the real estate market. Whole golf communities were developed, such as Temple Terrace. Resorts and retirement communities were developed almost overnight. Mansions were sprawling in every area, as were swimming pools. As always, waterfront property was the most desirable. Florida was seen as a veritable Utopia. Real estate prices quadrupled in less than one year. An elderly man invested $1,700 in property and by 1925 the property was worth over $300,000! It seemed you could do no wrong by just buying any property in Florida and become a millionaire. By 1925, real estate prices had become so exorbitant that buying land wasn’t affordable any longer. New investors failed to arrive and old investors started to sell. Panic arrived, as it always does, and the real estate market crashed. Prices kept moving downwards as heavily indebted investors tried to sell to avoid bankruptcy . In most cases, no buyers arrived, and the investors were bankrupt from the enormous mortgages. To make matters even worse, a highly destructive hurricane ravaged South Florida in September 1926. The 125 mile an hour winds eventually turned Palm Beach County into swamp lands. After the storm, a huge tidal wave crashed upon the towns of Belle Glade and Moore Haven. Due to these horrible turn of events, over 13,000 homes were destroyed and 415 people died. Additionally, the arrival of the Mediterranean fruit fly obliterated the large citrus industry. It took years for Florida to fully recover, even through the highly prosperous time from 1925 to 1929. Florida was barely affected in the stock market crash of 1929 and the Great Depression , because of its poor financial state from the start. Market crashes always occur in the same manner. Regardless of the market, the same simple psychological underpinnings are always at work. People who are caught up in a bubble never look back for historical examples. For this folly, they become paupers. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Links to other Florida Real Estate Bubble Websites The Biggest Market Crashes in History: The Florida Real Estate Bubble Bear Market Articles • What Exactly is a Market Crash? + The inner details • Does Everyone Lose in a Crash? + The answer may surprise you! + What it takes to be an insider • Can Crashes be Forecasted? + Learn the warning signs + Take action! • The Housing Bubble + Why it is destined to pop + How you will be affected • The Coming Crash! + Prepare for the worst Financial Crisis History 1. Tulip Bulb Mania - Read about the Dutch tulip craze in the 1630's 2. South Sea Bubble - Learn about England's disastrous stock market crash in the early 1700's 3. Mississippi Bubble - The financial scheme which caused a stock market crash in 18th-century France 4. Florida Real Estate Bubble - The speculative boom and implosion of Florida property in the 1920's 5. Stock Market Crash of 1929 - The Great Crash + Depression 6. Stock Market Crash of 1987 - Mayhem and program trading 7. The Nikkei Bubble - The downfall of the Japanese titan 8. The Collapse of Barings Bank - Read how England’s oldest, most established bank was collapsed by a single trader. 9. The Nasdaq Bubble - The mania of Silicon Valley and Wall Street Home | Site Map | Blog | News Term Glossary | Book Review Bear Market Sites
Selling Home & Garden
Home Buying - Home Buying and Home Selling Advice - Buying a Home You are here: About > Home & Garden > Home Buying / Selling Home & Garden Home Buying / Selling Essentials 10 Things Home Buyers Shouldn't Do Best Tips for First Time Home Buyers "Must-Do" Tasks Before You Sell How to Buy a Home, Step by Step For Sale by Owner Advice Articles & Resources How To Buy a Home How To Sell a House Celebrity & Historic Credit Reports & Scores Design & Remodel Home Maintenance Inspections & Appraisals Investing & Foreclosures Modular & Manufactured Mold, Radon, Lead, etc. Mortgage Advice Moving & Relocation Real Estate Careers Real Estate For Sale Vacation Homes Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Home Buying Books Foreclosure Books Mortgage Books Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Home Buying / Selling newsletter! See Online Courses Search Home Buying / Selling From Janet Wickell , Your Guide to Home Buying / Selling . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Getting Ready to Sell Your House Guests and lots of activities make it difficult to show a house during the holidays, so home owners sometimes put off selling their homes until after the first week in January, when life starts returning to normal. If you're in that category take some time to evaluate the condition of your home before you list it with an agent or sell it by owner . Be sure to analyze your situation to determine if selling is your best move, then think about the home's curb appeal and get the interior and exterior in tip-top shape . It's not a bad idea to do a few inspections to make sure the house is ready for potential buyers. Handle as many tasks as you can now and you'll find that the sales process will be a breeze. Monday December 26, 2005 | permalink Before You Buy Gas Logs Gas logs are growing in popularity every year, so manufacturers have geared-up to offer us a wide selection of appliances. You'll find gas logs to put in a hearth, freestanding gas stoves, and fully contained fireplace units that are mounted to a wall. But did you know that the dangerous gas byproducts produced by gas logs is not always vented to the outside? It's important to understand the differences between vented and vent-free logs before you buy a gas log fireplace. Saturday December 24, 2005 | permalink Pros and Cons of Becoming a Real Estate Agent You've decided you want to become a real estate agent, but what's your motivation? Do you understand the type of work real estate agents do and are you savvy about the true pay they receive for their work? It can be a rewarding career choice, but it's definitely not the best option for everyone and there are lots of things to consider before you decide that a real estate career is right for you. Wednesday December 21, 2005 | permalink Step-by-Step Directions Help You Measure Square Footage Each year, home owners discover that their new home's square footage is not the figure that was stated when the house was advertised. Owners sometimes decide to sue the people who were involved in the transaction, especially if the difference is significant. Real estate agents and for sale by owner sellers can reduce their risks of encountering a lawsuit by knowing how use accepted standards to measure and calculate a home's square footage . Get it right the first time so that everyone's happy with the results. Wednesday December 21, 2005 | permalink Buying Land for Your New Home If you've looked and looked, but can't find the perfect combination of land and house, maybe it's time to consider building. And while buying land for your new home can seem intimidating at first, you'll find it really isn't a horrible task if you fine-tune your wants and needs before you start searching for real estate. Tuesday December 20, 2005 | permalink Buying a Home with Great Resale Potential A few generations ago it wasn't unusual for people to live in the same home for many years, somtimes the rest of their lives after becoming homeowners. We're more mobile today, always "moving up" to a larger house or relocating to a new town. So it makes sense to put some thought into buying a home with good resale value , one that will sell easily and put extra dollars in your bank account if you do decide to move. Tuesday December 20, 2005 | permalink What's a Quit Claim Deed? Home buyers usually receive a general warranty deed when they purchase real estate, because it's a type of deed that offers several guarantees from the seller that the title to the property is good. Another document that's sometimes used is a quit claim deed . It works perfectly for some situations, but it's important to understand the limitations of a quit claim deed before accepting one when you purchase real estate. Friday December 16, 2005 | permalink How Credit Scores Are Calculated Everyone looking for a mortgage to buy a home--and that's most of us--finds out right away that credit scores play a huge role in the types of loans and interest rates that are offered to them. It's helpful to study your credit reports and scores before you apply for a mortgage, and to do it as early as possible to give yourself time to correct errors before a lender takes a look. Wednesday December 14, 2005 | permalink Moving Tips and Timeline Buying a home is exciting, but let's face it... moving is a chore. A big one. The only way I know to get through it without an excess of stress is to manage the moving process in little steps instead of letting it overwhelm you at the last minute. Start early and stay organized and you'll be ready for the moving truck before you know it. Monday December 12, 2005 | permalink Typical Home Buyer Closing Costs Closing costs are the expenses associated with buying real estate. You can expect to pay a large chunk of your closing costs the day the trasaction is complete, when the property becomes yours, but some closing expenses are nearly always paid before that day. There's no single set of expenses that every home buyer must pay--every transaction is different--but it's a good idea to become familiar with typical closing costs so that you'll have a better understanding of the items billed to you on your HUD-1 settlement statement . Wednesday December 07, 2005 | permalink Display Latest Headlines | | | Read Archives powered by Movable Type Important disclaimer information about this About site. 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Around About Oprah's Life Vacation Ideas Shop Safely Online VIDEO: Craft Rooms VIDEO: Christmas Traditions What's Hot Coping with Unethical People How To Buy Land Real Estate Appraisal Before You Buy a Log Home Package Home Buying / Selling - GuideReviews Headlines Getting Ready to Sell Your House Guests and lots of activities make it difficult to show... Before You Buy Gas Logs Gas logs are growing in popularity every year, so manufacturers... Pros and Cons of Becoming a Real Estate Agent You've decided you want to become a real estate agent,... Step-by-Step Directions Help You Measure Square Footage Each year, home owners discover that their new home's square...
Home Loan Bank of
Welcome to the Home Loan Bank of New York ----commented out ------- MEMBER LOGON From the President December 29, 2005 2005: A YEAR OF ACCOMPLISHMENT We have completed a year in which the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York achieved a number of distinct and transforming accomplishments. Completed SEC Registration One of the most significant and transforming of the accomplishments occurred in late August. After three years of preparation and hard work, the registration of the Banks stock under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 was declared effective by the SEC. The Home Loan Bank became one of only two banks in the Home Loan Bank System to satisfy the registration requirements of the SEC within the time frame set by our regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Board. The Home Loan Banks filings with the SEC are available on the SECs EDGAR system, accessed at http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml . If you have not done so, I encourage you to review these reports containing detailed financial and other information about the Bank. Completed Capital Exchange With the completion of the SEC registration process, the Home Loan Bank then proceeded with the implementation of the new Capital Plan. Prior to the opening of business on December 1, outstanding shares of capital stock owned by the Home Loan Bank of New Yorks community member stockholders were automatically exchanged for shares of the Banks new Class B stock. The new Capital Plan was mandated by the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, and more closely ties member capital requirements with advance usage. Improved Financial Results In addition and more importantly, the Home Loan Bank continued to achieve solid financial results in 2005. The Bank manages to a risk/reward profile that generates sustainable and predictable earnings. For example, we continued with a low-risk, tightly controlled, conservative approach to investing in Mortgage-Backed Securities. At the same time, we also remained a member-focused, advances-oriented Home Loan Bank: approximately 75% of the assets of the Bank are in the form of advances to our members. Only a few other Home Loans rival this high percentage. Further, advance demand has remained solid. In November 2005, advances averaged $60.9 billion, down slightly (about $600 million) from October 2005. We ended the month with $61.4 billion in advances on our books. Product innovation has continued in the area of advances. In June, the Bank introduced the Fed Funds Floating Rate Advance, a new adjustable alternative for members. The "Fed Funds Floater" Advance is designed to help fund a portion of members' cash positions. The products rate is tied to the Fed Funds rate and resets daily. The Home Loan Bank also furthered its record of providing a fair return on our members capital investment. In fact, profits improved over 2004 and the Home Loan Bank is now providing among the highest capital investment returns in the Bank System. At the same time, the level of pre-dividend retained earnings increased more than 22% from the 2004 year-end balance to approximately $273 million at the end of November. As we total up the results for the full year, I want to express my personal appreciation to each stockholder for the business you brought to the Bank in 2005. We are here to help our members play a key role in the delivery of housing and community financing. With an outstanding Board of Directors, a solid management team, and a dedicated staff, we have set the course and put in place the plans that have made the FHLBNY an exemplary organization. The Home Loan Bank team is dedicated to providing quality services, and we look forward to maintaining a high level of service in 2006. In closing, we value your relationship with the Home Loan Bank and we are ready to assist you in meeting your commitments to your customers. And we appreciate the opportunity to serve you. All of us at the Home Loan Bank wish you and yours the very best in 2006! Sincerely, Alfred A. DelliBovi President & CEO FHLBNY UPDATES December Edition 4-Year Floating-Rate Advances Priced at 3-Month LIBOR Plus 2 Basis Points! Convertible Advances at FHLBNY Repo Convertible Advance Rates FHLBNY NEWS With the filing of an amendment to its registration statement on Form 10 on August 29, 2005, with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the HLB became an SEC registrant. Federal Home Loan Bank of New York Implements Risk-Based Capital Plan Capital Exchange Information Statement and Capital Plan View the Capital Exchange Webinar Capital Exchange Webinar Slides SITE HIGHLIGHTS 1LINK sm MPF PROGRAM FIRST HOME CLUB sm AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM 2005B ROUND APPLICATION PACKAGE QUICK LINKS B ank Forms Application for an OLOC line Site Best viewed in Internet Explorer 4.0+ browser and at screen resolution of 800x600. General Terms and Conditions of Use | Privacy Policy | Forward-Looking Statements Our friendly lawyers have asked us to tell you that visitors remaining in session with this site IMPLICITLY CONSENT to our General Terms and Conditions of Use and our Privacy Policy, and ACKNOWLEDGE our Cautionary Language Regarding Forward-Looking Statements. Please exit this session if you do not agree with the foregoing. 2005 Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, 101 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10178. All rights reserved .
Buy Home
FCIC: HUD Home Buying Guide Return to Federal Citizen Information Center Home Page Printer-friendly page -- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development THE HUD HOME BUYING GUIDE www.hud.gov espanol.hud.gov YOUR DREAM HOME COULD BE A HUD HOME. OWNING A HOME OF YOUR OWN. Almost everybody has a dream home. A place they like to wander through in their thoughts, choosing imaginary wallpaper and putting in imaginary skylights. But for too many people, dream homes remain just thatdreams. The reality of owning their own home never seems to become theirs. Thats where the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) comes into the picture. HUD is a government agency created to help make the American dream of homeownership a real possibility for everyone. Since 1934, HUDs Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has helped millions of Americans unlock the door to homeownership and have a home of their own. We do it by making homebuying easier and more affordable. One way we can do this is by selling homes HUD owns in many communities throughout the U.S., at attractive prices and economical terms. So that home youve been dreaming about just may be one you buy from HUD. But whether you decide on a HUD Home or not, you can use this guide to take you step by step through each stage of finding and buying your own home. HOW MUCH HOME CAN YOU AFFORD? Before you start shopping for a home, you need to know what kind of home to shop for. To determine that, of course, youve got to figure out how much you can afford to pay each month. Fortunately, theres a pretty simple formula for coming up with this number. Its the FHA formula that many mortgage lenders use. The FHA has found that most people can afford to budget 29 percent of their gross monthly income to housing expenses, depending on total debt. Buyers with no debt can budget as much as 41 percent of monthly income to housing. No need to reach for your calculatorweve done the math for you. The two charts on the opposite page should tell you everything you need to know. The first chart tells you how much 29 percent of your monthly income is. Find your annual income, or a figure close to it, in the column at the left. Then read across to find out howmuch yourmonthly gross income is, and finally,what 29 percent of that figureamounts to. This is approximately how much you can spend on total housing costs each month. The second chart tells you how much your monthly mortgage might be based on a homes selling price. Remember to keep in mind that the monthly figure from this second chart is based on a 30-year fixed mortgage and includes monthly principal and interest payments only. Taxes and insurance which vary from community to community are not included. So if 29 percent of your gross income is, say, $604, that doesnt mean you can pay a $604-per-month mortgage. You need to look at a mortgage somewhat below that, to leave room for taxes and insurance. Be sure to ask your lender to help you estimate how much your total costs will be. Annual Gross Income Monthly Gross Income 29% of Gross Income $15,000 $1,250 $363 20,000 1,667 483 25,000 2,083 604 30,000 2,500 725 35,000 2,917 846 40,000 3,333 967 45,000 3,750 1,088 50,000 4,167 1,208 MORTGAGE PAYMENT CALCULATOR. Monthly principal, interest payments for 30-year, fixed rate mortgage.Monthly taxes, insurance not included. COST 6% 6.5% 7% 7.5% 8% 8.5% 9% 9.5% 10% $25,000 $ 150 158 166 175 183 192 201 210 219 $30,000 $ 180 190 200 210 220 231 241 252 263 $40,000 $ 240 253 266 280 293 308 322 336 351 $50,000 $ 300 316 333 350 367 384 402 420 439 $60,000 $ 360 379 399 420 440 461 483 505 527 $70,000 $ 420 442 466 489 514 538 563 589 614 $80,000 $ 480 506 532 559 587 615 644 673 702 $90,000 $ 540 569 599 629 660 692 724 757 790 $100,000 $ 600 632 665 699 734 769 805 841 878 $110,000 $ 660 695 732 769 807 846 885 925 965 $120,000 $ 719 758 798 839 880 923 966 1,009 1,053 $130,000 $ 780 822 865 909 954 1,000 1,046 1,093 1,141 $140,000 $ 839 885 931 979 1,027 1,076 1,126 1,177 1,229 $150,000 $ 899 948 998 1,049 1,101 1,153 1,207 1,261 1,316 $160,000 $ 959 1,011 1,064 1,119 1,174 1,230 1,287 1,345 1,404 $170,000 $1,019 1,075 1,131 1,189 1,247 1,307 1,368 1,429 1,492 IT'S TIME TO STOP TALKING ABOUT IT AND BEGIN DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT. HELP IS AVAILABLE. You will have lots of questions and countless issues to consider when you buy a home. You'll need someone that can help you through the process.Agood real estate agent is a good place to start. The quality of local schools, neighborhood safety, the number of children in the area, and traffic patterns are just a few of the issues to be considered in shopping for the right home. A real estate professional can be helpful in guiding you to the right source for facts and useful information. And all the financial details that can seem so mind-boggling to first-time home buyers are something the agent deals with every day. He or she will help you figure the price range you can afford, explain the different types of mortgages, guide you through the paperwork, and be there to answer last-minute questions when you sign the final papers at closing. If you're buying a HUD Home, you're required to use a real estate agent. While purchasing a HUD Home may be easier than many private real estate transactions, there are still some requirements which must be metcertain forms that must be used, and procedures that must be followed. But these requirements are clearly stated in advance, and the real estate agent will be there to help you through it all. There are no negotiations between buyer and seller when you buy a HUD Home. This can be a real advantage. There's no haggling about priceeverything is spelled out in black and white. What's more, your offer is responded to promptly, and if it's accepted, closing on the home usually will occur within 30-60 days. Finding a HUD-approved selling broker is not difficult, especially since so many real estate brokers are happy to sell HUD Homes. All you need to do is to call a few brokers who work in the area you're interested in and you'll find someone willing and experienced. Some brokers specifically advertise their desire to sell HUD Homes in the real estate sections of newspapers. Best of all, the valuable help you'll receive from the real estate agent is usually free! In most instances, agents get their sales commission from the home seller, not you, the buyer. Even if you're buying a HUD Home, HUD will pay the broker's commission. THERE'S A HUD HOME WITH YOUR NAME ON IT. Out of all the homes for sale in your area, there is likely to be one that has everything you want. The trick is simply to find it. Of course, your real estate agent can be a big help. But even the agent will need to know what your priorities are. Is a short commute important to you? Or are schools your biggest concern? How many bedrooms do you think you need? Before you begin looking at homes, try to decide in advance exactly what you want. This can save you and the agent a lot of time. It's a good idea to actually write down your wishes, and share the list with your agent. This is helpful because he or she will usually have lists of the properties for sale in your area, including all the HUD Homes. HUD Homes are listed in the local multiple listing service (MLS) and on the internet at www.hud.gov. A broker should have all the information you need. Almost any home you look atwill have room for improvement. But the more that needs to be done to a home, the less you're going to have to pay for it.HUDHomes, because they're sold in as-is condition, can often be a great, affordable opportunity for the fixer-upper. Many are in fine neighborhoods and offer outstanding values. And while some HUD Homes do qualify as handyman specials, many are in very good condition. HUD does not warrant the condition of its properties, butwill give you the information it has about the condition of the property you're interested in. You can use this information in formulating your bid. There's even a HUD loan program available called the 203(K), where buyers can borrow money to make repairs on some properties. You repay these funds later, as part of your mortgage. Just be aware that 203(K) funds aren't available for all houses in all areas. Ask the real estate agent you're working with about 203(K) availability in your area. BEGINNING TO MAKE IT YOUR OWN. Once you've found the home of your dreams, it's time to make an offer to buy it. Before deciding how much to offer, HUD urges you to get a professional home inspection. It can also be helpful to find out how long the home has been on the marketif it's been for sale awhile, the seller may be more willing to bargain. After you and the agent have prepared your offer, he or she will present it to the seller. It may be accepted or rejected, or the seller may counter your offer by asking for a higher price or by making changes in the sales contract. Making an offer to buy a HUD Home is often much easier than the process of buying a homeon the private market.Your bidwill be submitted electronically through a computer, a touchtone telephone or by real estate broker. The person making the highest acceptable bid is generally awarded that HUD Home. Offers for HUD Homes can only be made through a licensed real estate broker. This way, HUD requirements are met and buyers get the help they need. HUD will pay real estate commissions if the commission amount is requested as part of the bid. The initial listing price of each property is HUD's estimate of current fair market value and is based upon an appraisal conducted by an independent real estate appraiser. HUD may accept an offer that is less than the listing price, depending on market conditions and the length of time the property has been on the market. In some instances, buyers will offer more than the listing price if they believe the market conditions demand it or if the home is particularly appealing. It is important for buyers to be aware of the property values established by HUD and submit offers knowingly. You will generally make your offer for a HUD Home during a designated Listing Period. With the commencement of the Initial Listing Period, bids may be submitted by all potential purchasers. However, priority will be given to owner-occupant purchasers for the first 10 calendar days as follows: All owner-occupant offers received during the first five days of this10 day period will be considered to have been received simultaneously. On the first business day following the expiration of the five day period, owner-occupant bids are reviewed, at which point the highest acceptable net owner-occupant will be accepted. Should there be no acceptable owner-occupant bids, owner-occupant bids will be reviewed on a daily basis for the remaining five days. At each such daily review, HUD will accept the highest acceptable net owner-occupant bid. At the conclusion of the 10-day owner-occupant priority period, should the property remain unsold, a review of all general public bids (e.g. investor) received during the 10 day period will be conducted. Earnest money. When you make an offer on a home, the seller will usually require an earnest money deposit as proof that your offer is serious. If the offer is accepted, your earnest money deposit will become part of your down payment or closing costs. If your offer is rejected, the broker will return your earnest money to you. YOU'RE ALMOST HOME. DIFFERENT LOANS FOR DIFFERENT HOME BUYERS. Just as there is more than one kind of home, there is more than one way to finance it. Mortgage lenders have come up with many different methods of helping you pay for a home each one with its own advantages and disadvantages. First of all, you should know that HUD itself does not provide financing. You obtain financing through a bank or mortgage lender. Since many HUD Homes are eligible for FHA-insured mortgage loans, this can make financing easier to obtain. However, you are not required to get an FHA loan to buy a HUD Home. Fixed-Rate Mortgage. With a fixed-rate mortgage, your interest rate stays the same for the term of the mortgage, which is usually 30 years. Your principal and interest payment remains stable, making it easier to plan a monthly budget. However, initial interest rates tend to be higher than with other types of loans. Adjustable-Rate Mortgage. With an ARM, your interest rate and monthly payments start out lower than with a fixed-rate, but your rate and payments can change either up or down, depending on where interest rates in general are going. (If they're going up, your monthly payments will probably go up as well, sometimes significantly.) FHA-Insured Mortgage. In this type of loan, the Federal Government insures the lender against loss in case the home buyer defaults on the loan. This program was set up so that Americans who can't afford the 10 percent to 20 percent down payment required by most lenders can still buy a home. Many HUD Homes can be bought with FHA-insured mortgages, which allow you to purchase the home with a low down payment. You do not have to be a first-time buyer in order to qualify for an FHA loan. VA Loan.Under this program, the Department of Veterans Affairs guarantees the lender against loss. HUD Homes may be purchased with a VA loan or any other loan. Assumable or Non-Assumable. You may find a home with a mortgage loan you can assume from the previous owner. This means that the lender is willing to transfer the old loan on the home to you. These loans can be wonderful bargains, and the paperwork is usually not very complicated. Before you decide which loan is right for you, talk to your loan officer. You'll get information that will help you figure out which option best suits your needs. HUD BRINGS UP-FRONT COSTS DOWN. The costs of buying a home are more than just the price you agree to pay for it. Before you move in, you'll have to pay various charges, which we explain below. The good news is, with HUD Homes these costs may be lower than they are with other homes. DOWN PAYMENT. Most people know that a down payment is a percentage of the price of the home that must be paid up front, in cash. The typical downpayment is three percent and family members may give a gift to make up the balance of the downpayment. CLOSING COSTS. This term covers various fees your lender charges for providing your loan, and other expenses. Closing costs typically add up to about 3 percent or 4 percent of the price of your home, depending on where you purchase it. But when you buy a HUD Home, these costs may be picked up by HUD if this incentive is offered by HUD and if they are specifically requested, by dollar amount, in the bid offering. If you buy a HUD Home, HUD may pay many of your usual and customary closing expenses plus real estate sales commissions. Just remember that closing costs and sales commissions are deducted from the bid amount in making the decision as to which offer brings the greatest return to HUD. Since bidding is competitive, you may, in order to offer a more competitive bid, pay your own closing costs. This makes HUD's net return greater, making your bid more favorable and increasing the likelihood that HUD will accept your offer. COMMISSIONS. These are paid to the broker by the seller, and usually amount to 6% or 7% of the cost of the house.When you buy aHUDHome, the selling agent's commissions are usually paid by HUD. CHECKING IT OUT BEFORE YOU CHECK IN. Before you buy anything, you'll want to know exactly what it is you're getting. With something as important as your home, you can't know too much. That's why it's a good idea to get a professional inspection of your home even before you make the offer. HUD strongly urges every home buyer to get a professional inspection, whether you're buying a HUD Home or not. HUD Homes are sold in as-is condition. That means you agree, if you buy the home, to accept it in its present condition. HUD does not pay for the correction of defects in existing homes that it sells or on homes purchased with FHA-insured mortgages. The owner of the home will be responsible for needed repairs. Therefore, be sure of the condition of the home before you submit your offer. THE FINISH LINE. The day you finally close on your new home will probably be one of the most exciting in your life. Finally, the long, tedious process of finding a home and getting a loan is over, and by the time the day is done, you'll be the proud and happy owner of your new home. Before that day ends, you will be asked to sign a seemingly endless number of forms, but the closing agent will go over each one with you. It's all necessary, but you can make it a little easier by asking the real estate agent about it before the big day comes. Also, when you apply for your loan, your lender is required to give you a booklet explaining closing costs, an estimate of how much cash you'll have to supply at the closing, and a list of all the documents you'll need. If you have any questions, perhaps they are answered in the Q and A section that follows. If not, why not go straight to the phone right now, and call a real estate agent and ask about HUD Homes? It's a small, first step. But the journey could eventually end at the door to a home you call your own. Good luck and have fun! QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT HUD HOMES. What is a HUD Home? A HUD Home may be a single-family house, a townhome, condominium or other type of residence. The properties were deeded to HUD/FHA by mortgage companies who had foreclosed on FHA-insured mortgage loans. Now HUD must sell these homesas quickly as possible at market valuein order to obtain the maximum financial return on its mortgage insurance funds. Who can buy a HUD Home? Anyone who has the money or can qualify for the necessary amount of mortgage financing can purchase a HUD Home. You do not have to be low-income or meet any other such limitations. Can I get a HUD Home for free, or for one dollar? No. HUD acquires its properties through the foreclosure of FHA insured mortgages. One of HUD's many missions is to maximize return to the FHA insurance fund, which it does by selling the properties at fair market value. How do I buy a HUD Home? Our policy is to market acquired properties on a competitive basis with offers being submitted through any participating licensed real estate broker. Local brokers will assist you in the transaction. They can show the property to prospective buyers, as well as answer questions and provide information on the location of parks, schools, shopping, and employment centers. Are HUD Homes meant for low income people? HUD Homes come in a variety of price ranges, though most are affordably priced, making them accessible to low and moderate income Americans. What are the income requirements? If youmake a cash purchase, there are no income requirements. Otherwise, you must be able to qualify for a particular type of mortgage financing based on established mortgage lending criteria (see page 3). How does HUD decide how much to charge for a HUD Home? The listing price of a HUD property is a price based on the appraised value. Can investors purchase HUD Homes? Yes. However, HUD offers its properties to owner/occupants for a period before making them available to investors. What happens if I can't close the sale within the time permitted by HUD? You'll probably have to pay fees for an extension of time, usually in increments of 15 days. Is there any way for me to get advanced notice about homes that will be coming up for sale? No. HUD Homes are listed for sale in the local multiple listing service (MLS), the Internet at www.hud.gov or ask your broker. A WORD ABOUT LEAD-BASED PAINT. HUD and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have begun a nationwide effort to alert home buyers to the risk that older homes may contain lead-based paint. Lead exposure can be harmful to young children. If you are making an offer on a home constructed prior to 1978, you should receive a copy of the EPA pamphlet Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home from your broker. You will be required to submit a lead-based paint addendum with your offer on the HUD Home. You will be given the opportunity to conduct a risk assessment or lead-based paint inspection (at your own expense) prior to being obligated under the contract. TERMS YOU NEED TO KNOW. Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) . A type of mortgage rate loan whose interest rate changes periodically up or down, usually once or twice a year. Annual Percentage Rate (APR). Everything financed in your mortgage loan package (interest, loan fees, points or other charges) expressed as a percentage of the loan amount (usually slightly above the actual interest rate alone). Assumable Loan. A loan in which the lender is willing to transfer from the previous owner of the home to the new owner, sometimes at the same interest rate, sometimes at a new rate. An assumable loan can make your home more attractive to buyers when you want to sell. Closing Costs. Costs the buyer must pay at the time of closing in addition to the down payment: including points, mortgage insurance premium, homeowners insurance, prepayments for property taxes, etc. Closing costs average 3 percent -4 percent of the loan amount. If you're buying a HUD Home, you can request they be paid by HUD, if the sales incentive is offered. Contingency. A condition put on an offer to buy a home; such as the prospective buyer making an offer contingent on his or her sale of a present home. Conventional Mortgage. A type of mortgage not insured by either the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and thus usually requiring a 10 percent - 20 percent down payment. (HUD Homes may be purchased with a conventional mortgage.) Earnest Money. Funds submitted with an offer to show good faith to follow through with the purchase. Earnest money is placed by the broker in an escrow/trust account until closing, when it becomes part of the down payment or closing costs. (HUD generally requires an earnest money deposit of $500-$2,000.) Escrow. A procedure in which documents or transfers of cash and property are put in the care of a third party, other than the buyer or seller. FHA Financing. Financing for a loan which will be insured against loss by the Federal Housing Administrationa part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Such financing allows for a lower down payment than required by most lenders. Homeowners Insurance. Insurance that protects the homeowner from casualty (losses or damage to the home or personal property) and from liability (damages to other people or property). Required by the lender and usually included in the monthly mortgage payment. Loan Origination Fee. A fee charged by the lender for evaluating, preparing, and submitting a proposed mortgage loan. Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP). A charge paid by the borrower (usually as part of the closing costs) to obtain financing, especially when making a down payment of less than 20 percent of the purchase price, for example on an FHA-insured loan. Point. An amount equal to one percent of the principal amount being borrowed. The lender may charge the borrower several points in order to provide the loan. Property Taxes. Taxes (based on the assessed value of the home) paid by the homeowner for community services such as schools, public works, and other costs of local government. Paid as a part of the monthly mortgage payment. Title Insurance. Protects lenders and homeowners against loss of their interest in property due to legal defects in the title. VA Loan. A loan guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs against loss to the lender, and made through a private lender. (HUD Homes may be purchased with a VA loan.) U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Single Family Housing 451 Seventh Street, SW Washington DC 20410-3000 August 2004 Return to Federal Citizen Information Center Home Page Printer-friendly page --
Real Estate Prices
MONEY Magazine: Your Home 2005: The 100 Major Markets - Jun. 1, 2005 Web CNN/Money Buying & Selling Investment Property Home Improvement Million $ Life Financing Best Places SAVE | EMAIL | PRINT | SUBSCRIBE TO MONEY | The 100 Major Markets While currently hot real estate markets may cool, don't look for many outright losers just yet. June 1, 2005: 7:01 PM EDT More real estate • Pros and cons of interest-only mortgages • How much house can you afford? NEW YORK (MONEY Magazine) - Home prices across the country will likely keep rising over the next year. While many hot markets on both coasts could see a dramatic slowdown in their growth rates, the forecasters at housing research firm Case Shiller Weiss aren't predicting outright losers anywhere. Nationally, home values climbed 14 percent last year, or nearly double the 8 percent of 2003, when the bubble talk began in earnest. Prices are up 20 percent or more in some coastal cities, putting homes out of reach for many. In Los Angeles, for example, just 5 percent of homes sell at prices affordable to a median-income local family. Don't panic just yet, though. Any pop is unlikely to be nearly as severe as what can happen in the stock market. Local markets can drop 10 to 20 percent, but that's about as bad as it usually gets. And a crash is merely a paper loss as long as you don't need to move. Meanwhile, you get a roof over your head and, with a little luck, nice neighbors and good public schools too. Metro area Median home price 5yr change in avg home price Growth forecast to June 2006 United States $190,000 65.1% 7.1% New York/Northern New Jersey/Long Island/Connecticut New York City $435,000 91.2% 12.6% Nassau/Suffolk, N.Y. $440,000 92.1% 11.6% Newark $330,000 79.0% 11.4% Bergen/Passaic, N.J. $390,000 81.9% 11.3% Middlesex/Somerset/Hunterdon, N.J. $318,000 87.4% 11.1% Monmouth/Ocean, N.J. $328,000 97.0% 11.3% Jersey City $300,000 114.2% N.A. New Haven/Bridgeport/Stamford/Waterbury/Danbury $335,000 69.7% 9.0% Trenton $230,000 83.4% 11.0% Los Angeles/Riverside/Orange County Los Angeles/Long Beach $442,000 122.3% 5.0% Riverside/San Bernardino, Calif. $329,000 137.3% 4.5% Orange County, Calif. $610,000 126.3% 6.8% Ventura, Calif. $550,000 122.6% 5.8% Chicago $254,000 49.6% 8.6% Washington/Baltimore Washington $385,000 107.4% 13.9% Baltimore $140,000 85.3% 14.2% San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose Oakland $535,000 96.3% 13.3% San Francisco $750,000 67.7% 13.6% San Jose $619,000 63.0% 13.9% Vallejo/Fairfield/Napa, Calif. $449,000 125.1% 13.8% Santa Rosa, Calif. $500,000 107.8% 13.2% Santa Cruz/Watsonville, Calif. $599,000 86.2% 13.0% Boston/Worcester/Lawrence/Lowell/Brockton $339,000 73.6% 8.0% Dallas/Fort Worth Dallas $137,000 23.1% N.A. Fort Worth/Arlington N.A. 23.5% N.A. Philadelphia/Wilmington/Atlantic City Philadelphia $180,000 71.0% 11.7% Atlantic/Cape May, N.J. $249,000 112.6% 9.4% Detroit/Ann Arbor/Flint Detroit $160,000 24.3% 4.3% Ann Arbor $225,000 28.1% 1.2% Houston $136,000 25.2% N.A. Atlanta $188,000 25.2% 6.4% Miami/Fort Lauderdale Miami $240,000 106.1% 15.3% Fort Lauderdale $257,000 105.8% 16.3% Phoenix/Mesa $190,000 53.1% 17.7% Seattle/Tacoma/Bremerton Seattle/Bellevue/Everett $315,000 38.1% 9.1% Tacoma, Wash. $212,000 36.9% 4.2% Minneapolis/St. Paul $225,000 63.2% 7.4% Cleveland/Akron Cleveland/Lorain/Elyria $153,000 20.0% 4.3% Akron $148,000 17.5% 0.7% San Diego $554,000 138.3% 5.9% St. Louis $129,000 38.1% N.A. Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater $172,000 70.8% 14.7% Pittsburgh $108,000 31.1% N.A. Denver $250,000 33.3% 6.0% Cincinnati/Hamilton Cincinnati $172,000 18.9% 4.0% Hamilton/Middletown, Ohio $182,000 20.5% 3.2% Portland, Ore./Vancouver $226,000 36.6% 9.8% Sacramento/Yolo Sacramento $376,000 131.1% 17.1% Yolo, Calif. $379,000 140.9% 17.4% Kansas City, Mo. $149,000 30.8% N.A. Orlando $195,000 60.6% 14.3% Indianapolis $113,000 18.8% N.A. San Antonio $123,000 24.8% N.A. Norfolk/Virginia Beach/Newport News $168,000 60.9% N.A. Las Vegas $285,000 107.0% N.A. Columbus, Ohio $172,000 22.7% 3.7% Milwaukee/Waukesha $199,000 40.5% N.A. Charlotte/Gastonia/Rock Hill, N.C. N.A. 19.1% N.A. Salt Lake City/Ogden $155,000 -0.2% 0.0% Austin/San Marcos $151,000 24.9% N.A. Nashville $139,000 19.3% 6.4% Providence/Warwick/Pawtucket $257,000 111.7% 17.7% Raleigh/Durham $186,000 18.9% N.A. Hartford $228,000 54.1% 8.9% Buffalo/Niagara Falls $95,000 27.00% N.A. Memphis $126,000 11.5% 3.2% West Palm Beach/Boca Raton, Fla. $282,000 98.0% 21.0% Jacksonville, Fla. $154,000 57.4% N.A. Dayton/Springfield, Ohio $135,000 15.1% 0.3% Fresno $243,000 129.1% N.A. Tucson $179,000 46.6% 8.5% Albuquerque $146,000 13.3% 1.4% Knoxville $121,000 27.3% 7.0% Bakersfield, Calif. $195,000 114.1% N.A. Toledo $124,000 19.7% 0.6% Youngstown/Warren, Ohio $90,000 15.0% 1.8% Springfield, Mass. $182,000 64.1% 10.5% Sarasota/Bradenton $229,000 83.5% 17.0% Stockton/Lodi, Calif. $370,000 126.9% 21.8% Daytona Beach, Fla. $153,000 79.9% 22.0% Lakeland/Winter Haven, Fla. $133,000 46.5% 9.8% Johnson City/Kingsport/Bristol (Tenn./Va.) $90,000 16.2% 4.8% Lansing/East Lansing $134,000 33.0% 2.9% Modesto, Calif. $305,000 140.5% 15.2% Fort Myers/Cape Coral, Fla. $124,000 92.1% 15.1% Canton/Massillon, Ohio $129,000 16.7% 2.2% Salinas, Calif. $526,000 136.2% N.A. Santa Barbara/Santa Maria/Lompoc $445,000 147.9% N.A. Visalia/Tulare/Porterville, Calif. $190,000 86.1% N.A. Fort Pierce/Port St. Lucie, Fla. $280,000 99.8% 13.7% New London/Norwich, Conn. $226,000 71.9% 6.3% Naples, Fla. $300,000 109.3% 22.4% San Luis Obispo/Atascadero/Paso Robles, Calif. $475,000 137.7% 11.3% Merced, Calif. $270,000 126.2% 16.6% Clarksville/Hopkinsville (Tenn./Ky.) $95,000 15.3% 4.2% Chico/Paradise, Calif. $250,000 119.6% 15.2% Burlington, Vt. $226,000 62.7% 7.8% Barnstable/Yarmouth, Mass. $369,000 115.7% 5.6% Punta Gorda, Fla. $154,000 98.1% 17.5% Pittsfield, Mass. $165,000 57.8% 11.1% NOTES: Data as of 2004 unless otherwise noted. N.A.: Not applicable or not available. SOURCES: Fiserv CSW, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Housing and Development, National Association of Realtors. «top» The Hot List Most profitable renovations How risky is your 401(k)? 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