Author: Cierra Taylor

Fixed-Rate and Adjustable Rate Mortgages are the two most common loan options. An adjustable-rate mortgage, also known as an ARM, is a mortgage loan option in which the interest rate adjusts throughout the life of the loan. The rate remains consistent for a specific period of time, then will increase or decrease depending on the market at a specified interval, usually 5-10 years. This means that your rate will change every 5-10 years for the life of the loan.
 A Fixed Rate Mortgage is set at one rate and remains the same throughout the life of the loan. Traditionally, fixed-rate loans have a life of 10, 15, and 30 years. Although, there are untraditional options in between depending on the lender.

 These two loan options are very different and it’s important to know when each of these options makes the most sense for you. When the market is favorable, homeowners can take advantage and secure a great rate for an extended period of time with a fixed-rate mortgage. There’s no need to wonder how the market and your rate may shift down the road. It can be the safer option with more stability. In today’s markets with rates so low, many homeowners have chosen this loan option. One downside is if the market improves and there are lower rates available, the only way to take advantage is to refinance your home again. For some, this defeats the purpose of locking in a 30-year mortgage. In today’s market with record low fixed rates, a market shift downward is less of a concern. Although you can secure a great rate on a fixed mortgage, ARMs usually have favorable rates, but there’s a catch. As stated before, your ARM is only locked in for a set period and that isn’t always a good thing. Even if you can secure a better rate initially than you would have with a fixed mortgage, there’s a chance your ARM may adjust to a higher rate, leaving you in an unexpected and tough situation with higher expenses. There’s always the option to refinance if your rate increases, but there’s no telling if the market will offer desirable financing and you may get stuck with a higher rate. However, there are times when an ARM makes the most sense. For someone focusing on their short-term goals, an ARM is ideal. Most people who secure an ARM loan are not looking to stay in their loan for its entirety and will likely refinance in the near future. This is a great way to secure a low rate on your property but one must understand this is usually not an ideal long-term position.

 There are many questions one must ask themselves before deciding between a fixed or an adjustable mortgage. Determine how long you want to remain in your loan and your home. If you are planning on refinancing again in a couple of years because you have a child going off to college and need to take cash out, it may make the most sense to stick with an ARM for a lower payment. Assess your needs and goals. If you want to sell your house in the next five years, the possibility of an increased adjustable rate is not a concern because you don’t plan on staying in your loan. If you started your family in your dream home and plan to stick around for a while, locking in a long-term, consistent rate could make the most financial sense and be easier to budget for in the long run. These are all things to think about in order to make a decision that’s best for you and your family. If you have a financial planner, seek their advice. They have the best idea of your financial position and goals and would be the ideal person to seek advice from.

Although mortgage rates are at record lows, demand for homes creates a new challenge in 2021. This year has seen a large increase in demand for homes fueled by historic low rates. Now the average home buyer needs to offer ABOVE asking price, often by 10’s of thousands of dollars. Inventory is dwindling while prices and competition climb. Buyers have to prepare for the highly competitive market. But how? 

In a world where offers above asking are turned down and a dozen offers are made on a single property, buyers must put their best foot forward at all times to stand a chance. That means making a strong first offer. Depending on the market where one is buying, there may not be a chance to counteroffer. Buyers should give a solid initial offer. Yes, that may mean above asking. Today, the average house sells above asking.

Buyers should be prepared to offer above asking and get pre-approved beforehand. Because agents have a surplus of applicants, they won’t spend their time with buyers who aren’t already preapproved. One must show they are a serious buyer. This will save both the buyers and the agent time and energy. The offer should be clean. This includes avoiding seller concessions and asking for personal property. There’s a high chance a similar offer is on the table. It will make a difference if one offer has contingencies and the other does not. 

As stated before, it is a good idea to come in strong right off that bat. This isn’t always the right strategy, but in today’s market, it’s essential. There will be other offers on the table for the seller to consider. It may be wise to add an escalation clause to your offer. This tells the seller that you plan to outbid other offers on the table. 

The other, more obvious factors that help buyers are a larger down payment or an all-cash offer. This may not be an option for everyone and you can still be selected without doing so as long as you make yourself a desirable candidate. 

Lastly, write a letter to the seller. For some, this makes all the difference in the world. Tell them all the things you love about the home. Take a page out of “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie. Flatter them on specific details you enjoy, whether it be the renovated kitchen or lovely garden. People take pride in their homes and if they know you notice the love and effort they put into it, it may give you a leg up to a similar offer. Tell them why you want them home, what it will mean for you and your family, and the memories that will be created there. Tell them about the love and effort YOU would put into the home. It can bring the seller peace knowing that you will take just as good care of it as they did. People hold sentimental value in their homes. Sharing a letter that resonates with the seller could end up being the final factor that lands you a home. 

Real estate investment is one of the greatest ways to build wealth today. Notice how I said build. It doesn’t happen overnight, and it takes a lot of hard work, research, and experience to understand the difference between a good and bad real estate investment. However, when done correctly, it is a very lucrative way to diversify your portfolio and produce passive income. One of the major benefits of investing in real estate is freedom and flexibility. It is a source of income, it could be your only source, where you work for yourself. You get to pick and choose what areas and projects to focus your time and energy on. That is, of course, if there aren’t other investors you’ve teamed up with. That being said, if you are going to find a partner or two, make sure they are like-minded individuals. Too often deals go south when partners no longer see eye to eye. It is not a bad idea to team up with someone to share some of the costs and liabilities even though you may lose some of your freedom in decision-making. Maintaining and operating rental properties is also a time-sucking ordeal. That is why, more times than not, investors choose to hire management companies to deal with the day-to-day responsibilities of managing your properties and tenants. It is a cost worth making if it means time is freed up to pursue other endeavors. One of the nice things about owning real estate is that it appreciates as time goes on. A well-managed, up-to-date property in a desirable area only becomes more and more profitable. Owning property provides a long-term return and you can take advantage of all the tax deductions that come along with it. Real estate investing is not get rich quick scheme. It takes time and long-term costs, to manage and profit.