In today’s real estate market, it can be a scary investment to purchase a home, especially if you feel like you failed the first time around. I know dozens of people who purchased homes years ago during the real estate boom, and eventual crash. People were left with a defeatist attitude and wondered if they would or could ever own another home again. And quite frankly, being a homeowner became less and less attractive to them. It seems that as of late, there has been a shift and a more optimistic outlook on the housing market and those same foreclosure victims appear to have a fighting chance at owning a home again. More options are available to them that provide more of a safety net and opportunity for success this time around.
As of October of 2014, the average rate for a fifteen year fixed-rate mortgage has dipped to its lowest level since June 2013, at 3.08%, according to Freddie Mac’s weekly survey. This is a tenth of a percentage point lower than less than a month ago, and down from 3.36% earlier this month. Rates for 30-year loans have also decreased 0.05 percent at 3.92%. For existing homeowners with mortgages only a few years old, borrowers can switch their existing thirty year loans for a new 15-year loan at the current rate. These homeowners would be able to afford slightly higher monthly mortgages but save more money long term in interest by cutting the term of the loan in half.
It is predicted that the latest international turmoil has assisted in this
However, hope might be on the horizon for the victims of the mortgage disaster of 2007/2008. Home buyers who were foreclosed upon years ago, or boomerang buyers, are beginning to be eligible to buy homes again. While some feel hope after feeling bamboozled by lenders and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, some feel anxious and fearful of the thought of buying again. Yet there are lessons that have been learned by the mortgage meltdown. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac provided a lesson for the
Seeing other people reactions towards foreclosure helps me to develop a meaningful value of life and how to appreciate it everyday of my life. As I see what is going on around me I came up with three plans that can be executed to help all people who are dealing with foreclosure issues. This can become a major factor for the economy. One is called Own A Home , Financially Fit, and Bills To Kill. These are guaranteed plans that will help any individual that feels that they are not financially secured to become a homeowner. The Own A Home program is designed for aspiring homeowner in which they
Why would these Boomerang Buyers want to jump back into homeownership and at what cost would they “buy” another home? It’s understood that the American Dream of homeownership runs deep in the American belief system. Even people who have experienced foreclosure in the past, still dream of owning another home of their own even BEFORE they move from the foreclosed home. Why is this so important to Americans? The answer is partly based on marketing and myths that have been around for many years. The ability for one to create a pathway back to homeownership is varied and like many things, has potholes along the road. From predatory lenders to landlords who participate in rent to own or owner financing
The housing crisis of the late 2000s rocked the economy and changed the landscape of the real estate business for years to come. Decades of people purchasing houses unfordable houses and properties with lenient loans policies led to a collective housing bubble. When the banking system faltered and the economy wilted, interest rates were raised, mortgages increased, and people lost their jobs amidst the chaos. This all culminated in tens of thousands of American losing their houses to foreclosures and short sales, as they could no longer afford the mortgage payments on their homes. The United States entered a recession and homeownership no longer appeared to be a feasible goal as many questioned whether the country could continue to support a middle-class. Former home owners became renters and in some cases homeless as the American Dream was delayed with no foreseeable return. While the future of the economy looked bleak, conditions gradually improved. American citizens regained their jobs, the United States government bailed out the banking industry, and regulations were put in place to deter such events as the mortgage crash from ever taking place again. The path to homeowner ship has been forever altered, as loans in general are now more difficult to acquire and can be accompanied by a substantial down payment.
The United States will always recall autumn of 2008 as a time of financial terror, and rightly so. After the stock market crash, millions of Americans, previously unaware of the brewing crisis, lost their businesses, their jobs, and their homes. Even now, we still are in a period of recovery from the economic turmoil of that year.
The foreclosure crisis that took over the United States a few years ago left many people facing economic hardships. This crisis happened because there was a huge housing bubble that was unsupported by actual home values. The bubble began bursting in spring of 2008 and the crisis culminated in mid-2009. Many lenders went out of business and many home owners began losing their homes. When the government became aware of this problem and began to implement new programs, it was already too late for many homeowners. Those homeowners are not at a point where they might be considering buying a new home. The housing crisis has created new rules, regulations governing the mortgage industry, and has also created a new agency dedicated to consumer protection. This consumer protection agency is called the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau. These dramatic changes have helped to create more responsible lending. The improving market conditions such as low housing costs and competitive interest rates are allowing those affected by a foreclosure to become homeowners again. Prospective buyers have a multitude of programs available to them, so even those with less than clean slate have several options.
The economic decline has possible home buyers, especially first time home buyers, scared to invest anything into the housing market. With the fear of another depression in the back of everyone's minds, some businesses are attempting to clarify the pros of home ownership.
The desire for home ownership is something embedded in our DNA. Claiming property and owning a house is a critical part of the “American Dream.” Home ownership represents more than just a place to rest your head at night. Your home is the environment that serves as a setting for your journey through life. It’s the place of your children’s first steps, family birthdays, barbeques, amongst many other significant events. Your home is the backdrop that describes you and your family. Although many American’s were financially hurt by the trillions lost in the home equity market during the housing bubble, there is and will always be a desire to own a home. The most vital part is that American’s who lost their homes during the crash, learn from their past, so that they do not repeat a foreclosure.
I often used to watch a show called “Extreme Makeover” where a team of builders would come to a neighborhood, build a need worthy family a beautiful new home, and then just give it to them. “Wow! What a lucky family,” I would say. “How fortunate.” However, as time went by, that same family would be in the news again. Why? The house was in foreclosure. The people had gone to the bank and taken out a mortgage against the home, then spent all the money they got for it on other things.
potential homeowners to purchase their own homes. Loans that had at one point been impossible
When the Stock Market crashed in the late 2000s, millions were forced to leave their homes by means of foreclosure. Now, after many hardships, the economy is on the rise; and the housing market is making a comeback. Its previous victims are beginning to recover and start fresh in this young economy. The low interest rates and surplus of homes have made the once expensive houses more affordable to those who are seeking to restart. Although these “boomerang buyers” are able to afford these homes, their past record of foreclosure has hurt their credit score which makes it difficult to acquire loans in this cautious market. However, there are several steps such people can take and many methods they can
Brooklyn, NY – December 30, 2009 Foreclosures continue to rise drastically across the United States due to the recession, and have effected, and continue to affect thousands of families and individuals every day. One aspect we must take into consideration is that most people are not informed of what foreclosure means, or the process, even those who are homeowners. I believe that one step to preventing foreclosure is to educate first-time homebuyers. In addition, first-time homebuyer programs should not only assist potential buyers with financially preparing them to buy a home, but to keep the home once
Since the foreclosure I have thought long and hard about trying to buy another house and what would my steps I would take. However, the thoughts of foreclosure have loomed over my head and made me have my doubts about ever being a homeowner ever again. Foreclosure is a very scary thing and to be honest at times it is a very embarrassing moment of your life. It’s not something that you want to announce to the world and sometimes the stresses of dealing with the foreclosure is too much. I have known people who have given up all hopes after going through a foreclosure. Having a foreclosure on your credit report is very discouraging especially after knowing that you fought so hard to try to keep your house being foreclosed.
After increasing my own financial awareness and witnessing the financial journeys of others during the past recession, I find that boomerang buyers should not consider purchasing a home as their sole financial investment. Mortgages with ballooning payments mixed with hopes of future refinancing are a dangerous combination. These factors precipitated the last housing bubble and the eventual recession period. In order to learn from past behavior, home buyers should ensure that they habitually save for a “rainy day fund” because financial rainy days have proven to be cyclical. Purchasing a home should be a process that results in a buyer feeling comfortable with the home they choose versus simply selecting the largest mortgage for which they
Establish Credibility: According to US News, the great American dream of owning a home appears poised for a comeback. Real estate company Trulia reports that in many parts of the country, rents are rising while housing prices are falling, making buying a home more affordable. Trulia found that in 98 out of 100 major metropolitan areas, including Detroit, Atlanta, and Cleveland, buying has become more affordable than renting.” I think the mortgage catastrophe of 2001 left prospective home buyers afraid of buying a house without being extremely certain that is the right decision.