As American as apple pie, home ownership is a quintessential part of many American’s dream. Making this dream a reality requires hard work, perseverance, and an understanding of the housing market and loan options. It also requires a confidence in the economy and job market that many people justifiably do not have after a devastating housing crash. However, as our nation recovers from this crisis, we look ahead to new opportunities and safe loan standards for home ownership. “Like a boomerang,” a Sarasota Herald Tribune article describes “…recession-battered [boomerang buyers] are reentering the home market in droves after years of renting, nursing their credit and saving enough to buy again” (Salman). Both boomerang buyers and first time …show more content…
Understandably, these factors are affecting many potential new home buyers who feel home ownership may be too risky and potential boomerang buyers who feel little hope for owning again after foreclosure. What these potential buyers may not know is that the housing market is rapidly gaining strength and security and home loans are available to boomerang buyers in as little as twelve months. An article titled “Boomerang buyers could boost housing market” not only states that people reentering the housing market after a foreclosure or short sale are able to qualify for loans, but they are necessary for the continued stability of the market. The article also states that “Under the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) “Back to Work” program, it will approve certain borrowers for a home loan just one year after a foreclosure, short sale, deed in lieu of foreclosure or bankruptcy¬¬¬¬¬¬¬.” This time period has been reduced from two or three years for those individuals who lost their homes due to a job loss or other qualifying financial hardship (Miller). For potential new buyers, it is a great time to buy as interest rates are at a historic low. USA Today reports that buying a home is 44 percent cheaper in many major metro cities and with “interest
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
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 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.
There are some programs to help such as the Federal Housing Administration that gives people a second chance with a foreclosure or short sale of a home. Low interest rates and low down payments, it gives people another chance to become a homeowner again. The potential buyer still needs to cleanup their credit to make themselves worthy of another chance. Many of the former owners are renting, but still have desires and hopes of getting back into a home soon. This helps the housing market from the boomerang buyers, because they are moving out of rental units and back into homes.
When the housing bubble burst in 2007, 7.3 million borrowers lost their homes due to foreclosure or short sale. These “boomerang buyers” are slowly but surely recovering from financial setbacks and reentering the housing market. Conventional lenders have seasoning requirements that prevent buyers from obtaining a new mortgage until they have repaired their credit: a seven-year window for foreclosures and four years for short sales.
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
There were many people affected by the most recent recession and therefore forced to foreclose on their homes. Losing a home due to foreclosure leaves a big black eye on an individual’s credit score and forces these people to be patient until they are approved to rejoin the housing market. “Boomerang buyers” are a group of potential homeowners who are re-entering the housing market after losing their homes due to foreclosure.
Now enter the “Boomerang Buyer” (BB). This is a relatively new term that we are hearing more and more often. One of the newest trends in the Real Estate market today, is the reemergence of these gun-shy homebuyers. “Boomerang Buyers” are those people who lost their residence when the economy crashed due to reduced or loss of income or other unforeseen hardship and have since tried to re-build their credit, and save a down payment to re-enter the buyer’s market.
For those who had the unthinkable misfortune to lose their home and go through foreclosure, it isn’t the end. In fact, if they still dream of becoming homeowners again, it can happen. It may take a while, years in fact, but it can be done. The first thing a potential boomerang buyer (previous foreclosure victim in the process of transition to own property again) should do is to be educated on the recovery process after foreclosure. Foreclosure doesn’t necessarily begin the day you pack up, move, and turn over your keys to the bank. Foreclosure could literally take years after that. A foreclosure is listed on your credit report for seven years. It may be listed longer, but it can really only be held against you for that long. However, this doesn’t mean you have to wait seven years or longer after foreclosure to purchase property again. The time you have to wait will largely depend on the lender, the type of loan and your credit.
In reverse order, the first step is to overcome the lack of confidence that frequently results from loss of a home to foreclosure. The easiest way to overcome that lack of confidence is education. Boomerang buyers need to take full advantage of all resources available to them to learn as much as possible about the current credit and
A few years ago our country went into a foreclosure crisis. Millions of families lost their homes when the housing market crashed but now they are back. These buyers returning to the market are boomerang buyers. Currently there are now 729,000 household that were foreclosed during the bust that are now eligible for a mortgage. There are multiple strategies for buying a house after a foreclosure. In all of these strategies the families must be determined and hard working. The first is the rent to own option.
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
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.