March 29, 2009

Mortgage Rates at Record Low

Never have 30-year fixed mortgage rates been so low since the government started keeping records of the rates in 1971: 4.63%!  So I had to post this information in case you have not heard….

This is a window of opportunity which length is impossible to predict.  If you are adamant about staying in your current home and love it, you owe it to yourself to inquire today about refinancing your existing mortgage and whether or not it would be cost effective in your situation.

If you have ever thought about upgrading to a larger home, the best time to do so is in a Buyer’s Market:  lots of inventory to choose from, builders in distress, occasional foreclosures and did I already mention 4.63%?  Some of you are worried about not making as much selling your existing home.  Whatever savings you achieve on your dream home will more than compensate for the “loss” on the smaller house:  you will certainly come out better than if you decide to wait for a Seller’s Market to upgrade to a larger home, and pay top dollars for it.  Ask me about a list of Best Buys in your price range, in the area you wish to target.     

Are you leasing right now and have not owned a home in the last 3 years?  You can also get an $8,000 tax credit and use those funds as a down payment on a home (ask me about the details).  This is the best market for First Time Homebuyers: Tons of choices, good deals and did I say 4.63%?

 

In addition, if you ever dreamed of generating passive income from rental properties, I believe there are more opportunities now to create positive cash flow with the low rates. 

Smart buyers are looking NOW.  I am truly enjoying helping people position themselves to win in the long run4.63%….  I would love to help you also, or anyone you know.

December 6, 2008

Interest Rates Update from Jennifer Hernandez

This is a contribution by Jennifer Hernandez:

Merry Christmas….oh, is it not Christmas yet? I thought the 4.875% 30 Fixed I saw this morning was Santa’s gift to me for being such a good girl this year. Then it vanished into thin air hours later, and we are at 5.25% . We should be careful what we wish for.  Rates are extremely low, but the economy is in the tanker. There are so many things making the yields (rates) of bonds go down on a daily basis. Remember that yields/rates down means prices are up. Prices up means that there is more demand for bonds. This happens when investors lose confidence in stocks, and they buy more bonds. For the mortgage coupons these days, no one seems to know what they are buying. The spreads between buying a point are unreal, anywhere from .500% – .750%. Never in 14 years have I seen that much of a spread. So save your money to buy that point down, otherwise, you will be paying dearly in the interest rate.

 

Some headlines for you, that affect the market in every way: Foreclosures have risen in every state in the nation (out just hours ago), foreclosures are forecasted to double in 09, California is on the verge of literally running out of money (all of Arnolds muscle flexing and charm means nothing now!), car giants are folding, we are officially in a recession (since Dec 07- ya think?), major corporate layoffs, terrorist attacks in Mumbai, changing regime in USA for the presidency, and to top all this off, there are pirates attacking ships off the coast of Somalia. Pirates? Are we living in some fairy tale now? Some days it sure feels like it.

 

But let’s look at the bright side! Gas is under $2.00/gallon, every consumer product imaginable is on sale, cars prices are rock bottom, and we have a new President that has given hope to the country, and seems like the world. There are right this very minute, 4,000 job openings in the Texas Medical Center that need to be filled. Houston is adding jobs! The Medical Center led us through the 80’s, and it will lead us through this, I can assure you.

 

I had a thought this week that should solve our country’s problems: why don’t we use part of lottery winnings to finance these bail outs!? The mega jackpot was $146 million! Who needs that kind of money anyway?

 

Have a great weekend! 

JENNIFER HERNANDEZ

Jennifer Hernandez

Vice President/Mortgage Consultant

Patriot Bank Mortgage

Office:    713-337-8400

Mobile:   713-446-7791

E-mail:    jennifer@patriotbankusa.com

Web:      www.loanwithjennifer.com