Phoenix homes
FHA loan costs to buy Phoenix Homes for Sale Rise
Homes for sale in Chandler, Gilbert and Mesa AZ are popular
FHA Loan Costs Increase – But best loan for many Phoenix Home Buyers
As of 4/18/2011 FHA loan costs are going to be higher because FHA has increased the monthly Mortgage Insurance Premium .25% to 1.15% of the outstanding loan balance divided by 12. The Up Front Mortgage Insurance Premium(UFMIP) had been reduced to 1% 0f the loan amount to help “cash strapped” buyers qualify and remains unchanged. Since many home buyers finance the UFMIP, the initial loan balance can be computed by increasing the principal loan amount 1% after deducting the 3.5% minimum down payment for the examples below.
February 2011 Average Sales Price by City:
Chandler Homes for sale AZ sold for $197,993 and the FHA monthly MIP cost will increase $40.16 to $184.75.
Gilbert Homes for sale AZ sold for $189,113 and the FHA monthly MIP cost will increase $38.02 to $176.64
Mesa Homes for sale AZ sold for$139,072 and the FHA monthly MIP cost will increase $28.24 to $129.90
Phoenix homes for sale sold 125,313 and the FHA monthly MIP cost will increase $25.20 to $117.05.
Tempe homes for sale sold for $164,821 and the FHA monthly MIP cost will increase $33.47 to $153.95.
Scottsdale homes for sale AZ sold for $459,695 and that is well above the maximum FHA loan amount. Therefore a conventional loan would be more appropriate.
As the loan is paid down, the MMIP will continue to decrease until the remaining loan balance is 78% of the original loan balance. At that time you may request the MMIP payments be terminated, providing you have owned the home at least 5 years.
While everyone would prefer not pay more to own a home, FHA MMIP is tax deductible.
Contact Sam Elam (480.213.1799) to help you purchase one of the homes for sale in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, East Phoenix, Scottsdale or Queen Creek. Rates remain low, but there is a lot of competition for the best homes. Don’t miss out. I am an Associate Broker with 21 years of buyer representation experience and I look forward to working with you soon.
Sam Elam - Associate Broker specializing in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa and Phoenix real estate and homes for sale AZ.
Phoenix Investors Stabilize Home Prices
Even in this depressed Phoenix real estate market, investors see the value of owning homes in Phoenix area including Chandler Arizona houses and Gilbert homes AZ for sale. As the number of bank-owned REO homes have increased, investors, recognizing the long term value of Phoenix homes, have stepped up to buy REOs in record numbers and help to stabilize Mesa home prices.
Rents are strong and returns from real estate far exceed what an investor is paid on their cash in a bank account. Fixed income investment have disappointed many investors, even though they have performed better than the equity market. Secure your future and invest in real estate today as you invest in the future of our Arizona communities, too.
Long term prospect for homes in Phoenix for sale are very good. Phoenix has been #1 or #2 in job growth for years before falling off the high growth list. But demand to move here and live in our warm climate remains strong and it’s only a matter of time before employment and high growth rates return again. When that happens tenants, who lost their homes through foreclosure, will be able to buy and patient investors will be able to sell their rentals for big profits. It’s a win-win for everybody. Want to know other reasons why Phoenix investment real estate is a smart buy? Contact Sam Elam today to discuss them.
Read more about Phoenix real estate investor successes.
Sam Elam - Associate Broker specializing in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa and Phoenix real estate and homes for sale AZ.FORECLOSURES MAY CAUSE RENTS TO RISE FOR PHOENIX HOMES
In Foreclosure Crisis – Demand for Single Family Homes in Phoenix rises, Arizona Republic article May 3, 2010 reports there has been a 40% drop in desirable rental homes in the Phoenix, Arizona metro area. The high demand for these homes is due in part to the significant number of those loosing their Phoenix homes by foreclosure. Phoenix area apartment complexes still are having a tough time attracting tenants, but rental agencies managing Phoenix single family homes have waiting lists. A year ago, investors were buying a few thousand Phoenix homes each month and turning them into rentals. But now, lenders are holding on to more of their foreclosed Phoenix homes while they work on a backlog of delinquent mortgages. If this trend continues, average Phoenix rents will rise.
Contact Sam Elam, Associate Broker with Prudential Arizona Properties for more information or visit http://www.SamElam.com
Sam Elam - Associate Broker specializing in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa and Phoenix real estate and homes for sale AZ.Phoenix Homes Sales Soar in March 2010
PHOENIX HOMES SALES SOAR IN MARCH 2010
Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) data shows March 2010 Phoenix Homes Sales of 8969 properties is a 39% increase over February 2010 sales numbers and a 19% increase over sales a year ago during March 2009! We’re not “out of the woods” yet, but indicators point to an improving Phoenix real estate market.
OTHER GOOD NEWS
The number of Traditional (non-distressed) Sales of Phoenix homes matched the number of sales of REO or Foreclosed Phoenix homes with each representing 40% of March sales. Short sales lagged at 20% of Sales.
This indicates buyers are looking for homes that are a very good value and are salable – as the tax credit deadline of April 30, 2010 deadline to have the property in escrow rapidly approaches.
Phoenix Average and Median Home Sales Prices increased slightly and remain above where they were when the Phoenix real estate market bottomed out in the Spring of 2009.
Builders continue to build new homes since buyers are willing to pay a substantial premium to purchase a brand new home. As a result, the number of actively selling new home subdivisions reversed direction and have increased modestly and so have the number of Spec homes being built in anticipation of buyer purchases.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT?
If the jobs market stabilizes and starts to improve, buyer demand for homes remains strong after the tax incentives expire this month, interest rates remain low since the government stopped buying mortgage backed securities in March, lenders don’t saturate our resale market with foreclosed REO properties, and Freddie Mac/Fannie Mae and responsible banks continue to rehab foreclosed homes before putting them up for sale, we should continue to see an improving Phoenix real estate market. That’s a lot of “ifs”. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens next month. Stay tuned!
Sam Elam, ABR, CRS, GRI, e-PRO, Associate Broker, Prudential Arizona Properties http://www.SamElam.com
Sam Elam - Associate Broker specializing in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa and Phoenix real estate and homes for sale AZ.FHA Home Loan Costs to buy Phoenix Homes for Sale Increase
FHA Loan Policy Changes impact loan acquisition costs by reducing the maximum amount of buyer closing costs a seller can pay on behalf of the buyers from 6% to 3% of the total sales price. At the same time FHA is increasing the up-front Mortgage Insurance Premium from 1.75% to 2.25% of the loan amount to be paid at close of escrow or rolled into the new home loan. If approved, FHA will also consider increasing the annual MIP payment. Details to follow upon approval of their recommendation.
FHA is qualifying buyers based upon their FICO score to the extent that those with a FICO score below 580 are eligible for a 90% LTV loan with the minimum down payment increased from 3.5% to 10%. Read the new FHA Loan Policy for more details.
These policy changes show the U.S. government is no longer willing to make what they perceive to be higher risk loans at very favorable loan terms. With the rampant loan defaults and huge amount of government deficit spending, loan interest rates will eventually rise.
Those buyers waiting for the opportune time to buy have already missed their chance. The Phoenix real estate market bottomed out in March/April 2009 and average prices of Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale and Phoenix homes have gone up since.
If you continue to wait, you may be priced out of the market as higher loan costs and mortgage interest rates rise. Buy now to lock in a fixed rate loan that are historically very low levels and to take advantage of the First Time and Repeat Home Buyer tax credit (Up to $8000 and $6500, respectively) by contracting by April 30 and closing by June 30. This primer at explains New Home and Existing Home tax credits and how you can take advantage of them. Hurry before they expire. Call Sam Elam for assistance with your next home purchase.
For assistance with the purchase of one of our homes in Chandler, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Mesa or Tempe contact:
Sam Elam, Associate Broker, Prudential Arizona Properties, (480) 213-1799 or SamElam3@gmail.com
Additional buyer resource information and MLS access visit: Phoenix homes for sale – Phoenix real estate & investments
Sam Elam - Associate Broker specializing in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa and Phoenix real estate and homes for sale AZ.Categories
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