Why You Should Be Honest on Your Mortgage Application

News Source: http://www.canadianmortgageupdates.ca

 As Posted in Realty Biz News

Your income is an important part of your mortgage loan application, and lenders do require specific documentation before deciding to fund you. This includes income tax returns for the past two years, or two years’ worth of corporate tax returns if you are self-employed.

The only exception to this rule is if you are refinancing using a government loan, as in this case it might not be necessary to provide any income documentation. This all seems pretty clear-cut, but an article in aol.com points out there are a few different circumstances where people may decide to omit their income from their mortgage application.

If you are a self-employed borrower then you’ll definitely need to show two years of tax returns which include corporate returns if applicable. Nowadays federal lending requirements don’t allow lenders to choose which income years to use when deciding if you qualify for a mortgage. This means if you had one poor year followed by one exceptionally good year, then they cannot simply ignore the bad year as they will need to take a 24 month average of your income. If you have not disclosed income this also might raise red flags to a lender. They are going to want to know why you are trying to hide income so it’s far better to come clean as this will enable you to get a mortgage.

All cash deposits to your bank account that aren’t part of your normal income must be included and fully documented if you intend to apply for government financing. If you have taken on an additional job in order to save more money, then you’ll need to explain where these additional funds came from. If you are applying for a conventional loan then your lender must be able to source and document any cash deposits that are more than 20% of your monthly income.

If you have a joint application for a mortgage then it’s worth considering which of you has the stronger chance of qualifying. Conventional mortgage lenders are able to take just one borrower’s financial information into account, but it is different for government loans where the debt of one borrower can negatively impact the primary borrower.

The bottom line is that mortgage lenders are looking for borrowers who are able to support mortgage payments. Most will want the mortgage payment and other debt to account for no more than 43% of your income, although occasionally this figure may go as high as 55%.

Thoughts on Real Estate Investing

News Source: http://www.consolidatemydebts.ca/

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a novice investor there are fundamentals that you should always be paying attention to when investing in real estate. The fundamentals for beginners may be second nature to experienced investors but they aren’t to the beginner. The beginner needs to keep these in mind every step in the process of making his or her first purchase and sale.

Money can be made in any type of real estate market but it takes different strategies that change on a regular basis. There are two basic investment strategies. One is to buy and hold as rentals and the other buy and flip as quickly as possible. Within those two basic strategies are many other options. Today, one of the better buy and hold strategies is the lease option where you hold for a few years but have a plan to sell to the renter at a future date. For those wanting to flip houses, being able to owner finance them (even using other people’s money) is a great strategy. Both of these strategies are working well today because of the tough lending qualifications and because so many people have damaged credit scores coming out of the recession.

Real Estate Investing for Beginners

First and foremost, have an exist strategy. Never buy a house just because you can get it at a good discount. Know exactly what you are going to do with it once you own it. It’s also preferable to have a plan “B” and a plan “C”. Once you have an exit strategy, join an investment club if you haven’t already. Decide on a couple of experienced members that you trust and possibly use the exit strategy you’ve decided on. Invite them to lunch. Explain your strategy to them and ask them to punch as many holes in it as they can. Use the information you learn to improve your plan.

Expert advice for beginners is invaluable. An example of a big mistake one beginner was advised not to make involved a double lot. The beginner had found a double lot at a deep discount in a lower to middle income subdivision. He saw a huge opportunity to buy the lot and then go through the permit process to subdivide it with the intention of more than doubling his investment by selling two individual lots at retail. When he discussed his plan with an expert, the expert suggested that before making the purchase he first look into his ability to subdivide the property. When the beginner did, he learned that it could not be subdivided because of a wildlife habitat issue. The only use the property was suitable for was building a small mansion in the middle of low-end neighborhood. Obviously not a good investment strategy.

Real Estate Investing for the Experienced

If you’re at the top of your game, the best thing you can do to stay there is remain humble. Lack of humility is the biggest problem any businessperson can cause for them self. People simply don’t like doing business with someone that is arrogant. The best deals won’t be made available to you. When you do find a decent deal, negotiations won’t go in your favor when you portray yourself as always coming out on top. Stay humble and you’ll do much better.

Being humble includes offering your experience and knowledge to beginners and others less experienced than yourself. Don’t think of them as competitors and blow off their requests for help. There are plenty of deals for everyone. Occasionally, taking the time to thoroughly think through the strategic basics will also help keep you at the top of your game.

Visa Changes Should Help Chinese Buy US Property

News Source: http://www.consolidatemydebts.ca

Investment in US real estate from overseas buyers could increase dramatically next year due to changes to the reciprocal US/China visa agreement. Students can be issued with five year multiple entry visas, while business travelers and tourists can be issued with ten year multiple entry visas.

These changes took effect earlier this month, and should make it easier for Chinese who wish to invest in US property. Often Chinese parents will purchase a home for children studying abroad, and the five year visa will also help students on a four year degree course.  Chinese investors who are currently undecided about purchasing US property should find these new changes encouraging.

According to the article in RisMedia, these changes could bring about a 15% increase in Chinese investment next year. Data from the NAR 2013 Profile of International Home Buying Activity shows the fastest-growing source of International clients has been from China and Canada. Real estate purchases by Chinese buyers have accounted for 12% of international transactions, and many of these are paid for in cash. Apparently Chinese buyers tend to look for property in the highest average price range and will pay cash around 70% of the time. Buyers have an average budget of $3 million and the median property purchase price is $425,000. This is much higher than the US median of $199,500. Popular areas for real estate investment by Chinese purchasers include Houston, Detroit, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and New York City.

Experts also point out that these recent changes to visas provide an opportunity for real estate agents as international buyers tend to greatly appreciate the knowledge and assistance conveyed by real estate agents. It’s not always necessary to be fluent in the overseas buyer’s native language. Home sellers may also prefer to find a real estate agent who markets their listings in China, as this is the fastest growing group of overseas buyers and could mean a quicker or better transaction for the seller. Real estate agents are also being advised to make international marketing part of their weekly business plan.

It’s thought that the extension of the student visa could have more impact on the US housing market than the changes to the business traveler and tourist visas, as a considerable number of Chinese students are educated in American schools. Even though every Chinese investor is in a slightly different situation, most will have an underlying belief in the US real estate market.

Deciding What to Do With the House after Divorce

News Source: http://firstmortgagerates.ca

Divorce can be painful enough, but it can be worse when you are faced with losing your home at the same time. Finding a suitable replacement can be tricky, particularly if you don’t have a good credit rating and have less income coming in.

It can be a difficult time, but an article in realtybiznews.com points out there are things you can do to help get a new mortgage, and explains what you can reasonably expect. The first thing to do is to decide if you want your name or your ex’s name off the mortgage, depending on the circumstances. If you intend to buy your own property and your ex is still living in the marital home then ideally they need to take over the mortgage in their name only. This will increase your chances of being able to get your own mortgage.

However this might not always be possible, particularly if this is your family home and they can’t refinance the loan on their own. In this case you might need to leave your name on the mortgage for a while, while your ex and kids still live there. This is incredibly common, especially in cases where one partner has worked part-time or not at all in order to look after a young family. It can sometimes be better to agree a time frame where the kids and your ex are able to remain in the home, perhaps until they go to college.

If you do decide to choose this option it is important to agree in advance how the profits will be divided once the house is finally sold. This might not necessarily be an equal split as it is likely one ex-partner will be making a more significant financial  contribution to mortgage payments and maintenance for the home. Not surprisingly this choice only tends to work well if the ex who left the old marital home has sufficient funds to buy a new home of their own in the meantime.

Apparently it is also not a good idea to buy a new home while divorce proceedings are on-going. This is because there could still be question marks over the amount of alimony and child support payments, and some people have lost money on house purchases after being unable to get credit from lenders under these circumstances.  If one of you is unable to buy immediately then you are faced with having to live together a bit longer, which is becoming far more common, or with renting an apartment near the family home until the dust has settled.

Things to Think About When Purchasing a Home

News Source: http://firstmortgagerates.ca

Purchasing a home is the largest financial decision most of us will make so it’s important to do your due diligence. Things to take into consideration include the type of property you can afford, and which neighborhood will be best for you.

It’s important to consider every point very carefully and to resist making an emotional decision that you may regret later on down the line. One thing that does need to be addressed is what will happen if you lose your job, as if you believe it may be at risk in the foreseeable future, it might not be the right time to purchase a home. You’ll find mortgage lenders are not sympathetic towards missed payments and it’s best to only buy a home when you are confident you will be able to afford the monthly payments for the foreseeable future and feel your job is secure.

When you do purchase a home, it’s best if you plan to stay there for several years to try to recoup the costs, and the article in aol.com has a link to a calculator that can help you determine the breakeven point on your home purchase compared to renting. This will show you whether or not you should continue renting a home for the time being. Buying a property might also not be a good idea if you intend to move cities or think there is a possibility of doing so in the future, perhaps for a job. It can be difficult to sell a home at short notice without incurring large losses.

If you’re thinking about buying a home with a partner then have a good think about the stability of the relationship. If there is the possibility you could split in the future then it might be best to buy on your own, or to delay until you feel surer about the long term prospects with your partner.

Also think about your current level of debt. If you have a high debt ratio it might not be the right time to make such a large financial commitment. As a general rule of thumb, if your expenses come to more than 50% of your monthly income you probably wouldn’t be able to get a mortgage in any case, and even if you could secure a loan it would be at a higher interest rate which may end up costing you thousands of dollars over the entire loan. Instead it’s better to think about paying down your debts before purchasing a home.

Interior Design Tips For Any Home And Any Budget For Rented Homes

Article Source: http://www.consolidatemydebts.ca

Interior design can bring so much more to your home that you probably had expected when you had originally imagined when you purchased it. The great thing is that everyone has what it takes to make their home the home of their dreams if they are willing to put in the effort. If that person is you, you should read the article that follows.

Start your interior design project with a mood board. A mood board is a large cardboard display with different ideas for a room pasted on to it and written on it. You can get ideas from magazines, online and from television shows. The board will give you a visual of your own style, and help you to design a room that fits your taste.

Figure out what mood you're trying to set and use that as the basis for your color choices. If you want it to be relaxing or calming, consider using light and cool colors like blues and greens. Your color choices and your choice of furniture should all be based on what you're trying to accomplish with the look and feel of the room.

Use your own photos as artwork. As a cheaper and more personal way to adorn your walls, use photos that you've taken. Either have prints made and frame them or use one of the many photo-to-canvas providers to have your photo made into a gallery canvas. If you are more tech-savvy, you can alter your photos in software to make them look even more like artwork.

As you found above, there are many things that you need to consider when planning an interior design project. With all there is to think about, the key is knowing what there is to plan. At that is left is for you to get started on your project, keeping these tips in mind.

Purchasing, Renovating, Marketing, and Selling

News Source: http://firstmortgagerates.ca/

 A full time rehab investor needs to manage the four phases of every deal. Becoming a rehab millionaire means having at least 16 deals in work every month and maybe more. Four deals turning a $20,000 profit each month will bring in $960,000 each year. If you’re only turning two houses each year, you’re going to need to keep your day job. If you want to be a serious, full time, professional real estate investor, you shouldn’t be swinging a hammer or even licking envelopes, you need to be managing a team that is doing the work for you. The Million Dollar Pipeline There are four major categories to your million dollar real estate pipeline . You should have four properties in each category at any given time. During each month, you should be purchasing four houses, which immediately go into the rehab phase. On an average of once a week, you should have one property finishing rehab and going onto the market. At the same time, you should be collecting a paycheck approximately once a week as your investments are sold to both pay you and invest in the next project. The novice investor focuses all of his or her energy on one stage at a time. That’s an “onsie-twosie” investor. In other words, he or she may only do one or two deals in a given year. If that fits your goals then great! Go for it! But if you want to be a million dollar real estate investor, you’ll systematize the process to keep the pipeline full. You’ll have several projects going at the same time. Have a Plan Having four deals in each phase will be a full time job managing your own business. You’ll need a system to keep it organized. You’re going to need a plan. Decide on your target market. Decide on your target buyer. Decide your price level to flip it. Organize your tools. Get your spreadsheets together. Decide how much time you are going to dedicate to this business. Line up your funds. Raise the capital to do your deals. Start making offers! It all starts by putting the first deal together and then growing your business one deal at a time. Get started by finding some seed money and putting your effort into finding the right house to renovate. These are houses that sit on the market for months because the retail buyer wants a house that is already in “perfect” condition. Your job is taking the less than perfect house and turning it into the perfect house that retail buyers will pay you top dollar for. Of course, you will have competition. There will be others fixing and flipping houses. The houses you want, won’t actually sit on the market for months. The aggressive real estate investor has a constant eye on everything coming onto the market. Making fast, low-ball offers for less than desirable houses is one of the secrets to success. Patience is another part of being successful. Your low-ball offers probably won’t be accepted right away. But when retail buyers don’t show any interest, your offer will become more attractive to sellers that either won’t fix the house or can’t afford to. A couple of months later they come back showing interest in your low-ball offer. In summary, today is a great time to be in the fix and flip business. Just remember that it’s a means to an end. The income potential is very real. But in the end, it’s not only about the money. Once you have a system in place, the money will consistently roll in. You’ll have plenty of time to do, be, and have everything you want in life!