Orlando Real Estate News Blog

Anyone looking to buy a home in Orlando, East Orlando or any of the surrounding communities such as Windermere, Winter Garden, Ocoee, Winter Park, Kissimmee, Saint CLoud, or Lake Nona please give me a call because I have some terrific deals. I found this photos recently and I Love it. So, the answer is NO it’s not real and don’t ask where you can find it.

However, I’m seeing short sales and foreclosures right now that are 1/2 price compared to only 3 years ago. I’m hearing people saying that we are not at the bottom and they’re going to wait. Well, very simply if you wait for another $10,000 – $20,000 break in price your thinking is wrong. Let me tell you why.

Interest rates is the answer. Interest rates will rise and trying to save $10-$20 thousand will be nothing compared to a 1/2 point to a point higher in interest rates. Do the math. When you’re done doing the math, give me a call and I’ll find you that perfect home at a huge price reduction at the lowest interest rate. Don’t wait for the media to say it’s turning around, because by then it’ll be too late and you’ve missed the bottom. So CALL TODAY! 407-580-7011

Jerry LaRose is an Orlando Area Residential Real Estate Expert, who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden Florida or any place in the country. Jerry has created a team of professionals throughout Orlando and the country to ensure that you enjoy a smooth transition to your new area. Please visit www.JerrySellsOrlando.com for your real estate needs, or visit OrlandoShortSaleExpert.com for information on Short sales and Pre Foreclosures.  Please give me a call if you have questions about the Orlando and Central Florida real estate market.

 Jerry LaRose, P.A., ABR, GRI, e-PRO, CLHMS, REALTOR® 407-580-7011

Fannie Mae, seeking to break the logjam in the housing crisis, loosened its loan restrictions for real estate investors and second homebuyers last week, issuing a new set of selling guidelines.

On February 6, 2009, Fannie Mae released Announcement 09-02, a five-page document that outlines the new rules for real estate investors who own multiple properties.

“Fannie Mae is committed to providing financing opportunities for high-credit quality, bona fide investors,” said Fannie, which accounts for 40 percent of the $12 trillion in U.S. residential mortgage debt. “Experienced investors play a key role in the housing recovery and Fannie Mae’s continued support for investor borrowers is consistent with its mission to provide stability, liquidity and affordability to the nation’s housing system.”

The new Fannie Mae guidelines allow investor and second home borrowers to qualify for Fannie-backed financing on up to 10 properties if they meet strict underwriting and delivery requirements outlined in Announcement 09-02. Previously, Fannie had a “four property rule.”

Other Fannie guidelines include:

Borrowers cannot have a history of bankruptcy or foreclosure within the last seven years.

When more than four properties are financed, the borrower must have a minimum credit score of 720.

There are also reserve requirements dependent on the type of property the borrower is purchasing.

Buyers have to have 25 percent down for a second home and 30 percent for an investment property.

The change is effective March 1, 2009. The requirements apply to any investment property or second home loan being delivered to Fannie Mae — regardless of whether Fannie is the investor on the borrower’s other mortgages.

For professional investors with multiple investment properties, these new Fannie Mae changes are good news. But the restrictions on loan to value (LTV) and cash reserves are tighter than in the past. Still, it allows investors to finance a large number of properties. Now we need Freddie Mac to make a similar move.

To download the policy guidance and get more information on qualifying and underwriting, go to: Announcement 09-02

Jerry LaRose is an Orlando Area Residential Real Estate Expert, who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden Florida or any place in the country. Jerry has created a team of professionals throughout Orlando and the country to ensure that you enjoy a smooth transition to your new area. Please visit www.JerrySellsOrlando.com for your real estate needs, or visit OrlandoShortSaleExpert.com for information on Short sales and Pre Foreclosures.  Please give me a call if you have questions about the Orlando and Central Florida real estate market.

 Jerry LaRose, P.A., ABR, GRI, e-PRO, CLHMS, REALTOR® 407-580-7011

If you’re facing Foreclosure…..

1. Do not pay doctor bills or credit card debt ahead of the mortgage. Keep mortgage payments current as possible.
2. Negotiate with your lender to restructure your mortgage. If the loan is guaranteed by a federal or state agency, the lender may be required to grant assistance, or provide other options, to avoid foreclosure.
3. Sell the house before it goes into foreclosure. If your mortgage is higher than the home’s market value, you may be able to persuade the lender to allow you to sell it for less and forgive the rest of the debt. (this is called a short sale)
4. If you’re about to lose your home, filing for bankruptcy can stop the foreclosure process and allow you more time to try to work out a plan to keep the home. Get legal advise from an attorney specializing in bankruptcy.

News You Need to Know for 2009 – FHA Short Sales Easier than Ever!

As if increased minimum wage laws and ultra-low interest rates weren’t good enough, short sale investors will be downright delirious to learn about changes to FHA laws set to begin in 2009. On December 24th, 2008 the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released “Mortgage Letter 2008-43″… despite the inconspicuous title, this is a powerful boon to every short sale investor in the nation.

For those of you who somehow managed not to be engrossed by this less than climatic title, here are the major changes coming soon to a FHA/HUD foreclosure near you!

1. Elimination of the clause calling for 63 percent or greater property appraisal versus debt. Now properties can appraise at any value and still be eligible for the program.

2. Increased Net. Instead of the former 82 percent net based upon appraisal value the new limits will be 88 percent if sold with 30 days, 86 percent if sold within 60 days and 84 percent thereafter.

3. Increased Closing Costs on Short Sales. Although not a lot – FHA will now allow up to 1 percent of closing costs rather than the former zero.

4. Increased Seller Incentives. Again, although not a lot this will at least allow sellers a reasonable down payment toward a rental home by putting up to $1,000 in their pocket at closing.

5. Increased Lien Allocations. Junior liens up to $2,500 are now allowed – just one more tool that helps sweeten the pot for short sale investors interested in pursuing FHA/HUD homes.

6. Removal of Repair Limitations. This is one change that could potentially add up to thousands depending upon the required maintenance on the home. This opens the doors to many homes that would otherwise be ignored due to excessive damage.

7. Exceptions to Non-Owner Occupant Requirements. This is on a case by case basis but opens to the door to rental properties formerly excluded from the program.

To learn more or read the release for yourself visit:

http://www.brokencredit.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/fha-pre-foreclosure-short-sale-guidelines.pdf

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Jerry LaRose is an Orlando Area Residential Real Estate Expert, who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of Real Estate in Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden Florida or any place in the country. Jerry has created a team of professionals throughout Orlando and the country to ensure that you enjoy a smooth transition to your new area. Please visit www.JerrySellsOrlando.com for your real estate needs. Please give me a call if you have questions about the Orlando and Central Florida real estate market.

P.S. If you are listing your home as a short sale in Orange County Florida and Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden, or Ocoee Florida make sure you hire an agent who knows how to do short sales and has the experience to get the job done. We are doing successful short sale packages. Call us at 407-580-7011 to find out more about Orange County Short Sales and Orlando Area Short Sales.

Thirty-year mortgage rates fell last week to 4.92% and the low rates that have persisted for the last month attracted thousands of homeowners hoping to refinance to Zillow Mortgage Marketplace in December and early January.

Requests to refinance normally make up about one-third of all loan requests on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace, but in December they made up 67%. So far in January, they have made up 62%. The total number of requests also increased more than 150% from November to December.

The weekly average rates for 30-year fixed mortgages decreased to 4.92% last week, down from 5.10% the week prior, according to the Zillow Mortgage Rate Monitor, compiled by leading real estate website Zillow.com(R). Meanwhile, rates for 15-year fixed mortgages decreased to 4.58%, down from 4.79% and 5-1 adjustable rate mortgages decreased to 5.35% from 5.62%.

Mortgage Type Average Rate Average Rate % Change
Week ending 1/11/09 Week ending 1/4/09
30-year fixed 4.92% 5.10% -3.6%
15-year fixed 4.58% 4.79% -4.5%
5-1 ARM 5.35% 5.62% -4.8%

Rates for 30-year fixed mortgages fell far below 5.00% again on Monday evening, with the average rate on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace at 4.86%.

At a state level, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate in Maryland and Virginia had the biggest decreases, dropping from 5.26% to 4.97% and 5.21% to 4.93%, respectively. Rates on 30-year fixed mortgages were lowest in the states of Arizona (4.80%) and Texas (4.84%), while Maryland (4.97%) and Michigan (5.05%) had the highest rates.

State Average 30-yr. Fixed Average 30-yr. Fixed % Change
Rate Rate
Week ending 1/11/09 Week ending 1/4/09

About the author:

Jerry LaRose is an Orlando Area Residential Real Estate Expert, who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden Florida or any place in the country. Jerry has created a team of professionals throughout Orlando and the country to ensure that you enjoy a smooth transition to your new area. Please visit www.JerrySellsOrlando.com for your real estate needs. Please give me a call if you have questions about the Orlando and Central Florida real estate market.

Jerry LaRose, P.A., ABR, GRI, e-PRO, CLHMS, REALTOR® 407-580-7011

(Copyright © 2008 By Jerry LaRose, P.A. All Rights Reserved.)

The House Financial Services Committee adopted H.R. 6694, legislation designed to reauthorize and reform down payment assistance programs that the Bush Administration banned in July.

A last-ditch effort to head off the Oct. 1 ban on the use of seller-funded down-payment assistance with FHA-backed loans is picking up steam as a compromise bill that would mend rather than end the practice of down payment assistance.

HR 6694 would allow qualified borrowers with credit scores of 680 or above to use seller-funded down-payment assistance on FHA-backed loans. Borrowers with scores between 620-680 will be subject to risk-based pricing and higher insurance premium fees.

But the bill still needs to be approved by Congress and the President.

Today’s committee vote was a positive step toward preserving down payment assistance, but it’s far from over. Now more than ever, members of Congress need to know that Americans are watching their vote on H.R. 6694.

I encourage everybody who wants to see seller assisted down payment assistance preserved to tell their representatives in the House and the U.S. Senate that a vote for H.R. 6694 is a vote for the next generation of homeowners.