Chapter 7

Selecting and Financing Housing

Copyright © 2010 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.McGraw-Hill/Irwin

Selecting and Financing Housing

Chapter Objectives

1. Assess costs and benefits of renting

2. Implement the home-buying process

3. Determine costs associated with purchasing a home

4. Develop a strategy for selling a home

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Objective1Assess Costs and Benefits of

RentingEvaluating Renting and Buying Alternatives

• Your lifestyle and your choice of housing– How you spend your time and money– Every buying decision = lifestyle statement

• Personal preferences vs. financial factors

• Traditional financial guidelines:– Spend no more than 25-30% of take-home pay on

housing, or – No more than 2 1/2 times your annual income

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Choice should be based on: – Lifestyle– Financial Factors– Mobility vs. permanence– Renting = less costly in the short run– Home ownership =long-term financial

advantage

Renting vs. Buying Housing

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Rent vs. Buy

Advantages Disadvantages

Easy to move No tax benefits

Fewer responsibilities for maintenance Limitations regarding remodeling

Minimal financial commitment Restrictions regarding pets, etc

Pride of ownership Financial commitment

Financial benefits Higher living expenses than renting

Lifestyle flexibility Limited mobility

Buying

RENTING vs. BUYING

Renting

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Housing Rental Activities

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• Selecting a rental unit– Apartment or house

• Advantages of renting– Easier to move– Fewer maintenance responsibilities– Minimal financial commitments

• Disadvantages of renting– No tax benefits– Limitations regarding remodeling– Restrictions regarding pets and other activities

Rental Activities

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Selecting an Apartment

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• Description and address of property• Name and address of the owner/landlord (lessor)• Name of tenant (lessee)• Effective date and length of the lease• Amount of security deposit• Amount and due date of rent• Date and amount for late rent payments• List of included utilities, appliances, etc.• Restrictions on certain activities• The right to sublet the unit; transfer clause• Conditions under which landlord may enter the

rental unit

Legal Details of a Lease

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Costs of Renting

• Security deposit– Usually one month’s rent

– Held against damages to the property

– Returned at end of lease if unit undamaged

– Any deductions must be documented

• Utilities not covered in rent payment– Water frequently covered in apartment rent

– If renting a house no utilities included

• Renter’s insurance– Covers contents of rented property

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Objective 2Implement the Home-buying

Process

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• Evaluate Home Ownership – Stability of residence

• American dream/norm

– Financial benefits• Deduct property taxes and mortgage

interest• Potential increase in value of your home• Building an equity in your home

– Lifestyle flexibility - express your individuality

Home Buying Activities Step 1: Determine Homeownership

Needs

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Home Buying Activities

• Drawbacks of Homeownership– Financial uncertainty

• Obtaining money for the down payment• Obtaining mortgage financing• Home values could drop

– Limited mobility• Can take time to sell your home

– Higher living costs• Maintenance, repainting, repairs, and home

improvements• Rising real estate taxes

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Home Buying Activities Types of Housing Available

• Single-family dwelling

• Multi-unit dwelling– Duplex (two homes)

– Townhouse (2, 4, or 6 units)

• Condominium– Individual ownership of a unit in a building

– “Condominium” ≠ a type of building structure

– “Condominium” = a form of homeownership

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Home Buying Activities Types of Housing Available

• Cooperative housing– Units owned by a non-profit organization – Shareholders purchase stock for the right to live in a

unit in a building with multiple units

• Manufactured homes– Fully or partially assembled in a factory, and then

moved to the housing site– Prefabricated = components factory-built and

assembled at the site– Mass production under factory conditions keeps

costs lower than site built homes

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Home Buying Activities Types of Housing Available

• Mobile homes– A type of manufactured home, often <1,000 sq. ft.– Same features as a conventional house– Safety is debated – Tend to depreciate

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• Building a custom home:– Does the contractor have needed experience?– Does contractor have a good working relationship

with - Architect

- Suppliers

- Electricians

- Plumbers

- Carpenters and others?

Home Buying Activities Types of Housing Available

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Home Buying Activities Building a Custom Home

– What assurance do you have about quality?– What are payment arrangements?– What delays will be considered legitimate?– Is the contractor licensed and insured?– Are there any complaints about

this contractor?– Contract should have

a time schedule, costestimates, description of work, and a payment schedule

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Home Buying Activities Determine What You Can Afford

– Consider both price and quality– Look at your income, your current

living expenses, and how much you have for a down payment

– Have a loan officer prequalify you – Purchase what you can afford - you can

always move up– Buy a “fixer-upper” at a lower price, if you

have the time, skills, and money to fix it up

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Home Buying Activities Step 2: Find and Evaluate a Home

• Select a location, location, location– Be aware of zoning laws– Assess the school system

if you have children

• Services of real estate agents– Will show homes that meet your needs, present

your offer, negotiate the price, assist in obtaining financing, and represent you at the closing

– Commission paid by seller; built into price– Seller’s agent, Dual agent or Buyer’s agent

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Home Buying Activities Step 2: Find and Evaluate a Home

• The Home Inspection– Conduct a home inspection or hire an

inspector– Mortgage company will require an

appraisal

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Home Buying Activities Step 3: Price the Property

• Determine the home price

– Price affected by selling prices in the area

– Current demand for housing

– Time home has been on the market

– Owner’s need to sell

– Financing options

– Features and condition of the home

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Home Buying Activities Step 3: Price the Property

• Negotiate the purchase price– Counteroffers are common– Earnest money

• Portion of the price deposited as

evidence of good faith– Contingency clause

• Offer dependent on certain events:–Obtaining financing–Sale of current home

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The Finances of Home Buying

Step 4: Obtain Financing

Determine down payment amount

• Mortgage insurance if < 20% down (PMI)

• Automatic PMI termination when equity =>22%

– Required by Homeowners Protection Act

Objective 3Determine Costs Associated with

Purchasing a Home

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• Long-term loan on a specific piece of property

• Usually 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 years• Three main phases

1. Complete application and meet with lender to provide evidence of qualification

2. Lender obtains credit report and verifies application

3. Mortgage is approved or denied

– Approval usually locks rate for 60-90 days

Home Buying ActivitiesThe Mortgage

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• Qualifying for a mortgage includes:– Income– Debts– Credit history (700+ score)– Down payment amount– Length of the loan– Current mortgage rates

• “Points” = prepaid interest as a % of loan amount– Each point =1% of the loan amount– Premium paid to obtain a lower mortgage rate

Home Buying ActivitiesThe Mortgage

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• Loan for which you qualify will be greater when rates are lower

• Calculating the monthly principal and interest payment:– Exhibit 7-7 = Mortgage payment factors (page 230)– Example:

• 30-year, 7%, $223,000 mortgage• Monthly payment = 223 X $6.65 = $1,482.95• Payment = Principal repayment + interest• PITI = payment + taxes + insurance

Home Buying ActivitiesThe Mortgage

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• Fixed-Rate, Fixed-Payment Mortgage– Fixed rate, fixed payment, amortized– 5%, 10% or 20% down– 15, 20 or 30 years of fixed payments

• Government-guaranteed financing programs– Veterans Administration (VA)– Federal Housing Authority (FHA)– Lower down payment than conventional

Home Buying Activities Types of Mortgages

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• Adjustable rate mortgage (ARM)

– Flexible-rate or variable-rate mortgage

– Interest rate varies over the life of the loan

– Rate cap restricts amount of change in rate

– Payment cap restricts amount of change in payment

• Can result in negative amortization

Home Buying Activities Types of Mortgages

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• Convertible ARM– Allows conversion to a fixed rate during a certain

period• Balloon mortgage

– Fixed monthly payments – Large final payment after 3, 5, or 7 years

• Growing-equity mortgage (GEM)– Payments increase to allow loan to be paid off more

quickly• Interest-only mortgage

– Lower payments for the first few years– Payments go towards interest only

Home Buying ActivitiesCreative Financing

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• Shared appreciation mortgage (SAM)– Borrower gets a lower interest rate – Agrees to share appreciated value of home

with the lender

• Second mortgage– Home equity loan– Home = collateral – Interest may be tax deductible

Home Buying Activities Other Financing Options

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• Reverse mortgages– Home equity conversion mortgage– Provides homeowners who are 62+ with

tax-free income based on home equity

• Refinancing – Consider costs of refinancing in decision

• Making extra payments– Reduces payoff time & interest paid

Home Buying Activities Other Financing Options

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• Make arrangements for a walk through – Last-minute items for negotiation

• Closing – Meeting including buyer, seller

and lender– Document signing– Last-minute details settled– Closing costs = settlement costs– Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act

• Requires buyers be given closing costs estimate before the closing

Home Buying ActivitiesStep 5: Close the Purchase Transaction

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• Title insurance and search fee• Attorney’s and appraisers fees• Property survey• Pest inspection• Recording fees• Transfer taxes• Credit report• Lender’s origination fee• Escrow account for tax and insurance reserve• Pre-paid interest • Real estate broker’s commission

Home Buying ActivitiesClosing Costs

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• Title Insurance– Title company defines boundaries of property– Title search to insure property is free of claims– Protects against future defects in title

• Deed– Document that transfers ownership– Warranty deed guarantees the title is good

• Seller is true owner with right to sell the property• No outstanding claims against the title

• Escrow Account– Money deposited with lending institution for payment

of taxes and insurance

Home Buying ActivitiesClosing Cost Components

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• Preparing your home– Repair, repaint, clean, reduce clutter – When showing home, “Stage It”:

• Turn on lights • Open draperies • Bake bread or make coffee for

a welcoming smell– Ideas from HGTV:

• “Designed to Sell” • “Get It Sold”

Objective 4Develop a Strategy for Selling a

Home

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Selling Your Home

• Determining the selling price– Appraisal = estimate of the current value

• “For Sale by Owner” – Use a lawyer or title company– Time consuming for seller

• Listing with a Real Estate Agent– Consider agent’s knowledge of the

community– Various services and marketing efforts– Screens potential buyers

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