APM BLOG

Higher interest rate environments can make it difficult to buy a home, but there are silver linings and workarounds. The good news is that higher interest rates often mean less competition, lower prices, and eager sellers. These sellers can be more willing to consider concessions than they would have been in a hotter market. Today you may be able to negotiate who pays for many closing costs, including mortgage discount points. 

January 1 is coming up fast, and you know what that means: It’s time to set new year’s resolutions! For many people, the turning over of the calendar will involve financial new year’s resolutions. 

REACH YOUR GOALS

Using a Buydown as an Interest Rate Hack in Today's Market

Interest rate buydowns are becoming increasingly popular as mortgage interest rates remain above 6%.

Here's how a buydown can make your home purchase affordable during the first years of a mortgage's term, or for the life of the loan.

Seller concessions almost never sound like a very good idea…to the home seller. For the prospective buyer, on the other hand, a little give here and there may be just what they need to close the deal and pay full asking price for your home. One of the most popular seller concessions in any real estate market is an interest rate buydown. 

The holidays are all about festivities, food, and family. We’re thankful every day for our extended APM family, which includes our clients. 

We hope the holiday season has been full of the 3Fs, with a healthy dose of fun thrown in.  

In the spirit of the holidays, APM asked its employees to share their favorite holiday family recipes. These were turned into an APM family cookbook, and we’d love to share a little slice of that with you now. 

Move-Up Buyers Moonlight as Landlords

In addition to low inventory, the housing market has encountered a newer challenge: rising mortgage rates, which hit 7% recently. This has caused problems for would-be and move-up homebuyers alike.

Thanksgiving was one of America’s most cherished festivities even before George Washington began celebrating it in 1789. However, it wasn’t always held on the fourth Thursday in November. That happened in 1846, when Sara Josepha Hale campaigned to make Thanksgiving a national holiday that would be held on the last Thursday of November. 

The housing market isn’t what it was a year ago—and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Yes, interest rates are higher year over year, but in many markets, prices are decreasing or, at the very least, not increasing at the breakneck pace we’ve seen.

It's Military Family Appreciation Month, and we wanted to take this opportunity to highlight our very own #APMFamily who have served our great country and now work to help other military families and veterans realize their dreams of homeownership.

What's Going On With the Economy?

Elliot Eisenberg is back with information on where we are, what's coming and why rates are on the move.

Qualifying for first-time home buyer programs may not be as hard as you think. These programs are specifically designed to help a first-time home buyer like you overcome some of the more common hurdles people face when buying a home. Those hurdles, of course, include saving for a down payment and the closing costs. 

A down payment and monthly mortgage payment aren’t the only costs you’re looking at when buying a new home. Some buyers forget that they will also have to pay closing costs.

The dreaded down payment. Whether you’re looking to fund the minimum down payment or put down more than the traditional 20%, this chunk of change can certainly be a challenge when you’re already looking at the purchase price, closing costs, and monthly payments on a new home.

Housing budgets are serious discussions because homes are serious investments. Home buyers expect to pay a down payment when buying a home. That amount can range based on qualification and the amount of assets available. Down payments start as low as 3% and can go as high as needed to get the payment at that comfort level.  

Economy Update September 2022, Elliot Eisenberg

APM Consulting Economist Elliot Einsenberg is here with this month's economic update, and the hot topic is inflation and what the Fed is doing to curb it. The rising costs of food and cars, coupled with continued supply chain shortages, have pushed the Fed to making moves to stop inflation as quickly as possible.

So, what's next for consumers?

Each member of our APM Family comes from a unique background and has a story that’s waiting to be told. From their upbringing to family values, cultural celebrations, and work in the mortgage industry, we’re sharing some of their stories with you in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. 

There’s always a lot of back and forth when you buy a home. It’s called the negotiation process, and it’s one of the reasons you need a great realtor. Potential buyers want to secure the best sale price possible, while a seller wants to achieve their list price—if not more. Some sellers also want to sell as quickly as possible. 

Two things can be really exciting and terrifying—buying a home and changing jobs.

Combine the two, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for stress…or do you? Many people assume that they can’t or shouldn’t buy a home if they’re in the middle of a career change.