I came across an interesting article on Yahoo about “Homebuying Myths” (click here to see the article). The article has some interesting information, but there are some things that I think could be added to make the article more helpful. Here is what I would add — Myth 1 – You don’t need a 20% down payment to buy a home. This is true. In fact, most of my clients do not put down 20% of the purchase price when they buy a home. FHA insured loans require only a 3.5% downpayment, and there are other loan products that require as little as 5% down. However, when you borrow more…
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Closing Costs Part 4 – Miscellaneous Charges
In the first three installments of my series on closing costs, I addressed real estate tax credits, title charges and lender costs. This fourth, and final, last installment will address the last category of closing costs – everything else. As you review your closing costs with your attorney at the closing table, it may feel like everyone is taking their pound of flesh from the transaction. That is because it is essentially true. Transfer Taxes Whenever you buy or sell real estate, the government sticks its hand in your pocket. The amount of the tax depends largely upon the location of the parcel. The State of Illinois always gets $1 per…
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New IHDA Program Offers Up To $50,000 In Assistance To Under Water Homeowners
The painful memories of the housing bubble are quickly fading amidst the red-hot real estate market here in the Chicago area. However, the good news is not universal. Some homeowners live in sort of a limbo where they can just afford their mortgage payment, but they cannot possibly sell their home due to the fact that they owe more than the property is worth. There may be hope for some of you. The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) has introduced a program for qualifying homeowners to receive up to $50,0o0 toward the balance due on their mortgage and refinance into a more affordable loan based on the market value of…
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Closing Costs Part 3 – Lender Charges
The third installment of my posts on closing costs focuses on charges you may incur at closing from your lender. The vast majority of buyers do not have the cash to plunk down a few hundred thousand dollars to buy a home. As a result, most real estate transactions involve a loan through a mortgage broker. Not surprisingly, lenders do not work for free, and there are a number of costs you can expect to incur in connection with borrowing their money. Unlike title charges and real estate tax credits, lender charges vary quite a bit depending on the lender and loan product you choose. However, there are some charges and costs…
