The Gold Coast community is absolutely beautiful, and we wanted to share a little information about it with all of you today. Between the Oak Street Beach, the many area restaurants, and the plethora of entertainment opportunities, the Gold Coast has a lot to offer.
There’s something for everyone here on the Gold Coast.
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Even the market statistics for this area reflect its incredible growth. Though sales volume is down, the average sales price has risen 7% since this time last year. And with units available for purchase from $500,000 all the way up to $5.3 million, it’s clear to see that there’s something for everyone here on the Gold Coast. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
The weather is colder, the leaves are changing, and fall is here. People out there want to know what this means for the real estate market, so today we're excited to share our fall 2018 market outlook with you. We are starting to notice an increase in the number of homes for sale. At one point, we had around three months’ worth of inventory, but that number has jumped up to about four or 4.5 months’ worth today. Although we’re still in a seller’s market, we are starting to trend more toward a neutral market where neither buyers nor sellers have an advantage.
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We are starting to trend more towards a neutral market.
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In the mortgage world, we’re still seeing signs of this shifting market as well. There are fewer multiple offer situations out there and not as many buyers in the market. This is making things easier for buyers and helping them win a great home without overpaying. The good news about our current market is that it’s perfect for anyone who is thinking about buying a home, selling a home, or getting a mortgage. If buying or selling is in your future or if you just have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us via phone or email today. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
On September 26 interest rates went up again—this time by 0.25%. This time by a quarter of a percent. Today we will be discussing how this recent rate change will affect the real estate market. David says that he doesn't think it will have much of an impact, because this change comes as no surprise. Since so many people saw this coming, he believes that it was already worked into the mortgage market in terms of rates. However, we may still see a slight fluctuation. If the Fed does something surprising, though, then we'll see a change.
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The rising interest rates won't affect the market because it isn't a surprise.
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Rates, of course, do affect other things, such as credit cards, instantly. They also affect car loans. So, over the long-term, the rising cost of credit could affect the mortgage market. We still do expect one more rate increase this year in either November or December. If you have any questions about this, please feel free to reach out to us. We would be happy to help.
What is the difference between hiring a mortgage banker versus a mortgage broker? Actually, when it comes time to seek the guidance of a mortgage professional, there are pros and cons of either option. A mortgage broker’s job is to find someone to buy a specific loan. All of the funding for the real estate deals they finance will come from the particular company whose loan product they’re representing.
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When working with this kind of a professional, you can be sure that everything is done in-house.
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A mortgage banker, on the other hand, funds and processes everything themselves. When working with this kind of a professional, you can be sure that everything is done in-house. Mortgage bankers allow you to have more control throughout. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Previously called the HUD-1, the closing statement is a document presented to borrowers at least three days before closing. This way, they can consent to the terms, and there won't be any surprises at closing. This new document—unlike the HUD-1, which showed up at closing—avoids any surprises by allowing an attorney to review and answer any questions the borrower may have. While it is encouraged to have an attorney, sometimes mortgage loan officers like David can also help. On the document, buyers can find their expenses and credits, including their different closing costs and seller or tax credits. These figures are reviewed by the title company with an attorney to make sure that they are calculated correctly.
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Previously called the HUD-1, the closing statement is a document presented to borrowers at least three days before closing.
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Of course, the seller's expenses are all listed as well, including title expenses, mortgage payoff, surveys, termite inspections, as well as revenue stamps for Cook County, the State of Illinois, or the City of Chicago. Since it will tell them how much to make the check out for, the end of the statement is highly important for the seller. Depending on the state or county that you're in, there may be different guidelines in terms of how much money—or how large of a cashier's check—you can bring in. If it exceeds a certain amount, you'll typically have to wire the funds to the title company. Go directly to your title company for any wiring information.
If you have any questions about this, please feel free to reach out to us. We look forward to speaking with you soon.
