Barndominiums – The Hottest Trend

For the past few years, people have been ruthlessly shedding the excess in their lives to squeeze into a home smaller than a walk-in closet. Well, move over tiny houses, millennials are trading their minimalist, cramped space for the expansive lifestyle of the barndominium.

A barndominium is a play on words originally used to describe a living space built inside a barn or auxiliary building primarily used to house on-site employees. Over time, it morphed to include guest suites or rental units over garages and now it incorporates a new design style. Barndominiums typically are mixed-use structures, including either a workshop, garage or other utility room.

Modern barndominiums use simple barn or industrial buildings and convert them to spacious homes. Often these can be added to an existing structure, but home builders have latched on to this growing trend with building kits or quick-install prefabricated buildings. All incorporate wide open spaces; a blank canvas for the homeowner to use in creating the perfect home for their needs.

Merging farmhouse rustic with contemporary industrial style, these homes offer big open rooms that often house living, dining, and kitchen areas. Because there is minimal internal construction – few walls, open ceilings – building costs are lower than traditional homes, making this an attractive option for younger home buyers who don’t want to sacrifice style to save money.

Barndominiums bring the simplicity of an urban loft to the softer, rustic design of an upscale farmhouse. After years of craving the simplicity of a tiny house, modern homebuyers are finally taking the concept of an easy lifestyle but enjoying the luxury of expansive living space.

Building Equity With a Home Improvement Plan

Your home is typically the largest financial investment you’ll ever make. Over time, we expect the equity to increase through increasing property values and a decreasing mortgage balance. While homeowners recognize the need to maintain the home in good condition, one of the best ways to maximize your home equity is to create a plan for ongoing improvements and updates.

Often the interest in a remodeling project results from either an unexpected windfall or financing for a specific project but by planning for ongoing improvements, any homeowner can engage in updates to stay current with market trends.

As tastes change, homebuyers are attracted to new features. Outdoor kitchens, great room configurations, and home offices are just a few of the trends from the past few years. More timeless desires include more square feet, chef’s kitchens, and spacious bathrooms. To stay ahead of trends and build equity, smart homeowners should build a plan for continuous improvements.

In addition to developing a fund, build a road map for upgrades and enhancements. Consider the life span of major systems, such as the roof or HVAC systems; is end-of-life a good time to switch to solar energy? Kitchen styles change dramatically every 10 years on average. Start saving for a kitchen style change on the same schedule. Can be a complete remodel or simply a new countertop.

You may not plan to sell your home for years, but things change. No one wants to consider listing a home that is outdated, taking the financial hit that comes with it. Now is the time to plan for regular updates to build equity, and you’ll enjoy the benefits of the changes too.

Homeownership Is a Great Hedge Against Inflation

Over the past couple of months, the news of rising inflation is fueling concern across the country. Currently, inflation is at a 40-year high. This is impacting household budgets the most as families try to make ends meet with less buying power. For potential home buyers, rising interest rates may cause worry that you will not be able to afford the home you want.

While these are all valid concerns, for those who are still able to finance a home, homeownership is one of the best hedges against inflation and may be worth stretching your budget to do.

The biggest advantage of owning a home in an inflationary period is a fixed-rate mortgage stabilizes your largest household expense. Most people budget 25-45% of their monthly income for housing. As costs continue to rise, rental rates will rise right along with them. These costs can far outpace salaries and increase the burden on families.

The second advantage is that home values historically outperform other assets in appreciation. Owning a home builds equity for the future that is based on a tangible asset. Even if the home loses value short-term, some studies show that over 7-years, homeowners should gain more equity than other investments.

The bottom line is that if you’ve been thinking about buying a home this year, it makes sense to act, even if interest rates are rising. This allows you to stabilize your monthly housing expense while potentially building equity for the future.

10 Most Common Home Buyer Questions

Buying a new home is exciting and confusing. There are a lot of steps to buying a home, and people have questions. These are the most common questions home buyers have, and the answers.

1. How do I get started? – The first step is to speak with a lender and get a pre-approval. This will tell you, and potential sellers, how much you can afford.

2. How long does it take to close on a home? – Typically, it takes about 30-45 days once contracts are signed to complete the lending, appraisal, and inspection processes.

3. What does my agent do? – A buyer’s agent will negotiate terms and manage the closing process from start to finish.

4. How much do I pay for a buyer’s agent? – Nothing. The seller’s agent gives the buyer’s agent a portion of their commission from the seller.

5. What credit score do I need to qualify? – A 620 FICO score or higher is required for most home loan programs. Talk to a lender for other options for lower scores.

6. How much money do I need for a down payment? – It varies. FHA loans start as low as 3% and most lenders offer standard programs for a 5% down payment.

7. What other fees will I need to pay? – Closing costs and loan origination fees will add another 2-4% to the costs.

8. What if I change my mind? – Your agent will work with you to build in contingencies for condition, loan terms/approval, and other protections to allow you time to evaluate the home during escrow.

9. When do I get the keys? – Unless you’ve negotiated extra time for the sellers to move, you’ll get the keys at the closing.

10. What’s the best advice for home buyers? – Trust the experts and ask lots of questions. Buying a new home is exciting. Reduce any anxiety by finding a good buyer’s agent who can help you make the best choice for your needs.

What Stays with The Home?

More than one seller has been surprised to find that their favorite chandelier is not theirs to take when they move. First-time home sellers might be especially confused when confronted with an exclusion form presented by their agent, but understanding what is, and is not included in the sale by statute is important to avoid disappointment on both sides.

The first rule of thumb is to consider if the item is nailed down, bolted, mounted, or planted. This covers a wide range of items both inside and outside the home. This might seem simple enough, but the debate about what constitutes a “fixture” has caused many post-sales lawsuits. Fixtures will stay with the home unless specifically excluded. This includes light fixtures, shelves, cabinets, built-in shelves, and more.

Consider the mount for the big-screen TV. It might seem logical to assume the mount would go with the TV when the sellers leave, but technically it’s likely considered a fixture as it’s bolted to the wall. What about a window-mounted air conditioner? If it’s sitting in the window, it’s typically personal property, if there is a hole in the wall to accommodate it, then it’s a likely fixture.

Outdoor items are subject to the same rules. Anything planted in the yard goes with the home, as does furniture or other items bolted to the ground. In that scenario, an arbor or patio cover bolted to a concrete slab would stay. Contrary to everything just outlined, however, curtains typically go with the home.

Clearly, it can be confusing.

If you are ready to buy or sell a home, make sure and discuss with your agent what you want to add or exclude to the sale. This is the best way to avoid disappointment at best or a courtroom at worst.

Family Opportunity Mortgages

Baby boomers have reached retirement age. This generation is healthier and more active than their predecessors and many want to age in a home of their own. Many of these potential home buyers have fixed incomes and with soaring home prices, they are unable to qualify for a new home when they are ready to downsize. This is where a Family Opportunity Mortgage can help.

A Family Opportunity Mortgage is backed by Fannie Mae and allows you to purchase a home for your elderly parents if they cannot qualify on their own, at the same favorable down payment and interest rates as a primary residence. This is a significant advantage over loan programs for second home or investment properties.

The terms of the loan program are simple. The borrower needs a 620+ FICO score, steady employment, and enough income to qualify for both their current housing and the new loan. Total debt-to-income ratios cannot exceed 45% and that must include all the new costs. Finally, the parents must demonstrate that they do not have the income to qualify for the loan on their own. It’s important to understand that bad credit is not sufficient to use this loan program, it must be a lack of income that disqualifies them. This program can also be used to help an adult child with disabilities.

As more people choose to live independently in retirement, the need for housing will continue. By taking advantage of a Family Opportunity Mortgage, qualified borrowers can purchase a home for their parents at very favorable owner-occupied rates and terms. Make sure to talk to a licensed mortgage lender to learn more.

5 Tips for Writing a Winning Offer in this Market

Everyone recognizes that this is a difficult housing market for homebuyers. With inventory shortages and low interest rates, buyers have seen a face-paced market with strong growth in home prices. As interest rates begin to rise, the pressure for buyers to settle on a new home and lock in their rate is even stronger. With so many buyers vying for the same property, it’s important to write the best offer right up front.

Here are 5 tips to help you write a strong offer.

1. Show Financial Strength – You already know you need a preapproval letter but ask your lender to include an explanation about how they qualified you, bank statements, tax records, underwriting review.

2. Include a Proof of Funds Letter – Ask your lender to include a letter which indicates they have checked funds needed for the close.

3. Larger Deposit – Earnest money is deposited into escrow and is applied to the buyer’s costs at the close. If you are serious about the home, offer a larger deposit that shows you have “skin in the game.”

4. Limit Contingencies – Real estate contracts have a lot of standard contingencies. Working with your agent, discuss them each in detail and remove any that aren’t necessary or don’t add extra protection.

5. Be Flexible – Make it easy on the seller. Offer a flexible closing date or leaseback option if they need more time. Consider offering a contingency to the seller that allows them to find their new home.

Remember that even in this fast-paced real estate market, buyers are finding new homes. With a little strategy, you can find the right home for you and your needs.

Could You Trust Your Partner to Pick the Right House?

Couples dream of buying a home together, leisurely enjoying a latte while dropping by open houses to look at remodeled kitchens and manicured backyards. Today’s market is quite different. Desirable homes are snapped up the moment they hit the market, often with multiple offers. Homebuyers in this climate must move quickly. This may require jumping on an opportunity without both partners adding their input.

Adding more complexity to a heated real estate market is job mobility. The US is experiencing an unprecedented job market. More employees than ever before are offering remote work environments. This business climate not only offers flexibility in living location but also the opportunity to make a career move. Making a change in location, regardless of the reason, often means one partner can travel for house hunting.

So, how can you trust your partner to find the right house?

Before starting the home search, it’s important to work together to identify what features are essential to the new home:

• Size

• Yard

• Bedrooms/bathrooms

• Schools

• Commute

• Community amenities

• Local services; shopping, restaurants, entertainment, gyms, parks, etc.

All these and more should be discussed and expectations set. Fortunately, we also have extensive virtual tools to use in the home search. Not only virtual tours, video, and drones, but a simple cell phone can easily take the absent partner on the house tour in real-time.

Can you trust your partner to choose the right house? With some honest conversation, careful planning, and technology – yes, you can!

Would You Buy Your Home Again?

Buying a home is often an emotional decision; perhaps even more so than a practical, financial decision. Real estate marketing has recognized this for decades which is why agents have emphasized curb appeal and staging to their clients. Open houses have featured the smell of fresh baked cookies and soothing music, all in an effort to appeal to the buyer’s sense of home and comfort.

Many homeowners ponder this question, along with whether they can make adjustments via remodels or additions. The fact is that our tastes, needs, and lifestyles change and evolve over time. The past few years have dramatically changed the way we look at our homes. More people than ever before now work from home. That cute cottage or condo might have been the perfect home base for evening and weekend activities, but fall short of the ideal full-time work space.

On the other hand, some homeowners have realized that they have under utilized their property. During the pandemic, we saw home cooking, gardening, and crafts boom. Yards have been redesigned to include vegetable beds and fruit trees. Kitchen remodels have emphasized cooking space and gathering areas for family.

For anyone who has lived in their home for 7+years, it’s natural to wonder if the property still suits their needs. Families grow and contract, lifestyles and jobs change, and as life moves on, homeowners should periodically ask themselves if they would buy their current home today.