Boise Homes Blog

There has been a lot of activity this past week with the debt ceiling troubles coming to a head, with no small help from Standard & Poor downgrading the United States credit rating. Despite these worries low mortgage rates have managed to survive both the debt crisis and the countries credit downgrade.

Surveys of wholesale and direct lenders are showing that while mortgage rates have survived this turmoil so far with the larger 30 year fixed  rate only fluctuating by .125%. With good credit borrowers can still obtain these low rates; this demonstrates that – with mortgage rates still at the lowest levels of the year – NOW may be a great time for Boise home buyers who receive lender approval.

Through combining low FHA rates and current low down payment requirements, borrowers looking to purchase a home are still able to find great affordable homes. Although FHA closing costs may be higher because of the various fees and upfront mortgage insurance requirements, the benefits of an FHA mortgage far outweighs the cost.

MBS prices (mortgage backed securities) are up again are up this week. Who cares? Mortgage rates generally change in the opposite direction of MBS prices.

A spot of bright news is that private sector jobs increased and mortgage applications are also seeing an increase. On the down side, factory orders decreased, showing no real hurry in the construction industry to start cranking out new product in a still saturated market. Overall though, investors are reacting well to the news of Standard and Poor’s downgrading of the U.S. credit rating by capitalizing on the boost for the bond market while. If investors continue to seek the safety of bonds, mortgage rates should remain low.

Not sure about buying a home in this turbulent economy? I can help address your concerns and talk with you about why right now is still one of the best times to buy a home in Boise. Visit my Boise Homes website to search for available homes or contact me today to find out what a experience Boise REALTOR can do to help you!

Thank you for visiting my Boise Homes blog! Check back to this spot often to get the latest info on the Boise real estate market and news that effects you! Here are some good tips for first time home buyers in Boise:

Buying your first home can be a daunting experience. Here are five common and costly mistakes that novice home buyers make:

1. Ignoring the costs of having a low credit score. Lower-score borrowers pay thousands of dollars in increased interest rates over the life of the loan. It may be financially more beneficial to rent for another year until you can take your credit score in hand.

2. Muddying the waters by shopping for other things before closing. Lenders continue to check credit scores right up until the time of closing. Too much shopping could cause the lender to take back the loan. If you are looking into getting your first home it might be a bad time to buy that new ski-doo or car.

3. Scrimping on an inspection. Being surprised by the need for expensive repairs can be financially devastating. Getting a knowledgeable inspector can help save you thousands down the road.

4. Buying without contingencies. Buyers should give themselves an out if the inspection turns up problems or the bank raises the interest rates. Always, always have a backup. You don’t want to be forced into buying a home with lots of problems if the inspection comes back with poorly.

5. No money for insurance. Insurance can be surprisingly pricey. Buyers who don’t budget for it can face a nasty surprise. It’s not a matter of IF it’s a matter of when: you will at some point or another almost certainly need insurance for your home and not having it can truly be financially devistating.