Archive for the 'Find a REALTOR®' Category

Jun 11 2009

Now is the time to buy Newport Beach Homes!

Doom sayers have been telling us for years that the Newport Beach real estate market was about to top out. And anyone who has been in the market to buy or sell Newport Beach homes in the last year or so can attest to this fact.

Financial analysts warned us for years that as we approached a recession Newport Beach real estate prices and the price of homes throughout the United States would have to find a natural ceiling within a very short period. Put simply, people have less money to spend on housing as the cost of living has increased. Owning Newport Beach homes became less a priority for many families because of this which has helped decrease property values as the demand for Newport Beach homes decreased significantly.

This is, of course, bad news for any homeowners that need to sell Newport Beach homes. However, for those that have put off buying homes in Newport Beach due to the cost… wait no longer! Newport Beach condos, homes, and other property types have reached record lows this year making the dream of owning beach property a reality for many families in Orange County.

If you have always dreamed of owning homes in Newport Beach be sure to give us a call and we’d love to help you determine your buying power (the amount you are able to borrow for your home loan) and help you find a Newport Beach home that fits your specifications and family needs.

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Jun 02 2009

Which is better: Lower rate or fewer points?

This is a complicated question to answer, because depending upon individual situations, it can be either.

Paying points simply means making a lump sum payment up front, which will significantly lower the interest rate on your fixed rate mortgage in Newport Beach. Typically each point will cost 1% of the entire amount of the mortgage. The more points you buy, the lower your interest rate and the lower your repayments will be. So which would be best for you? Buy more points and pay a lower rate or buy fewer points and pay a higher rate?

When trying to decide consider whether you can afford to make a significant up-front payment to buy points now.  If you are able to make a significant payment up front this will save you money in the long run. Take into consideration the length of the mortgage; the longer the duration of your Newport Beach mortgage the more it will make sense to buy points now, because you will benefit from those points for a fairly long time.

You really should seek the advice of a professional Newport Beach Realtor and Morgage Broker who will be able to help you decide which is best for you. A wrong decision can leave you paying far more for your Newport Beach home than you should have. A Newport Beach Realtor with Harbor Realty will be able to advise you on mortgage types and how points work, they will also be able to help you with the mortgage application process and make the whole house purchase process much quicker and simpler.

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Apr 28 2009

Types of Mortgages – Newport Beach Homes

Choosing the right mortgage for Newport Beach homes is as important as choosing the property itself. An incorrect decision can see you paying far more that you would otherwise need too, or taking on a considerably larger responsibility than is necessary. Below is outlined the major types of home loans in Newport Beach to help you decide which is best for your family.

Fixed Rate Mortgage – In this type of Newport Beach home loan, the interest rate remains the same across the life of the mortgage. This is generally the safest, most common, and in most cases, the smartest type of home loan to use when purchasing Newport Beach homes. Since the interest rate does not fluctuate over the course of your mortgage life you’re less likely to find yourself in a situation where you are unable to pay your monthly mortgage payment.

Adjustable Rate Mortgage – An adjustable rate mortgage has an interest rate that will vary over time which will change the monthly payment or alter the life of the mortgage. This can be an excellent option for homebuyers that do not plan to stay in their home for an extended period. For example, if you are in the military and move often or transfer locations regularly, an adjustable rate mortgage might be the right option for you when purchasing Newport Beach homes. Talk to a Newport Beach Realtor with Harbor Realty today to find out if an adjustable rate mortgage is the way to go.

No Down Payment – This type of mortgage does not require the borrower to hold an amount of money for use as a down payment. Interest rates are often higher with this type of mortgage. Of course, these days loans are rarely, if ever, offered with no down payment. If you are serious about purchasing Newport Beach real estate it is certainly in your best interest to begin saving for a down payment.

Jumbo Loans – This is a type of loan that is valued above the general conforming loan limits. As a non-conforming mortgage, interest rates can be somewhat higher than other types of Newport Beach home loans.

Interest Only Loans – With this type of mortgage, only the interest is actually paid, at the end of the mortgage term the borrower has the option of paying the principal sum in full, or possibly starting a fresh mortgage.

Talk to a professional Newport Beach Realtor as well as a Mortgage Broker to discern which type of mortgage is right for you and your family; a wrong choice can cause severe financial problems down the road. While a Fixed Rate Mortgage is the right choice for most people purchasing Newport Beach homes, there are certainly some that should consider other types of home loans.

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Apr 07 2009

Closing Escrow on Your New Orange County Home

The final part of any property sale is the completion or closing; this is often a confusing process for the buyer and seller alike. If you have employed the services of a professional Newport Beach Realtor, they will remove much of the headache and make the entire completion process as painless as possible.

Closing is a word that is used to define the final part of the entire chain of events that has lead to the successful sale of a property in Orange County. Closing will be scheduled for a specific day, and on this day your property will change hands.

Funds will be exchanged, contracts will be signed and keys will be handed over, this is the final process that sees you saying goodbye to your old home and taking hold of your new home in Orange County. Usually the funds will have been deposited into an escrow service, and your agent or Newport Beach Realtor would have taken care of the specifics.

On day of closing you will also need to physically move out of your home if you are the seller, this means arranging with a moving company to have your goods picked up and moved to your new house, or moved into storage if you have yet to complete closing on your new Orange County home.

In the past, closing day was a stressful time, when both parties carried concerns over the deal going bad at the last minute. These days there are very few problems with the closing of a sale; problems can be further reduced by employing the services of a Newport Beach Realtor to handle most aspects for you.

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