Believe it or not, plenty of homes sell in the winter months on Cape Cod. Many New England buyers LOVE to make a winter day or weekend trip to the Cape. And what’s not to love? Generally speaking, we have warmer temps and less snow than our more northern New England neighbors. There’s little bridge traffic, no lines in the restaurants, and you can take a brisk walk on the beach without having to climb over a single blanket or dodge a runaway umbrella! Here are more benefits to house-hunting on the Cape in the winter, along with some tips for success.

Price Reductions. Many homeowners reduce their list prices during the winter months. Think about it. Most of the homes on the market after November are NOT new listings. They are homes that have been on the market for a while and did not sell. Furthermore, the owners chose to leave their home on the market rather than withdraw it for the winter and take their chances on better luck next year. These typically are motivated sellers, and motivated sellers tend to reduce their prices. You could very well pick up a good bargain in the winter months. Homes that come off the market for the winter frequently return in the spring at the same or even higher prices.

Fewer Buyers. Not every Cape house buyer can shop in the winter for a variety of reasons. Some are geographically unable to get to the Cape. Some have decided to put it off until next year. Some are too busy with kids’ activity schedules. Fewer buyers means less competition. Your offer could look VERY attractive to a seller if it is the only one.

First to See New Listings. Last winter inventory on the Cape was historically low. Yet even so, almost 1300 new single family listings came on the market between December and March. As we saw all year, the homes in the best condition and priced right were under agreement in a matter of days. Buyers who continue to house-hunt in the winter are the first to see these new listings and usually have them under agreement before the rest of the buyers resume their search.

Easy to Show. According to the Cape Cod Commission, roughly 41% of all Cape Cod homes are seasonal. The majority of these are empty in the winter. This means that the homes are generally easy to show, even on short notice, as long as your Realtor is available to show them. While Realtors are typically less busy in the winter months, some take advantage of the slow period to take vacation. Be sure to check with your Realtor on his or her winter schedule and who will be covering if (s)he plans to be away. Also, be prepared for empty houses to have no heat and no water running. Dress and plan accordingly!

In summary, if you didn’t find your dream home on the Cape in 2018, keep looking over the winter if it is at all possible. You may be rewarded with a great house at a great price. As always, we are happy to assist you with your search. Please contact us and let us know what you’re looking for. It would be our privilege to represent you at no cost to you.

Most prospective home buyers are aware that interest rates have been slowly creeping upwards for a couple of years. While still at historic lows, the upward trend is expected to continue and with each increase, your buying power is lessened – unless, of course, you will be paying cash for your home.

Consider a couple who have been saving for a year for their downpayment. When they started saving in September 2017, the 30-year fixed rate was 3.81%. Their mortgage broker told them at that time that they could afford a mortgage of $400,000. Today, with the average 30-year fixed coming in around 4.875, the couple can only afford a $350,000 mortgage, assuming the same income and financial profile as the previous year. What makes their situation even more bleak is that while mortgage rates were going up, so were home sale prices. So $350,000 today only buys you what may have been selling for $300,000 a year ago. When you compare the couple’s buying power last year with this year, they have essentially lost 25% of their buying power, given the mortgage rate increase and the market appreciation.

If the couple already owns a home and will be selling their current home to purchase the new one, perhaps the market appreciation of their current home will offset the higher price of the new home. But for first-time homebuyers, this is not the case.

If you are holding off on purchasing a home because you are trying to save a larger downpayment, it may be worthwhile to speak to your lender to see if they have programs for buyers with smaller downpayments. It may be financially advantageous to act sooner rather than later. Consider speaking with at least two different lenders, with one being your own trusted bank and one being a mortgage company who may have a broader portfolio of offerings. And ALWAYS consult with a good financial advisor for expert advice on your particular situation.

If you are holding off on purchasing a home because you are waiting for the perfect home and still haven’t found it, be sure you are considering the impact that both rising interest rates and rising prices could have on your purchasing power. Your chances of finding the perfect home may shrink even further if what you are seeking is no longer in your price range. Consider what house traits are truly most important to you and whether or not you can improvise or sacrifice some of the other features.

As always, I am happy to assist you with your purchase. Please contact me and let us know what you’re looking for. It would be my privilege to represent you at no cost to you.

When it comes to buying a home, some of us don’t have a choice about how we’re going to pay for it. We will, of course, be taking out a mortgage! But many buyers, especially CAPE buyers who are often retirees or investors, DO have a choice between cash and a mortgage. So what should you do?

Well, first. You should consult your financial advisor before assuming that you know the correct answer. Even if you have the cash readily available, a mortgage might make more sense, given your specific financial goals, circumstances, and intended use of the house.

In most cases, though, paying by cash offers many advantages over taking out a mortgage, assuming you are in the position to do so. Here are just a few of the more obvious ones:



 

• Sellers LOVE cash buyers. Cash buyers tend to close more quickly because there is no mortgage contingency which can ruin a deal as much as 6 weeks after accepting the offer. That means the seller’s home has been essentially off the market for all that time, causing the seller to miss out on other buyers. Even if the buyer is financially qualified for the mortgage, the deal can potentially fall apart if the home does not appraise for at or above the selling price. Cash buyers don’t pose this risk, although a cash buyer is certainly welcome to insert their own appraisal contingency.




• Cash buyers can buy ANY property. Many of the best real estate deals are distressed properties that are in poor yet reparable condition. These properties are often difficult to finance, yet may represent a great investment opportunity. A cash buyer can do whatever he or she wants with his or her money.




• Cash buyers aren’t mandated to carry flood insurance. Many homes on the Cape are located in flood zones that require flood insurance by lenders – even if the home has never experienced a flooding event. Cash buyers can make their own decisions regarding flood insurance. There is nothing forcing them to carry it.

Many Cape buyers who DO require financing but have substantial equity in their primary home choose to refinance or take out a home equity loan on THAT property in order to buy the Cape house with cash, and thus realize all the benefits listed above. Again, how best to finance your Cape Cod home is a very personal decision that is based on your own specific needs and situation, and should be discussed with your financial advisor for proper guidance regarding your options. If you don’t have a trusted advisor, contact Sarah Robinson, Certified Financial Planner, at Robinson Financial Solutions.

Whether you will be paying by cash or with a mortgage, you want to be sure you are getting the home at a fair price. Be sure you are working with a good Buyer’s Agent who can educate you about the selling price of similar homes that have recently sold. This will help you make a decision regarding the fair market value of the property you are pursuing. Please contact me anytime for assistance. It would be my privilege to help you procure your dream house on Cape Cod.

If you’re actively looking for a home on the Cape but haven’t found it yet, then you might be planning to continue shopping this Summer. Lots of new listings are coming online daily, and one of them just might be your dream house. But shopping for a home during the summer months on the Cape is different than all the other months. Be sure to read the tips below to help avoid unnecessary frustration.

Number One – Plan Ahead. During the off-season, it’s usually possible to get into homes with very little notice. Many of our Cape homes are actually vacant during the off-season. Many of them are on lockbox. And Realtors tend to be more available in the off-season. None of these are necessarily true in the summer. Homes that were vacant are suddenly filled with vacationers. Lockboxes have been removed because the homes are now occupied. And Realtors, like all other Cape residents, have guests and plans and are not necessarily available at the drop of a hat to show properties. Contact your Realtor at LEAST a few days in advance to see if it will be possible to see the homes that interest you.

Number Two – Shop on Saturday. If you are planning to come for a day to look at a variety of homes, the best day to do that on the Cape in the summer is Saturday. The reason for this is that many homes that are for sale are also being rented. These homes can typically be shown during a very small window on Saturdays in between rentals. We call this the “turnover time”. Plan to look at these homes between 1 and 3pm. That’s your best chance of getting in after the cleaning crew has left and the new tenants have yet to check in.

Number Three – Open House Etiquette. It’s common for Buyers to attend an Open House unaccompanied by their Realtor. That is of course, no problem. However, you should be sure to write your Realtor’s name on the sign-in sheet and make it clear to the host of the Open House that you already have a Realtor. Else, if you decide to make an offer on that particular house, your Realtor may run into trouble trying to act as your representative. Just write your Realtor’s name on the sheet and you should be covered. And be sure to let your Realtor know if you wish to make an offer.

Number Four – Pack Your Pre-Approval Letter. If you’re coming to the Cape on vacation and plan to seriously shop for a home while you’re here, be sure to bring your pre-approval letter. The best homes go FAST – sometimes within just days of being on the market. If you see something you love and want to make an offer, your offer will be incomplete without your pre-approval letter and the Seller will likely choose someone else’s offer that HAS a pre-approval letter. If you’re paying cash, be sure to bring “proof of funds”. A simple bank statement showing that you have the funds to buy the home will suffice. Black out your account number with a Sharpie and make a copy.

Number Five – Prepare Your Phone! With new listings coming online daily, you don’t want to miss a great new listing that came on the market just before you left the Cape. Be sure you are receiving Daily Alerts and while you are on the Cape, be sure you are receiving new listings the MOMENT they hit the market. Your Realtor can help you get your phone set up with the best App for your needs. A smart phone comes in REALLY handy when shopping for homes while you’re vacationing on the Cape.

Following these steps will go a long way toward helping you find the perfect Cape house while shopping this summer. Good luck and I hope to have the privilege of assisting you!

If you’ve been actively searching for a home on Cape Cod, you’ve most likely discovered that shopping for a home on the Cape is fun! After all, what’s not to love? Exploring beautiful, oceanfront neighborhoods; touring the wide variety of homes for sale; checking out the closest beaches; browsing the shops in the nearby village; and simply imagining yourself living in your dream home. It’s all good! Until you actually FIND your dream home. Then the fun quickly turns to stress as you transition from the shopping to purchasing phase.

Suddenly, you find yourself staring at a fully-executed offer sheet that is riddled with deadlines: a deadline for inspections, a deadline for the signing of the Purchase and Sales Agreement (P&S), a deadline to put up more money, and most importantly, (and unless you’re paying cash), a deadline for the mortgage commitment. The latter will require you to produce a seemingly endless trail of paperwork. You can significantly reduce your stress during these critical few weeks by getting as much of your paperwork as possible ready in advance. We call this paperwork your “green file”, and it should contain at least the following for each applicant whose name will be on the mortgage:

• Copy of your driver’s license.
• Most recent 2-3 consecutive months of statements from each of your financial asset accounts, including checking/savings, investments, IRAs, 401(k)s, CDs, etc.
• Proof of down-payment and closing costs. Lenders will want to follow the paper trail of any and all monies you’re using at closing, including the down-payment. It is best to have this money in a single liquid account for at least 2 months prior to your mortgage application. If all of the money cannot be traced in the above-referenced accounts, you need to account for it. If some of it is a gift from a relative, you need to provide proof of where it came from and also proof that it does not need to be paid back (via a Gift Letter).
• 2 years of W2s and tax returns.
• 2 months of most recent pay stubs.
• Names and addresses of employers for two years.
• If self-employed, year-to-date profit and loss statement, plus signed returns for last two years.
• If applicable, documentation related to any of the following: pension income, Social Security and Disability payments, dividend earnings, bonuses, child support payments and alimony payments.
• Information on debts, including car loans, student loans, credit cards, mortgages, etc.

Having these documents ready in advance will substantially reduce your stress level and make the home buying process far more enjoyable from beginning to end. After all, you want to spend your pre-closing time picking out paint colors, shopping for furniture and planning your move – not searching your basement for old bank statements and tax returns!

For more specific detail about what will be required in order to approve your mortgage, consult your mortgage lender. If you don’t have one, your Cape Cod Oceanview Realtor will be happy to introduce you to several reputable lenders who can help find the best loan for your needs.

If you’re one of the many Cape Cod home buyers who are shopping for a home today but not planning on purchasing until you retire, you might want to consider the benefits of buying your Cape Cod retirement home sooner rather than later, if you are in the financial position to do so.

First, while nobody knows for sure what home prices will be like at any particular point in time, history tells us that over time, real estate prices inevitably rise. By buying today, you are locked in at today’s prices instead of tomorrow’s. If you are putting money away for your retirement anyway, perhaps you should discuss with your financial advisor whether or not it makes good financial sense to put some of it toward a mortgage on your retirement home, which can be paid off when you eventually sell your primary residence. If you have solid equity in your primary residence, you might even consider tapping some of that equity to use as the down-payment on the Cape house. Not only will you get into the Cape market at a likely lower price, but you will have the home to enjoy until you are ready to retire.

If you feel your finances are just a little too stretched to support both your primary residence and your eventual retirement home on the Cape, remember that Cape Cod is a vacation destination and most homes on the Cape have rental potential. Of course the exact value of the potential depends on many factors, including how close the home is to a beach. But even homes that are inland can typically be rented in the summer if the price is right. This means you can likely use some rental income to offset the cost of your annual mortgage, and STILL have the home available for your own personal use. Many homeowners on Cape Cod only come down during the shoulder seasons and rent their home during the peak summer weeks.

Finally, if you typically vacation on the Cape each year through a summer rental, remember that by buying your own home on the Cape, you may be saving several thousand dollars each year that you would typically be handing over to another homeowner to rent THEIR home and thus pay THEIR mortgage. That “vacation fund” savings, combined with the potential rental income, could go a long way toward paying for your own place.

While buying a retirement home early isn’t for everyone, it may be the perfect plan for you – one that allows you to get into the market at today’s prices, enjoy the home periodically until you are ready to retire, and use potential rental income and your vacation budget to take a bite out of your mortgage payment. It’s an idea worth discussing with your financial advisor, who can help you evaluate the pros and cons of buying your retirement home sooner rather than later. Good luck and whether renting or buying, we hope to see you on the Cape soon!

On the heels of the Federal Reserve’s most recent rate hike, which takes its key rate to the highest it has been since the housing crisis, it’s important to understand its likely impact on mortgage rates and on your buying power if you are in the market for a new home.

But before panicking, be aware that mortgage interest rates won’t necessarily react immediately to this week’s news. The Fed controls the short-term rates which typically have a longer term impact on mortgage rates. Plus, the recent rate hike by the Feds has already been at least partially baked into today’s interest rates, which are a good point higher than they were a year and a half ago (hovering around 4.5% versus 3.5%). Still, experts believe that mortgage rates could be a good deal higher by the end of 2018, falling anywhere from 4.7 to 5.9% (source: Realtor.com).

If you’ve been searching for the perfect home on the Cape for more than a year, not only are you impacted by rising prices (largely due to inventory shortage), but if you are planning to take out a mortgage, your buying power may be impacted by the slow but continual rise in mortgage interest rates.

Consider a buyer who eighteen months ago was approved for a $500,000 mortgage at 3.5%. Her monthly payment (principle and interest only) would have been $2245. Today, with interest rates hovering around 4.5, that same monthly payment will only get her a $445,000 mortgage – more than 10% less than what she could have afforded 18 months ago. This might be OK if sale prices were falling, but they are not. They are slowly rising, along with interest rates. If she doesn’t find the perfect house until the end of the year, and if rates are at 5% by then, her $2245 monthly payment will only support a $420,000 mortgage. With prices slowly rising at the same time, that buys you less house than today’s $445,000 and a LOT less than $500,000 from 18 months ago.

This is not to suggest that you should buy the wrong house simply to buy it quickly. But when you are shopping for homes and weighing the pros and cons of each, be sure to factor in the effect of rising prices and interest rates, the longer you wait. You may pass up an ALMOST perfect home today and have to settle for even less by the end of the year. When searching for a Cape Cod home, be sure you are considering ALL your options and carefully weighing the impact of acting vs. waiting.

For professional assistance buying your Cape Cod home, please contact me and be sure you are signed up to receive Daily Property Alerts which email all the latest listings to your mailbox each day. We can’t change today’s inventory, but we can help ensure you are not missing new listings when they hit the market. Contact me today to get started. It would be my privilege to assist you.

If you receive our monthly newsletter, you already know we’ve been in somewhat of a Seller’s market for nearly a year now. But that doesn’t mean you still can’t get the perfect Cape Cod home at a fair price! Here are some tips to help guide you.

Know the Market

Be sure you are staying on top of the market, so that when the right home comes along, you’ll not only be one of the first to see it, but you’ll also have a good sense of what it is worth in the current market. The best way to do this is to sign up for Daily Alerts so that you see all new listings that meet your criteria right when they hit the market. Timing is everything with new listings. Nice homes that are reasonably priced go quickly.

Know the House

Once you find the perfect house, be sure to learn as much as possible about it to help you formulate a winning offer. How does it compare to similar homes that have recently sold? This will give you an idea of its TRUE market value. How long has it been on the market? Depending on the house, you may not have much negotiating power with a brand new listing. The Seller is likely going to take their chances that a better offer will come along. But if it’s been on the market for a while, the Seller will likely be more motivated to negotiate and you are less likely to find yourself in a bidding war.

Know the Cost of Upgrades

Homes that have been recently updated typically go more quickly and for top-dollar because many buyers – especially many CAPE buyers who are frequently retirees or second homeowners – don’t want to deal with the hassle of renovations. A home that isn’t perfect but COULD be perfect with some updating and upgrades could be the right house and will likely provide more room for negotiation. Make sure you have a good sense of what the upgrades will cost and make your offer with this in mind.

Be Realistic

Don’t sit around waiting for the deal-of-the-century to come along. With inventory so dramatically low compared to previous years, it’s not likely to happen. In the meantime, prices are rising and so are interest rates. So your buying power could be weakening the longer you wait.

Be Ready

As we discussed in our January post, you want to be ready to act as soon as you find the right house. That means having your financing lined up, have all your funds in the right places, and have as few contingencies as possible. In a Seller’s market, many Sellers – especially of new listings – won’t be keen on potential show-stoppers such as a home sale contingency or a lengthy closing date. But as noted above, if the house has been on the market for a while, you may have more negotiating power.

A good Buyer’s Agent can assist you with all of the above. Please contact us for assistance in buying your new home. It would be our privilege to assist you.