Mortgage applications recovered slightly from last week, increasing 0.5% for the week ending Feb. 26, 2021 according to the latest report from the Mortgage Bankers Association.
A giant dip in applications was reported following the devastating winter storms in Texas the week of Feb. 8, but a week of normalized weather brought numbers back up, according to Joel Kan, MBA’s associate vice president of economic and industry forecasting.
That is despite the fact that the 30-year fixed rate experienced its largest single-week increase in almost a year, reaching 3.23%.
The refinance share of mortgage activity decreased to 67.5% of total applications from 68.5% the previous week.
“The overall share of refinances declined for the fourth consecutive week, and conventional refinance applications fell more than 2% to the lowest level in four months,” Kan said. “Government refinance applications historically lag the more rate-sensitive movements of conventional applications, and that was true last week, as both FHA and VA refinancing volumes increased.”
The refinance index increased 0.1% from the previous week and was 7% higher year-over-year. The seasonally adjusted purchase index increased 2% from one week earlier, and the unadjusted purchase index increased 5% compared with the previous week.
“The housing market is entering the busy spring buying season with strong demand,” Kan said. “Purchase applications increased, with a rise in government applications – likely first-time buyers – pulling down the average loan size for the first time in six weeks.”
The FHAshare of total mortgage applications increased to 12.1% from 11.2% the week prior. The VA share of total mortgage applications decreased to 12.3% from 11.9% the week prior.
Here is a more detailed breakdown of this week’s mortgage application data:
The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($548,250 or less) increased to 3.23% from 3.08%
The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with jumbo loan balances (greater than $548,250) increased to 3.33% from 3.23%, breaking a five-week stretch of decreases
The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 3.19% from 3%
The average contract interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 2.64% from 2.56%
The average contract interest rate for 5/1 ARMs increased to 2.84% from 2.83%
Homebuyers are returning to the market thanks to record low mortgage rates and declining home prices, according to the National Association of Home Builders.
The group cited an 11 percent rise in single-family permits in February, along with modest gains in new and existing home sales.
“The number of households that can afford to purchase a home today is 55.4 million, compared with 38.4 million two years ago, according to figures compiled by NAHB,” the release said.
“That’s an increase of 17 million households from conditions just two years ago and the best housing affordability number we have seen in years,” said NAHB Chairman Joe Robson. “We are now seeing the first signs that buyers are returning to the marketplace.”
A typical family can now purchase a home for $20,000 less in annual household income than they could two years ago, while savings $500 a month on housing payments, the homebuilders claim.
Interestingly, just a $1,000 home price drop would open up the market to another 250,000 prospective homebuyers.
“With home values in many markets at the lowest level since 2003, an $8,000 tax credit available to first-time home buyers, fixed-rate mortgages under 5 percent, and an outstanding selection of homes to choose from, buyers are starting to recognize that this has the makings for a one-time opportunity to break into the market,” said Robson.
So might as well build some more homes to keep up with all that “underlying demand” right?
The trade group said it wants to add another 500,000 single-family homes to the current inventory overhang to correct today’s “anemic construction rate.”
They believe such construction would result in over 1.5 million new jobs and nearly $80 billion in wages across manufacturing, trade, and service sectors.
That’s pretty sweet, but what’s wrong with all the vacant, available houses out there at the moment?
If you’ve been paying attention to the housing market at all this year, you know that home prices have been heading up, up, up.
Take the latest report from the National Association of Realtors which showed that the median sales price of existing homes rose to $253,800 in May. That’s up 5.8% year-over-year and the highest reading since last June ($247,000).
Given the steady climb in home prices, it’s only natural to wonder what the underlying cause is.
What Causes Home Prices to Rise
Supply and Demand
When it comes to home prices and what causes them to rise or fall, it all comes back to the basic economic principle of supply and demand.
When we’re talking about the housing market, demand refers to the amount of homes desired by buyers, while supply refers to the amount of homes available on the market.
When demand rises and supply shrinks, that’s going to cause home prices to shoot up, as it breeds fierce competition among buyers.
As Debbie Drummond, a seasoned Las Vegas Realtor, points out:
“A recent Zillow report had Las Vegas’ median home price 10.2% higher than last year which beats the national average of a 7.4% increase. Our prices are being driven up by a lack of inventory. Current listings in the MLS are less than a two month supply of homes. Homes that are in good condition, in desirable neighborhoods, and priced right are selling quick.”
That’s a story that’s being repeated around many parts of the United States right now. In economics, the current situation is what is called “excess demand”.
Unfortunately for buyers, without an increase in the amount of homes for sale, home prices are destined to keep moving higher.
How high can they go, exactly?
Depending on what region you’re talking about, home prices could still have plenty of room to run. As Drummond told us:
“While our home values are appreciating we’re still 20-30% lower than our peak prices. Our economy is rebounding with unemployment at 4.8% in April. We have $15 Billion in major construction projects planned. This includes the new Football Stadium for the Raiders to occupy in 2020. With a vibrant economy and growing population, Las Vegas is likely to return to peak prices over the next 2-3 years.”
Las Vegas isn’t the only area with home prices that could see a sustained rise for many more months.
Take this recent article from the Orange County Register, which interviewed several economists and all of them stated that home prices haven another two or more years left to rise.
A quick google search reveals that this pattern repeats itself over and over again in Nevada, Nebraska, Texas, New Hampshire, and New York, just to name a few.
What Rising Prices Mean for Homeowners and Homebuyers
Find out what’s happening in your local housing market
It’s important to note that housing markets vary drastically from region to region. While home prices have been rising on average nationally, there are varying degrees of increases and even some places where home prices have fallen.
Figuring out what the situation is in your local housing market is a crucial first step in deciding what kind of action you should take.
NPR recently published an article with an interactive map that lets users see how home prices have fared in different parts of the United States. Take a look at the map to easily get an idea of what has been happening in your neck of the woods.
In all likelihood, home prices in your housing market have gone up and are poised to go even higher. With prices rising and inventory down, we’re seeing that many homeowners think right now is a great time to sell.
In fact, just last week the Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment index for June came in at 88.3, which matches the all-time high set in February. According to the report, 39% of Americans said that right now is a good time to sell a home (a new record high) and 30% said that right now is a good time to buy.
Selling your home
So if you’re planning on selling your home right now, it’s very likely that you will have no problem find a buyer. Just make sure to be on the hunt for a house to move to before you list because it’s possible you’ll be done with the sale sooner than you think.
Buying a home
For anyone planning on buying a home, it you will probably get a better deal if you act sooner rather than later. Not only are home prices continuing to move higher, but mortgage rates are also rising.
Comments from the European Central Bank President triggered a massive global bond selloff a couple weeks ago and we’ve seen rates move up over ten basis points (one basis point = 0.01).
While the upward momentum is definitely there, the good news is that mortgage rates are climbing off of 2017 lows and are still at the lower end of the spectrum this year.
If you want to find out what your custom rate would be, you can fill out our online form here, or you can always call one of our experienced loan officers who can walk you through the same process.
Carter Wessman
Carter Wessman is originally from the charming town of Norfolk, Massachusetts. When he isn’t busy writing about mortgage related topics, you can find him playing table tennis, or jamming on his bass guitar.
In an effort to make homeownership more accessible, seeing that down payment is often the biggest hurdle, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have announced that they will now allow loan-to-value ratios as high as 97%.
Only 3% Down Needed to Qualify for a Mortgage
Fannie Mae and Freddie now only require 3% down payment
Which is slightly lower than the 5% minimum they used to require
More importantly it means conventional home loan financing
Requires a smaller down payment than government options like the FHA (3.5% minimum)
In other words, prospective home buyers can put down just 3% instead of the previous 5% down payment requirement that was in place for conforming mortgage loans. This should make it a little bit easier to qualify for a mortgage without going through the FHA.
Additionally, if you already have a mortgage that is owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, you’ll be able to get a rate and term refinance up to 97%, as opposed to just 95%, assuming you don’t qualify for HARP.
These new guidelines should make conventional loans a lot more popular than FHA loans, the latter of which require 3.5% down and come with very costly insurance premiums.
However, there are a few caveats to ensure loose lending doesn’t return just several years after the worst housing crisis in recent memory.
For one, both programs require the subject property to be owner-occupied. So investment properties and second homes won’t be eligible. But condos, co-ops, and PUDs are just fine.
Additionally, you can only get a fixed-rate mortgage via these new 97% LTV loan programs and the mortgage term is limited to 30 years. Shorter-term fixed mortgages are also permitted.
Though Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are very similar, there are some differences between the two programs that I’ve highlighted below, most importantly the implementation date.
So if you were struggling to come up with a down payment, you might now be able to qualify for a mortgage thanks to these new programs. Take a look to see if you’re eligible and then contact banks/brokers to see if they’re available.
Most lenders that work with Fannie and Freddie will add these loan programs to their suite of offerings.
Fannie Mae’s 97% LTV Offering
Fannie Mae actually has two separate 97% LTV home loan programs available, one open to everyone and one only for borrowers in low-income census tracts or income-restricted in all other tracts.
The income-restricted program is known as “HomeReady” and comes with cheaper mortgage insurance coverage along with lower loan level pricing adjustments (LLPAs).
Those lower LLPAs mean borrowers can obtain lower mortgage interest rates, an important benefit for those with affordability concerns.
The LLPAs are waived for borrowers with LTVs above 80% and credit scores equal to or greater than 680, and capped at 1.50% for borrowers with attributes outside those parameters.
It also allows cash-on-hand as an eligible source of funds, but requires at least one borrower to take an online homeownership education course.
Here are the other rules that apply to both programs:
– Available on 1-unit principal residences only – Maximum loan-to-value ratio 97% – Down payment can come from gift, grant, or Community Second – No minimum borrower contribution necessary – Reserves may be gifted – Only fixed-rate mortgages with terms up to 30 years are eligible – No high-balance loans or adjustable-rate mortgages – Manufactured housing not permitted – Mortgage insurance is required – Minimum 620 FICO score – Must be underwritten through DU – Available now
For the standard Fannie Mae 97% LTV program, there are no income limits and no discounts in the way of mortgage insurance or LLPAs.
And at least one borrower must be a first-time homeowner (no ownership interest in last 3 years). However, no pre-purchase home buyer counseling is required.
Freddie Mac’s Home Possible Advantage
– Available for low- and moderate-income borrowers – Both first-time buyers and other borrowers with limited down payment savings can qualify – First-time home buyers must participate in homeowner education program – Maximum loan-to-value ratio 97% – Loan options include 15, 20, and 30-year fixed mortgages – Can be used to purchase a single-unit, primary residence – Minimum 620 FICO score – Manufactured housing not permitted – Income limits vary by area (no limit in underserved areas) – Lender-paid mortgage insurance permitted – No reserves required – Available March 23rd, 2015
For the record, there are already individual lenders offering loans with as little as 3% down that aren’t backed by Fannie or Freddie. Examples include TD Bank’s Right Step program and various loan programs via credit unions nationwide.
However, the Fannie/Freddie guideline change will allow such loans to become widely available to many more borrowers.
The average mortgage rate for a 30-year fixed loan rose 5 basis points last week to 3.02%, marking the first time since July that the industry has seen rates break above 3%, according to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey.
Since reaching a low point in January, mortgage rates have risen by more than 30 basis points as the economy works to recover, and according to Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, the impact on purchase demand has been noticeable.
“While purchase activity remains high, it has cooled off over the last few weeks and is currently on par with early March, prior to the pandemic,” Khater said. “However, the rise in mortgage rates over the next couple of months is likely to be more muted in comparison to the last few weeks, and we expect a strong spring sales season.”
After an arctic storm left purchase applications sluggish, mortgage activity bounced back last week almost immediately despite rising rates.
“The housing market is entering the busy spring buying season with strong demand,” Joel Kan, the Mortgage Bankers Association’s associate vice president of economic and industry forecasting, said. “Purchase applications increased, with a rise in government applications – likely first-time buyers – pulling down the average loan size for the first time in six weeks.”
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Throughout the pandemic-induced recession, now a year old, the Federal Reserve has stated that the housing market has been one of the only persistent bright spots. However, much of that strength has piggybacked on the industry’s historically low interest rates, and left some economists worried that the rapid rise in Treasury yields in the last several weeks risk choking off that activity.
The 10-year U.S. Treasury note, a heavy-hitter in the swing of mortgage rates, has risen by half a percentage point since January, now teetering near 1.4%.
However, Logan Mohtashami, HousingWire’s lead analyst, sees this as push in the right direction.
“Last year I talked about how the 10-year yield should stay at a range between 1.33% and 1.60% in 2021,” Mohtashami said. “If we couldn’t do this, something terrible happened with the vaccination process. After we closed above 1.33%, the yield rocketed toward 1.60%; we are in a range between these two levels right now. We are no longer in a recession; this is where the 10-year yield should be.”
According to Jeff Berman, General Partner at the venture capital firm, Camber Creek, one in three recent home buyers made an offer before even seeing a home in person. This revolutionary trend brought about by the adoption of cutting edge PropTech, is one of the subjects Realty Biz News discussed with Berman last week.
RealtyBiz: Why do you think property technologies have lagged behind the trend to adopt technology-based solutions set by other industries?
Jeff Berman: The most common reason given is that real estate is a “dinosaur” industry. And while that may be true to a certain extent – after all, many of the processes involved in property purchase/sale/lease haven’t changed in hundreds of years – that’s only half of the story. The other half requires us to examine the root of innovation…which is typically borne of necessity (as the old proverb goes, “necessity is the mother of invention”). And the fact of the matter is that players in the real estate industry have been making (a lot of) money going about their business(es) in a decidedly 1.0 manner. But I think that time is ending. Over the last few years we have noticed a sharp uptick in interest in technology from real estate industry insiders. They’ve woken up to the fact that technology is no longer a “nice to have” but a “need to have”.
RealtyBiz:We are seeing hundreds of millions in funding for proptech of every description. What do you see as “game-changing” technology in the space?
Jeff Berman: One of the fundamental ways technology is changing the real estate industry is in workflow/process. Let’s take a typical real estate (buy/sell) transaction. Even with the best stock trading apps at our disposal, you still have to follow a fairly cumbersome process to execute a transaction. There’s discovery (i.e. finding the property you want to buy or listing the property you want to sell), diligence, appraisal, title, legal, financing and settlement. And you have to pay a different set of professionals for each step along the way. The analog I like to use is the stock market 30 years ago. Back then, if you wanted to trade stock you would call a broker who would call a market maker who would call the trading floor to get the trade executed.
Now you can buy stock with a few swipes on your phone. So it will be with real estate. And while we’re still in early innings of this transformation, there are a number of companies developing software tools that are bringing that reality that much closer. For example, Camber Creek portfolio company Bowery built the world’s first end to end technology enabled appraisal firm cutting down the time to generate an appraisal – which is needed in most real estate transactions and is therefore a potential bottleneck – by up to 75% and often at less cost. It is companies like Bowery which will bring ‘game-changing’ technology to the fore.
Realty Biz: You and other experts have predicted that virtual reality (VR) will be an $80 billion dollar market by 2024. What kinds of tools do you see leading this dynamic market?
Jeff Berman: The promise of augmented reality and virtual reality in real estate is borne of the number of potential applications for the technology. From improved digital home/office tours to virtual collaboration – the possibilities are endless. In time, these technologies will reshape how we interact with our homes, our experience of walking down a city street, and how we conceive of offices altogether.
Realty Biz: – How do you pick a winner in a race to fill this property tech void?
Jeff Berman: Our (i.e. Camber Creek’s) ability to identify and scale market leaders is built on our unmatched network of decision-makers and principals in all real estate asset classes. This network provides the firm with a platform to rapidly test potential companies during diligence to determine actionable facts and propriety insights. We can literally “try before we buy” allowing us to find winning companies prior to making an investment. Once an investment is made, our hands-on approach provides portfolio companies access to the network and significant new revenue opportunities. This allows us to de-risk investments, accelerate the growth of portfolio companies, and create exceptional returns for investors.
Takeaway
Berman and other industry experts predict that by 2021, the market for virtual reality and augmented reality technologies will reach $108 billion. Virtual reality tech will become an $80 billion market by 2025, an of this, more than $2.5 billion will come from real estate. The Camber Creek executive’s suggestion that PropTech is a necessity rather than a nicety now, this is the takeaway every forward-thinking real estate professional should glean. For this analyst, I try and imagine a modern movie studio still trying to market silent films. This is the nature of the paradigm AI, AR, and machine learning are causing today. An investment in these technologies is an investment of necessity, in the infrastructure that is the real estate business.
Phil Butler is a former engineer, contractor, and telecommunications professional who is editor of several influential online media outlets including part owner of Pamil Visions with wife Mihaela. Phil began his digital ramblings via several of the world’s most noted tech blogs, at the advent of blogging as a form of journalistic license. Phil is currently top interviewer, and journalist at Realty Biz News.
Builders are increasingly offering buyers incentives in order to help sell their homes, with promotions including paying the closing costs, buying down mortgage rates and even straight discounts, which is a move they’re normally reluctant to make.
“We are really working a little bit harder to get people in the door and to get people excited,” Mark Mullin, a real estate professional who sells new homes in the L.A. area, told the Los Angeles Times. “These are things [builders] were not having to do a year ago.”
However, the concessions are still fairly small compared to a decade ago, though they are growing. For example, 23 percent of builders in the Los Angeles area lowered their listing prices in December, in addition to offering buyers money for upgrades, according to a recent John Burns Real Estate Consulting survey. In comparison, just 4 percent of builders did so one year ago.
But some 43 percent of builders were cutting prices in 2010, which shows they’re doing better than they were during the last throes of the Great Recession.
Normally, builders will prefer to offer incentives such as new amenities or cash for upgrades rather than cut prices. That’s because they don’t want buyers who’ve already signed a contract while the home is still being built to later back out when they see the prices slashed.
For example, development company Planet Home Living in Newport Beach, California, was selling units at $809,000 but not getting the traction it desired for its townhome-like units. In November, it slashed the price by $10,000 and added upgraded flooring, which would have cost buyers an extra $20,000. But so far, buyers are still not jumping at the discounts. Builders say they don’t expect to drop prices further.
Builders have seen sales slowing for several months. KB Homes, Toll Bros., and other homebuilders reported a drop in sales in the last quarter. Builders and real estate professionals say a jump in mortgage rates in 2018 and more than six years of price increases led to the slowdown. Some buyers “are waiting for reassurance that we are not in a crash,” Mullin told the Times.
Meanwhile, some homebuilders are readjusting their pricing expectations. “We took prices beyond the realm of reality,” says Grant Keene, chief executive of WJK Development, a luxury builder in Huntington Beach, Calif. The company tried unsuccessfully to sell single-family homes for up to $2.2 million—10 percent higher than the previous per-square-foot record for the area. “It made consumers balk,” Keene says.
Mike Wheatley is the senior editor at Realty Biz News. Got a real estate related news article you wish to share, contact Mike at [email protected].
Achieving success as a real estate agent requires more than simply understanding the mechanics of the job. Yes, you should certainly be able to post an impressive listing and understand the ins and outs of closing, but helping buyers and sellers means cultivating a diverse set of skills to navigate a complex and ever-changing real estate market. Here are 10 essential skills every real estate agent should possess.
1. Solid understanding of the market
It doesn’t matter if you specialize in investment properties, second homes, condos, or single-family homes for first-time buyers. The first skill you need is the desire and drive to stay current with market conditions. This includes understanding:
This knowledge helps you find the best properties for your buyers and ensures that you price a seller’s property appropriately.
2. Skillful communication
Communication is one of the most critical skills a real estate professional can cultivate. These skills help you to be both a better listener and a better speaker. And why is this so important?
Real estate professionals who listen carefully better understand their clients’ wants and needs. They won’t waste time on mismatched properties or investments beyond a client’s reach. And when it’s time to wade through complicated contract language or explain the benefits or drawbacks of a property, agents who communicate better have a leg up on their competition.
3. Talent for negotiation
Negotiation isn’t easy. There’s a delicate balance between being assertive and pushy compared to compromising and capitulating. Real estate agents who work hard to refine their skills are better at reading a buyer or seller so they can negotiate the best deal possible, even under challenging circumstances.
4. Dedication to service
Real estate is, in the end, customer service. So how does your customer service measure up?
Do you promptly return emails and phone calls?
Are you available to show properties during high-demand times (weekends and evenings, and, yes, sometimes holidays)?
Are you ready to go above and beyond to meet a customer’s needs?
If you answered “no” to any of the above questions, chances are good your customer relations need some work. This does not mean you should allow clients to walk all over you. But ultimately, if you want to close the deal, the customer (with a bit of hand-holding) is always right. It can be challenging to deal with needy clients, but they can also be the most loyal when you demonstrate your commitment to their happiness.
5. Ability to network
As with many jobs these days, you’re only as good as your team. Real estate agents may seem like lone wolves, but they are just the leader of a tight-knit pack of professionals. These include:
Contractors
Inspectors
Loan officers
Closing agents
Real estate attorneys
Real estate professionals who can call on a trusted network to make the deal move through the channels smoothly are more successful and sought after than those who struggle to make or keep contacts.
6. Marketing skills
Real estate agents are a little of everything: teacher, counselor, and financial adviser. Another hat to place on your head? Marketer.
Nothing draws more potential buyers than a beautifully crafted listing with eye-catching photos and tantalizing text. That doesn’t happen all on its own. And once you get that perfect listing assembled, it’s time to blast it on social media to get even more eyes on it.
Skillful marketing is also about understanding who’s buying and selling. A change in the target demographic means adjusting your marketing strategy appropriately. Some old-school realtors need help to adapt to marketing methods beyond paper advertising or direct mail. Don’t let that be you.
7. Comfort with new technology
Marketing is another area that has seen massive change in the last decade. These days, buyers and sellers complete complex real estate transactions from their couch, never visiting a property or setting foot in a closing agent’s office. So how comfortable are you with new real estate technology?
Can you:
Send and receive documents for electronic signatures?
Set up virtual property tours and respond to questions from them?
Manage tour scheduling on a website?
Decipher property valuation software for clients?
Realtors who are not comfortable with the latest technology in real estate will not be as successful in the years to come.
8. Time management
There’s an old saying: There’s no such thing as being on time — only late or early. It’s common for people to juggle full-time work, family, and volunteer activities, but how do you get it all done?
Time management. It doesn’t matter what your system is for being on time and meeting deadlines, so long as you have one. No client wants to feel like they are last on your list, even if you have a sick toddler or an overdue project for a night class. Use online planning tools or a paper notebook: whatever it takes to ensure your clients get the attention and service they need right on time.
9. Emotional intelligence
Buying and selling a home can be a complex and emotional process. Maybe a family is selling the home of a loved one who has moved to assisted living and needs to liquidate this asset. Perhaps a first-time buyer is realizing the dream of their first step to generational wealth building.
It’s not just a simple business transaction for these sellers and buyers. It’s personal, and you need to have the emotional intelligence necessary to honor their experience while still serving the needs of the transaction. It’s a delicate balance, but it’s essential to ease people through sometimes-challenging transitions.
10. Integrity
Integrity is doing the right thing even if no one is looking, and it can be a difficult skill in a profession with its fair share of dubious loopholes and quasi-legal transactions that nevertheless feel a little “off.”
Don’t be that real estate professional who goes for the deal at any cost. Too many people get so blinded by the possibility of lucrative commissions that they neglect to act ethically. This compromises the respect of the profession overall and can undoubtedly damage your reputation locally.
Act in a way that feels ethical and honorable to maintain personal integrity and achieve a successful career you can be proud of.
Luke Babich is co-founder and CEO of Clever Real Estate.
Whether you’re planning to list your home for sale tomorrow or three years from now, it’s never too early to start making investments that will ultimately increase your home’s value.
According to the 2017 Cost vs. Value report, you will get the best return on your investment (ROI) from major renovations including: new attic insulation, basement and kitchen remodels, and adding a second story.
But even if you’re not in the position to start a major renovation—cost or time-wise—there are still plenty of smaller projects. Some you can do yourself, and they’ll help you increase your home’s value to better prepare you for the day you’re ready to sell.
Read on to learn about four small projects that you can work on (maybe this weekend) to boost your home value and make your home stand out in a crowded market.
1. Replace Your Front Door
Updating your front door is a great way to boost your curb appeal. First impressions can make or break your interactions with prospective buyers—especially since most buyers (51%) use the internet to find their home.
If you want would-be buyers to keep reading about your house and eventually schedule an in-person visit, the exterior of your home needs to look clean and inviting.
At a minimum, you’ll want to give your door a fresh coat of paint. Consider choosing a bright color that contrasts with the color of your home, but accentuates your landscaping. Upgrade the hardware on the door, too, for a simple makeover that packs a punch.
If you have more wiggle room in your budget, consider upgrading your front door to steel. Potential homebuyers will appreciate the added durability and security, and you’re likely to get a 90.7% return on your investment.
2. Upgrade Your Landscaping
Landscaping is another component of curb appeal that can really set your house apart from other listings. Prospective homebuyers tend to think (consciously or not) that if the exterior of a home looks well taken care of, the inside will be, too.
Make sure to get rid of any clutter like kids’ toys or bikes that could detract from your landscaping. You’ll also want to make minor repairs or upgrades to parts of your exterior, like painting a rusty gutter or replacing a broken fence panel.
Landscaping isn’t just about a well-manicured lawn and adding color with plants. It could include building a flagstone pathway to the backyard, installing a wrought-iron fence to increase the privacy of your front lawn, incorporating a zen water feature, or creating a peaceful place to relax (not to mention creating more living space) with the addition of a gazebo.
Quality landscaping can add up to 20% to your home’s value—a significant increase!
3. Let the Sun Shine
Maximizing natural light is a great way to make your home look larger and more inviting to prospective homebuyers. Skylights are great for brightening up dark spaces like hallways, kitchens, and bathrooms.
Keep in mind though, adding a skylight is similar to adding another window to your home in that it can increase the demand on your HVAC system. You can cut energy loss off at the pass by purchasing Energy Star no-leak skylights to keep your utility bills low. You may even be eligible for a tax credit.
If skylights are beyond your budget, check out solar tubes. Solar tubes are usually half the cost of skylights and as long as you are comfortable working on a roof, you can probably install one yourself. Even the smallest solar tube, 10-inches, is the equivalent of three 100-watt bulbs, which is enough to illuminate up to 200 square feet.
4. Increase Your Home’s Energy Efficiency
Today’s homebuyers are willing to pay a premium for a home with energy efficient features. According to Globst.com, buyers will pay up to $11,000 more for a home with well-insulated windows and Energy-star appliances because of the long-term savings they can expect to experience with their monthly utility bills.
Regardless of your budget, there are plenty of ways to make your home more energy efficient. On the lower end of the cost spectrum, you can start by installing ceiling fans, programmable thermostats, and efficient toilets and showerheads.
If you have more to invest, you could upgrade your insulation—fiberglass insulation ranks high with an ROI of 107.7%—or even install solar panels on your roof.
The best part of this investment is that you don’t have to wait until you sell your home to reap the benefits. You’ll benefit from lower utility bills (and a smaller carbon footprint) while you still live in your home.
No matter which home improvement projects you take on to increase your home value, none of them will be terribly effective if you neglect basic home maintenance.
If there are problems with your home’s exterior—like broken shutters or cracked concrete, or even the way your dryer only works if you shut the lid in a certain way, it will be a big red flag to buyers. Consider creating and sticking to a year-round maintenance plan for a trouble-free home.
If you stop making payments on your debts, creditors usually have a set amount of time to pursue repayment. After that time, they can no longer legally pursue the debt. But that doesn’t mean you can just forget about the debt. Learn more about how debt collection and statutes of limitations work.
In This Piece
How Does Debt Collection Work?
If a creditor doesn’t believe it can recover a debt, it may sell that debt to a collection agency. These agencies specialize in debt recovery and have the resources, staff, and time to pursue old debts more aggressively than some original creditors.
A collection agency can also list an old debt as a new line on your credit report with a continuation of the original debt date.
When you default on debt, the creditor may close your account and report it as a closed account with negative payment information. When the account is sold to a collection agency, the collection agency owns the account and can list it as a collections account on your credit report.
As long as the collection agency can document the debt, it has a legal right to pursue it. That includes attempting to sue you for the debt and following up with methods such as wage garnishment if it receives a judgment for the debt.
What Are the Four Types of Debt?
Debt generally falls into a few main types. Each type works fairly similarly when it comes to debt collection.
If you miss payments on a debt, it can become delinquent and go to collections no matter how the original account was set up. Here are the main four types of debt:
Secured. Secured debt means you put something up as collateral to borrow against. That makes debt collection simple: the collateral can be repossessed.
Unsecured. Unsecured debt doesn’t involve collateral, so collection can get a bit messy. This can include lawsuits and wage garnishment.
Revolving. Revolving credit involves an open line of credit you can continue to draw on as you pay it off. Credit cards are a common form of revolving credit. This type of debt is usually unsecured, but secured options are available for people with poor or no credit.
Installment. Installment debt is a one-time loan paid back via a series of payments. Examples include auto loans, student loans, and mortgages. Installment debt can also be secured or unsecured.
Can a Debt Collector Collect After 10 Years?
In most cases, the statute of limitations for a debt will have passed after 10 years. This means a debt collector may still attempt to pursue it (and you technically do still owe it), but they can’t typically take legal action against you. If you notify them that the debt is past the statute of limitations and request they not contact you again, they likely won’t.
It also depends on when you made the last payment. The statute of limitations for most debts starts when you go into default. If a debt is 10 years old but you were making payments until three years ago, the debt is likely still within the statute of limitations and can be pursued by a debt collector.
However, it’s important to note that every case is unique and the statute of limitations on various forms of debt is different in each state. Understanding what the rules in your state are and how they might apply to your specific debt situation is important. Contact a lawyer for your unique situation if you have questions.
What “Restarts” the Clock on Old Debt?
Many people make the mistake of believing the statute of limitations on debt starts when they open an account. In reality, the countdown starts when you miss a payment or make your last payment.
For example, imagine you have a credit card you opened in 2010. You used the account and paid as agreed for five years. In 2015, something happened that changed your income and ability to make payments, and you stopped paying on the credit card debt. Depending on which state you’re in, the statute of limitations could be from three to 10 years. If the state has a six-year statute of limitations, that debt would have been collectible using the legal system until 2021—six years after the last activity on the account. Note that some debts have an even longer statute of limitations in some states, such as promissory notes, revolving credit, or legal oral contracts.
You can also inadvertently reset the clock on a statute of limitations by making an agreement to pay or paying a partial amount on a debt. In most cases, the clock resets starting at that date. It’s important to factor this point into any negotiations or repayment plans. If the statute of limitations is almost up, it may not be in your best interest to make any payments. However, if there’s still a lot of time left for creditors or collectors to sue, it may be wise to start making payments.
Having said that, an unpaid debt will stay on your credit report for about seven years, even if the time clock has run out.
How Long Can a Debt Collector Pursue an Old Debt?
In some states, a collection agency cannot try to collect at all once a debt is past the statute of limitations. In other states, they cannot sue you, but they may still try to collect the debt, which can include calls and written requests.
Some debt buyers—companies that buy and try to collect very old debts—still go after borrowers and might even take them to court. If they do this knowing that the debt is past the statute of limitations, they may have violated the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act. But they also know that most borrowers who are sued for old debts won’t show up in court, and the judge will issue a default judgment.
If your debt is past the statute of limitations at this point, you can re-open the default judgment and ask the judge to vacate it because it is time-barred. The process is relatively straightforward, but you may want to consult with an attorney to ensure it’s done correctly.
Always respond to legal summons. Judgments may give collectors additional collection powers, such as access to the money a debtor has in their bank account or the ability to garnish wages to collect the judgment. To prevent this, all a borrower has to do is appear in court at the appointed time and explain that they have a time-barred debt. If that is correct, the lawsuit will be dismissed.
It’s important to note that the statute of limitations is not the same as how long the debt appears on your credit report. The timeline for debt to stay on your credit report is often seven years, but again, this depends on your activity with the debt. If the debt was sold by the original lender at six years, and you made a payment with the new debt buyer, it could restart the clock.
What Is a Time-Barred Debt?
Time-barred debt refers to debt that’s beyond the statute of limitations. It simply means that the debt is not legally enforceable. It doesn’t mean you don’t owe the debt if it was legitimate to begin with. It means the creditor or collector can’t use the legal system to force you to make good on the debt.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, whether or not collectors can continue to contact you about a time-barred debt is up to various state laws. Some states do make this illegal. And in any state, a debt collector can’t sue you, threaten to sue you, or harass you over time-barred debt.
If you’re being contacted by a creditor about a time-barred debt, you can ask them to stop. The FTC recommends sending this request in writing by mail.
When Does the Clock Start on the Statute of Limitations for Debt?
Many people make the mistake of believing that the statute of limitations on debt starts when they open an account. In reality, the countdown starts when you miss a payment or make your last payment.
For example, imagine you have a credit card you opened in 2000. You used the account and paid as agreed for five years. In 2005, something happened that changed your income and ability to make payments. You stopped paying on the credit card debt in July 2005.
Depending on which state you’re in, the statute of limitations could be from three to 10 years. Let’s say the state in question had a six-year statute of limitations. The debt would be collectible using the legal system until August 2011.
You can also inadvertently reset the clock on a statute of limitations by making an agreement to pay or paying a partial amount on a debt. In most cases, that resets the clock starting at that date.
What Debt Isn’t Subject to the Statute of Limitations?
Time-barred debt refers to debt that’s beyond the statute of limitations. It doesn’t mean you don’t owe the debt if it was legitimate to begin with, but the creditor or collector can’t use the legal system to force you to make good on the debt.
What Effect Does Bankruptcy Have on Old Debt?
Bankruptcy means creditors can’t legally pursue debt collection of any credit debt in the bankruptcy. The debt also can’t be sent to a collection agency, and almost all collection activity, including legal action or wage garnishment, is prohibited. If you’re contacted about paying a debt after filing for bankruptcy, it’s a good idea to turn the matter over to your attorney to handle. Some debts can’t be discharged, such as student loans, taxes, and child support, even when you declare bankruptcy.
Negative payment history and bankruptcy can cause major damage to your credit score. So even if you’re off the hook for a debt, you still have to consider your credit and how you can start to build it back up.
What to Do If You Are Contacted About an Old Debt
If you’re contacted about an old debt, it doesn’t mean you should automatically pay it. Remember, agreeing to terms and providing a payment can restart the clock on an old debt, and it’s important to be aware of your rights as a consumer. Instead, take the steps below to see if you need to pay the debt and what your options are.
1. Ask the creditor to send you written notice of the debt.
This is required under the federal Fair Debt Collections Practices Act even if you don’t ask, but asking is a good first step. Scammers will say they aren’t allowed to send a notice or will try to email instead, which helps you weed out illegitimate callers. By keeping the initial phone conversation to a minimum, you may avoid saying or doing something that could hurt you later on with legitimate collectors.
2. Validate the debt.
Once you receive written notice of the debt, you have 30 days to request validation of the debt. Mail your request to the creditor or collections agency via a certified letter and ask them to validate the debt. You don’t have to give a reason for your request. You can simply say, “I dispute this debt. Please validate it.”
Tip: If the debt isn’t yours, you may want to reach out to a credit repair organization to help you work to challenge the debt and request it be removed from your credit report.
3. Confirm that the debt is within the statute of limitations.
While you’re waiting for the response from the bill collector, contact a consumer law attorney or your state attorney general’s office to confirm the statute of limitations for the debt. Consumer law attorneys who regularly represent consumers in cases against debt collectors often provide a free consultation.
4. Decide on an action.
Once you receive validation of the debt and confirm whether it’s inside or outside the statute of limitations, you typically have three main options.
Pay it. If you know you owe the debt and you can pay it, you can do so. Make sure you keep written records of the amount due and your payment. Sometimes these old debts get sold to more than one collection agency, and if you get another call about this debt, you want to have proof you’ve paid it.
Settle it. If you know you owe the debt and want to try to make good on it, but you can’t pay the full amount—or if the debt has been inflated by fees— you may want to negotiate to settle it for less than the full amount due. This is tricky, though, because once you start negotiating, you could reset the statute of limitations and end up being sued for the entire debt. That could lead to wage garnishments or other issues. If you want to go this route, your best bet is to talk with an attorney first.
Send the collector a letter telling them to leave you alone. You have the right to ask a debt collector to stop contacting you. Once you do that, they are only allowed to contact you to tell you if they are taking legal action against you. If you know the debt is outside the statute of limitations, state that in your letter and tell them not to contact you again.
Do Time-Barred Debts Show Up on Your Credit Report?
Time-barred debts can show up on a credit report. Negative items such as missed payments and collections accounts stay on your credit report around seven years. Many state statutes of limitations on debt are less than seven years.
Can a Collection Agency Report an Old Debt as New?
A collection agency can list an old debt as a new trade line on your credit report. It works like this:
You have a loan, credit card, or other debt. It’s listed as a tradeline by your creditor on your credit report.
You default on that debt. The creditor closes your account. It’s now listed on your credit report as a closed account with negative payment information.
The original creditor eventually sells the account to a collections agency.
The collections agency now owns the account and can list it as a collections account—a separate tradeline—on your credit report.
Debt Collections and Credit Reports
One of the best ways to protect yourself against old debts cropping up and creating problems is to keep an eye on your credit report. Sign up for ExtraCredit® for a proactive look at your credit reports and scores so you can take care of issues before they become legal problems.