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☆ A 20% down payment is 'definitely not required' to buy a house, economist says. Here's how much you need
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Phynart Studio | E+ | Getty Images'The conundrum of the housing market'One way to reduce your monthly mortgage payment is to put down more money and borrow less. Nationally, the average down payment on a house is closer to 10% or 15%, Hale said. Even with a conventional loan, buyers' required down payment could be between 3% and 5%, depending on their credit score and other factors. While a lower down payment is one way to "attack affordability challenges," it can be a "mixed bag," Hamrick said. With a lower down payment, you will need to borrow more from your lender, which raises the monthly cost of your mortgage, Hale said.

Persons: Hale, there's, Hamrick Organizations: CNBC, SurveyMonkey, Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S . Department of Agriculture, Federal Housing Administration, PMI Locations: U.S

☆ I bought my first home this year: 7 things I wish I'd done before getting serious about my search
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Celia Fernandez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

When my partner and I signed a two-year lease to move into our second New York City apartment together in 2021, we agreed that the next place we lived in would be ours. New York City is where I grew up, and I am not ready to give up my status as a "passenger princess" — yes, I'm 31 and don't have a driver's license. "There are four things that go into getting a mortgage: your credit, your income, your assets, and the property," Forbes says. The application process for a program like the New York City HomeFirst Down Payment Assistance Program or the NYS AHC grant can take several months. My partner and I bought a co-op, which is very common in New York City.

Persons: We've, Dave Forbes, Forbes, you've, Z, Gen Zers, millennials, wouldn't Organizations: New, Chase, NYS, Qualtrics, National Association of Housing Cooperatives, Rocket Mortgage Locations: New York City, Riverdale, Bronx , New York, Manhattan, Midtown, New York State, New York, That's, millennials, .

☆ China just unveiled the strongest remedies yet for its troubled housing market
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The Chinese government unveiled a raft of measures to stimulate its embattled housing market. It will remove the floor on mortgage rates, offer cheaper housing loans, and lower down payments. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementChinese authorities just announced their biggest effort yet to shore up the troubled housing market. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: Overbuilding, — Organizations: Service, People's Bank of, Business Locations: People's Bank of China

☆ Budget-minded homebuyers should look in these 23 cities where down payments are plummeting, even in an unaffordable housing market
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( James Faris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Affordability remains a headacheHome affordability has taken a huge hit since the pandemic as mortgage rates, property prices, and — by extension — down payments have surged. Mortgage rates have since more than doubled at over 7%, and houses cost over $70,000 more at $332,000. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate is now roughly triple the 2.7% rate it was at in early 2021. The savings rate in the late 2010s was around 6.5% of disposable income, and it spiked early in the pandemic due to a surge of government stimulus. 23 cities where down payments are down meaningfullyAlthough affordability is limited as mortgage rates, home prices, and down payments have risen, there are still dozens of cities where the cost of buying a house is headed lower.

Persons: —, Hannah Jones, Realtor.com, Freddie Mac, they'd, Jones Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Realtor.com

☆ Mortgage demand from homebuyers drops even as interest rates pull back to April lows
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Mortgage rates last week dropped to the lowest level since April, but buyers are still struggling to afford today's housing market. As a result, mortgage demand flattened at a weak pace. "While the downward move in rates benefits prospective homebuyers, mortgage rates are still much higher than they were a year ago, while for-sale inventory remains tight," Kan added. Another read on inflation will influence the next move from the Federal Reserve on interest rates. "The difference between a result of 0.2 or 0.4 is surprisingly massive when it comes to the world of interest rates.

Persons: Joel Kan, Kan, Matthew Graham Organizations: Mortgage, Treasury, Federal Reserve, Mortgage News

☆ A 20% home down payment isn't 'the law of the land,' analyst says. Here's how much people are paying
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Tetra Images | Tetra Images | Getty ImagesPutting 20% down is 'definitely not required'One way to reduce your monthly mortgage payment is by putting down more money and borrowing less. But for many households, trying to get a higher down payment can be challenging, said Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com. While a lower down payment is one way to "attack affordability challenges," it can be a "mixed bag," Hamrick said. With a lower down payment, you will need to borrow more from your lender, which raises the monthly cost of your mortgage, Hale said. A smaller down payment can also mean you don't qualify for a lender's best -available interest rate.

Persons: Danielle Hale, there's, SurveyMonkey, Hale, It's, Hamrick Organizations: CNBC, Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S . Department of Agriculture, Federal Housing Association Locations: U.S

☆ Don't feel too sorry for Gen Z — they're outpacing boomers on income and millennials on home ownership
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. But things might not be as bad for Gen Z as they seem. Members of Gen Z are projected to spend more on housing costs like rent, mortgages, insurance, and utilities after inflation between the ages of 22 and 30 than millennials did, a recent RentCafe analysis found. Related storiesYet Gen Z's typically higher earnings mean they'll only spend an estimated 30% of their income on housing compared to 36% for millennials. AdvertisementSuccess may be short-livedIt's worth digging into why Gen Z is doing well financially.

Persons: —, Gen Z, Z, boomers, Gen, millennials, They've, lockdowns, Zeds Organizations: Service, Business, Reserve, millennials

☆ A mortgage advisor shares how to get the 3.5% down payment on an FHA loan fully covered — and the 3 best strategies real-estate investors can use to maximize leverage from government loans
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( William Edwards | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

This was achieved by allowing first-time buyers to purchase a home with a smaller down payment — as low as 3.5%. The program is still around, and it's often a great way for real-estate investors to get started. Advertisement3 ways to make the most of government loan programsWelgan also shared two strategies that real-estate investors can use to maximize the leverage offered through government loans. Buyers can now purchase up to a four-unit property with a down payment of as little as 5%. "That's been a game changer for real-estate investors," Welgan said.

Persons: —, Jeff Welgan, Fannie Mae, Buyers, Welgan, Fannie Mae's, That's, ADUs, Dave Meyer, Fannie, I've Organizations: Service, Act, Business, Federal National Mortgage Association, Mortgage, Urban Locations: Los Angeles County , California, Michigan, California

☆ Collusion in Health Care Pricing? Regulators Are Asked to Investigate
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Chris Hamby | More About Chris Hamby | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Recent revelations about a data analytics firm’s role in determining medical payments have heightened concerns about possible price fixing in health care and led to a call for a federal investigation. In a letter this week, Senator Amy Klobuchar asked federal regulators to examine whether algorithms used by the firm, MultiPlan, have helped major health insurers conspire to cut payments to doctors and leave patients with large bills. She cited a New York Times investigation last month into MultiPlan’s dominance of the lucrative business of pricing out-of-network medical claims. When patients see a medical provider outside their plan’s network, insurers often send their claims to MultiPlan, which uses proprietary algorithms to recommend how much to pay. By driving down payments to providers, MultiPlan and the insurers can collect higher fees for themselves, The Times reported, but this can lead to higher bills for patients, who may get charged the unpaid balance.

Persons: Amy Klobuchar, ” Ms, Klobuchar Organizations: New York Times, Federal Trade Commission, Times

☆ UK property prices: Brits face biggest obstacles in 70 years to buying a first home
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“During some periods both the cost of buying (down payments) and the cost of owning (mortgage repayments) have been high. Mortgage rates biteThe average mortgage repayment has rocketed since late 2021 as the Bank of England, along with other major central banks, began jacking up official interest rates to bring down inflation. (The interest rate on some government bonds is used to set mortgage rates). On Monday, the average rate on a two-year fixed-rate mortgage stood at 5.82%, according to data from product comparison website Moneyfacts. “An election is due within the next year and a new government, committed to helping prospective first-time buyers, might start by acknowledging the challenges younger generations face not just in housing but more generally,” the BSA said.

Persons: Liz Truss, “ Organizations: London CNN, Building Societies Association, BSA, Office, National Statistics, Bank of England, UK Finance Locations: United Kingdom, London, England, Wales

☆ Fisker reportedly temporarily misplaced millions of dollars in payments for its EVs
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Fisker reportedly temporarily misplaced millions of dollars worth of customer payments. The issue made it difficult for Fisker to accurately report its revenue, TechCrunch reported. Fisker dropped prices for its EV on Wednesday and has warned it could run out of funds. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementFisker briefly misplaced millions of dollars worth of payments from customers last year, according to a recent report from TechCrunch.

Persons: Fisker, — Organizations: TechCrunch, EV, Service, Business

Setting a down payment goalBefore you can set a down payment goal, you first need to figure out how much you'll need for a lender to approve you for a mortgage. Determining the size of down payment neededThe minimum size of your down payment will depend on the loan program you use. Exploring down payment assistance programsDown payment assistance programs can help cover part or all of your down payment. But if you can save up a down payment of at least 20% of the home's purchase price, you'll avoid paying PMI (private mortgage insurance), which can reduce your monthly payment. To save for a down payment, create (and stick to) a budget, reduce unnecessary expenses, increase your income through side jobs, automate your savings, and explore down payment assistance programs.

Persons: You'll, you'll, windfalls, Windfalls Organizations: Netflix, Spotify, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, PMI Locations: homebuyers, Chevron

☆ Could First-Time Home Buyers Lose Out Under New Commission Rules?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Ronda Kaysen | Rukmini Callimachi | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

With a landmark legal settlement poised to upend a decades-old norm that has dictated who pays real estate agents and how much, economists, agents and lenders are beginning to worry that the burden could now be on first-time home buyers. Buyers may soon have to pay out of pocket for something that had always been baked into the price. “First-time home buyers are usually the people who don’t have much cash and experience — and that experience matters,” said Daryl Fairweather, the chief economist of Redfin, the online brokerage that cut ties with the National Association of Realtors last year. The lawsuit was initially brought by home sellers in Missouri who accused N.A.R. of artificially inflating home prices by coupling commissions paid to sellers’ and buyers’ agents.

Persons: ”, Daryl Fairweather, Buyers, N.A.R Organizations: Redfin, National Association of Realtors Locations: Missouri

☆ How to make high interest rates work for your hard-earned savings
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-20 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

However, that won’t happen if you just let it sit in a traditional checking or savings account that yields next to nothing. High-yield online savings accountsThe average annual percentage yield on bank savings accounts was just 0.52% as of March 13, according to Bankrate. As with any bank savings rate, high-yield savings account rates can change overnight, and the bank may not alert you when it lowers it. But don’t confuse money market accounts with money market mutual funds, which invest in short-term, low-risk debt instruments. Unlike money market deposit accounts, money market mutual funds are not insured by the FDIC.

Persons: ”, Ted Rossman, ” Rossman, Ken Tumin, Schwab, you’d, Tumin, Doug Ornstein, Andy Smith, Ornstein, doesn’t, ” Smith Organizations: New York CNN, Bankrate, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Fidelity, TIAA Wealth Management, FDIC, Securities Investor Protection Corp, Edelman, AAA Locations: New York, Wells Fargo, United States

First-time homebuyer no down payment programsIt's possible to get a mortgage with no down payment. VA mortgage borrowers enjoy the ability to put no money down and interest rates that are typically lower than conventional mortgage rates. Other low down payment mortgage optionsIf you don't qualify for VA or USDA no down payment home loans, there are other strategies you can use to reduce the down payment you're required to pay. Preparing for the application processTo ensure you qualify for a no down payment mortgage, work on getting your credit score in a good place. Forgoing a down payment may mean paying a higher interest rate and higher monthly payment on your mortgage.

Persons: you'll, Here's who's, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Organizations: US Department of Veterans Affairs, US Department of Agriculture, Federal Housing Administration, Federal Housing Finance Agency, USDA, Chevron Locations: homebuyers

☆ President Biden's new budget wants to bring back the child tax credit and make sure Americans don't face Social Security cuts — all while taxing billionaires and big companies more
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The budget seeks to restore the expanded Child Tax Credit and keep Social Security benefits intact. The budget also proposes a tax increase on billionaires, companies, and firms giving executives big paydays. The proposal comes after a tax bill that would partially expand the Child Tax Credit currently lingers untouched in Congress. Advertisement"It cuts costs for families with children and American workers and lowers childcare costs for hardworking families," Young continued. Would a restored child tax credit or maintained Social Security benefits impact your life?

Persons: Joe Biden, —, White, Shalanda Young, Young, Biden Organizations: Tax, Social, Service, American, Management, Social Security, Federal, Aid, Republican, Republicans, Democratic, —, GOP, Security

Biden unveiled a plan that includes tax credits and down payment assistance to improve housing affordability. Eligible homebuyers would get this tax credit for two years, meaning you could get a total of $10,000 in tax credits for buying a house. Down payment assistanceAnother piece of Biden's plan for more affordable homeownership is the $25,000 in down payment assistance he wants Congress to provide to first-generation homebuyers. What hopeful homebuyers should knowAs a whole, this plan could substantially improve housing affordability, enabling more Americans to become homeowners. And even for homebuyers who qualify for tax credits or other assistance, saving up for a down payment remains a big barrier to homeownership.

Persons: Biden, —, Dan Green, homebuyers Biden, hasn't, doesn't, Green, Daryl Fairweather, Fairweather, White, homebuyers Organizations: Biden, Service, Federal Housing Finance Agency, Consumer Financial, homebuilders, Loan, Program, Bank of America Mortgage, Democrats

☆ Car Deals Are Easier to Find but Lenders Are Tightening Their Terms
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Ann Carrns | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

New cars are more available this spring, and manufacturers have even begun offering deals to entice buyers. But at the same time, lenders have been tightening the terms of car loans as they deal with a rising number of delinquencies. That has made it harder for some people to get affordable loans. The impact was seen at banks, credit unions and dealerships. “We are seeing credit access tighten in all channels,” said Sean Tucker, a senior editor at Kelley Blue Book, Cox’s car research and sales website.

Persons: ”, Sean Tucker, Kelley Organizations: Cox Automotive

The Biden administration has limited credit card late fees to $8, a 75% reduction. Federal Reserve BoardA study by the CFPB published in 2022 showed that credit card late fees are disproportionally collected from people in low-income neighborhoods. The Good Brigade/Getty ImagesReduced credit card late fees would also be worth about $414 million to the real estate industry. A drop in the bucket of credit card costsCredit card debt is now at record levels and interest rates on those cards have soared. Interest and other credit card fees cost consumers more than $1,100 a year and are still growing.

Persons: Biden, Vance Ginn, Jenny Thorvaldson, Thorvaldson Organizations: Consumer Financial, Business, IMPLAN, Biden, Federal Reserve Bank, Federal, Brigade, Centers for Disease Control, Money Management, MMI

☆ Half of aspiring homebuyers can't afford a down payment—and the No. 1 reason why isn't student loans
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Around half of potential homebuyers say they can't afford a down payment and closing costs on a property in the U.S. because they don't make enough money and living costs are too high, a new Bankrate survey finds. Considering that down payments are often 20% of the home price, they represent a considerable upfront cost for most buyers. Closing costs, at usually about 3% to 6% of the mortgage loan, are often quite expensive too. Bankrate surveyed 864 U.S. adults January 2024 who are aspiring or prospective homeowners, which includes those who have owned a home in the past but currently don't, as well as first-time homebuyers. And as home prices continue to rise, the size of down payments are likely to grow as well.

Persons: Bankrate Locations: U.S

☆ The two-letter word helping this lender buck the delinquency storm
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

But that’s not an accident,” Max Levchin, Affirm’s CEO and a co-founder of PayPal, told CNN in a recent interview. Levchin credits a willingness to say a two-letter word, one that’s not exactly associated with the surging BNPL industry, N-O. It’s that we are honest when we tell them, ‘Hey, we don’t think you should borrow right now.’”Affirm started saying “no” more often in the spring of 2022. That’s when Levchin started observing signs of “financial stress” as inflation surged and gas prices approached record highs. “Say you’re asking to borrow to buy an $800 TV and we really don’t think it’s healthy for you, financially…We can say, ‘That’s too much now.

Persons: “ We’re, that’s, ” Max Levchin, Levchin, “ It’s, ’ ”, ”, “, Max Levchin, Gross, we’ll, ” Levchin, it’s, BNPL, There’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, PayPal, CNN, New York Fed, Target, Walmart, Royal, American Airlines, NY Fed, Federal Reserve, Biden, Trump Locations: New York, Helsinki, Finland, Royal Caribbean, Covid

☆ Enact CEO Rohit Gupta talks mortgage insurance as homebuyers struggle with down payments
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailEnact CEO Rohit Gupta talks mortgage insurance as homebuyers struggle with down paymentsRohit Gupta, Enact CEO, joins 'Closing Bell Overtime' to talk the state of housing and mortgage rates.

Persons: Rohit Gupta

☆ Here are this year's most competitive rental markets
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Still, all real estate is relative, and some apartment markets are hotter than others. A new report from RentCafe, another apartment search site, ranks the most competitive rental markets, with Miami topping the list for 2024. They have 14 prospective renters for each unit compared with the national average of seven, and the city's occupancy rate is 96.5%, compared with 93% nationally. The option of remote work has also sent more people to the region, but the supply of apartments there is dwindling, making it more competitive. While rental supply is rising, demand is sustaining thanks to the short supply of homes for sale in today's market and rising mortgage rates.

Organizations: Miami, CNBC PRO Locations: RentCafe, Miami, Milwaukee, Chicago, Grand Rapids , Michigan, Midwest

Sal Khan, 31, earns $220,000 a year and lives with his parents in Houston. "I do think my relationship now has been the best with my parents than it has been before," Khan tells CNBC Make It. But that won't be the end of his living arrangement with this parents: Khan hopes to move his parents to his new home, too. The bulk of his savings are earmarked for more down payments on properties, Khan says. Sal Khan hopes that sharing his story will dispel the stigma about living with parents as an adult.

Persons: Sal Khan, Khan, Erik Mauck, that's, it's, Khan's, Nina Nguyen, Krishnan, Khan didn't Organizations: CNBC, Ohio State University, Bay Area, Costco, Gas, Wealthfront Locations: Houston, Pakistan, U.S, Bay, Chicago, Texas, California, Arizona, Florida

☆ 'If your parents are homeowners, you're more likely to be a homeowner,' housing expert says. Here's why
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

If a parent is a homeowner, they are more likely to assist with their kid's down payment, she said. But it's harder for those with parents who are not homeowners: "Renter households are often precluded from bringing more people into their home. Having homeowner parents is 'like a 5 percentage point bonus'Young adults with homeowner parents are more likely to become homeowners themselves because they can obtain more information about the mortgage application process directly from their parents, the Urban Institute found. "Because the parents are so knowledgeable about homeownership, they're more likely to encourage their kids to do it and show them how to do it," Myers said. "It's like a 5 percentage point bonus by having parents who are homeowners."

Persons: Skylar Olsen, Myers, that's, Zers, Intuit Credit Karma, Wachter Organizations: Digitalvision, Getty, National Association of Realtors, Urban Institute, Intuit Credit Locations: Washington ,

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