• Long term mortgage rates are at 20-30 year lows
  • According to Freddie Mac, in a press release yesterday, the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage was 5.01% this week, up from 4.98% last week.  Last year at this time, the average rate for a 30 year fixed mortgage was 5.25%.  Rates fell to a record low of 4.71% average in early December
• FHA allows 6% seller concessions (may decrease to 3% this summer)
• FHA up front mortgage insurance is currently only 1.75% (set to increase to 2.25% on April 5)
• FHA 90 day flipping rule waiver is in effect until February 1, 2011
• CHFA (Colorado Housing and Finance Authority) has financing for buyers with credit scores as low as 580
• CHFA has down payment assistance programs available
• CHFA can offer loans with market interest rates and down payment assistance with the FirstStep Program
• CHFA MCC (Mortgage Credit Certificates) are available
• Fannie Mae is offering 3.5% incentive to buyers purchasing Fannie Mae owned properties
• HomePath financing is available for Fannie Mae owned properties
• The First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit is available
• Move Up Buyers receive a $6,500 tax credit
• Home values expected to increase from November 2009-2010

If you were on the fence before reading this, we hope this spurs you into action and clears up any confusion or questions about the benefits of purchasing now.  If you have any questions, please contact us.

Lending A Hand

Marla Wynn

The Wynn Team

• Closing Costs
• The purchase of new Whirlpool appliances by Fannie Mae or
• A mix of closing costs and appliances, at the buyer’s discretion, up to the maximum 3.5%

To be eligible for this incentive:

• Offers must be accepted on or after January 28, 2010
• Property sales must close before May 1, 2010
• Buyers must be owner-occupants, investors are excluded

This is an incentive part of the ongoing effort to stabilize these neighborhoods.  Terry Edwards, Executive Vice President of Credit Portfolio Management had this to say:

Attracting qualified buyers to the market and reducing the inventory of vacant homes is critical to stabilizing neighborhoods and helping the market recover. Many families are taking advantage of the federal homebuyer tax credit to buy a new home so this is a great time for Fannie Mae to offer some additional help.  Homebuyers have the option to choose between financial assistance toward closing costs or new appliances for their home.

Properties eligible for this incentive are listed on the HomePath website and most listings include detailed property descriptions, photographs, community and school information and more.  In addition, many Fannie Mae owned properties are eligible for special HomePath Mortgage financing which offers homebuyers an opportunity to purchase with as little as 3% down.  As of this posting, there are 930 homes available in Colorado.

If you are interested in the special HomePath Mortgage financing, you will want to be sure to find a lender who is participating in this program.  There are currently only 20 lenders in the entire state of Colorado, of which we are one.  If you would like to apply online for financing, you can do it through our website.

The HomePath website allows you to put in very specific search criteria to find a home in your desired area that fits your needs.

Lending A Hand

Marla Wynn

The Wynn Team