B4 • Friday, April 8, 2022
thegardenisland.com
THE GARDEN ISLAND
BUYING TIPS IN A SELLER’S MARKET ing interest to the bank, you are, in real terms, earning a 4% return. It is a sweet feeling knowing the bank is paying you to borrow money from them. Debt is now the asset when it comes to real estate.”
Andrew Herrig WEALTHY NICKEL
There’s no denying the housing market has been on fire. According to the National Association of Realtors, the median U.S. home price increased 16% to just over $350,000 over the past year. While home price appreciation is excellent news for current homeowners, it puts potential buyers in a difficult position. With many houses selling for over asking price with multiple offers, how can buyers compete in what seems to be a firmly entrenched seller’s market? While many experts are hopeful that the blistering pace of price increases will slow in the coming year, there are many things home buyers can do now to set expectations and increase their chances of finding a new home. Here are six tips for home buyers to help navigate buying a home in 2022. Set Realistic Expectations In a hot housing market, you may have to compromise on your wish list to secure a home. According to Victoria Cornell, you don’t have to find your forever home right off the bat. “Purchasing your first home is exciting and is a big life goal for so many.” She goes on to say that in a strong seller’s market, “it’s okay to focus on getting your foot in the door and not purchase your dream house. You can always renovate, build an addition, or move again later. Your first purchase into the housing market is the first step to many other opportunities.”
Understand the Hidden Costs of Homeownership
Buy What You Can’t Change One of the essential rules in real estate is “location, location, location.” While the location isn’t everything, it certainly falls under the category of something you can’t change about a house after you’ve bought it. According to a recent Bankrate survey, 43% of homeowners have at least one regret about buying their current home. While some regrets are fixable, such as paint colors or a kitchen, others are not. Andrew Karpiak of Kamloops Living, a real estate firm in the interior of British Columbia, says to focus on making sure you are happy with the things you can’t change as a first-time home buyer. “Everyone wants to buy that elusive dream property, but in my experience, the most important tip I can give is this: buy what you can’t change. This could be the location, lot size, school zone, or
view. Whatever is most important to you, focus on that first. The flooring, paint colors, cabinets, etc., can all be changed over time.” Inflation Can Be Your Friend Many first-time home buyers are understandably worried about rising home prices. With inflation surging over 7% to levels not seen since 1982, almost everything is more expensive than a year ago. However, with interest rates still near historic lows, you can borrow money now and effectively pay it back with cheaper dollars in the future. Max, a certified credit counselor, and money coach breaks down the math on calculating the real interest rate on your loan. “If the nominal interest rate on your loan is 3% and inflation is 7%, your real interest rate on the mortgage is negative 4%. So instead of pay-
The true cost of homeownership is much higher than just the monthly mortgage payment. You are also responsible for property taxes, insurance, HOA dues, utilities, etc. One of the most significant expenses first-time home buyers can forget to account for is maintenance and repairs. Emily Herrig, owner of Emergency Plumbing on Call, a marketing company for plumbers, advises budgeting in advance for home maintenance costs. “As a general rule of thumb, you can expect to spend 1-2% of the purchase price each year on repairs. For a $350,000 house that amounts to $3,500 - $7,000 a year, or nearly $600 a month. While that may seem like a lot of money, remember that this includes large, infrequent expenses like replacing your HVAC system, roof, or driveway as they age.” Get Pre-Approved Before Making an Offer In today’s hot real estate market, being pre-approved for a mortgage is almost a prerequisite for submitting an offer. Speaking with a lender or mortgage broker and providing your financial information will also give you a good idea of how much you can afford to narrow your home search. John Dealbreuin, a real estate investor in the San Francisco Bay
area, highlights the benefits of obtaining a mortgage pre-approval. “In this competitive seller’s market with homes selling over asking price, buyers need to make sure they get their foot in the door with their finances in order. Having a pre-approval letter in hand indicates to the seller that you are serious about the home buying process. The added benefit to you as a buyer is feeling secure about bidding on houses knowing that lenders have validated your borrowing power and are comfortable with the loan amount.” Hire a Good Home Inspector Buying your first home is likely the biggest purchase of your life, and most people are not experts on home maintenance, repairs, and code compliance. There are many things to know before buying a house, and it can pay dividends to hire a professional to see what problems may be lurking behind the walls of your soon-to-be home. A home inspector will look at some big-ticket items such as the electrical and plumbing systems, roof, foundation, and much more. Buying Your Dream Home While house shopping can be overwhelming for home buyers, setting realistic goals can be an important first step. Unfortunately, it can be tempting to let the frantic pace of the market convince you to stretch your budget past your comfort level. Still, by following these tips and keeping the bigger picture of your financial health in mind, you can start your home-buying journey armed with the information you need to succeed.
Hawaiiana Management Company, Ltd. Serving Kauai’s Condo & Community Associations with award-winning service
H Long-term US mortgage rates edge up this week to 4.72%
Sunshine Ruiz Hatto Vice President Kauai Operations
awaiiana currently serves over 60 residential and commercial associations on the Island of Kauai, with a staff of nine management executives, three local support professionals and the property management industry’s most experienced accounting and technical personnel. Kauai native Sunshine Ruiz Hatto serves as Hawaiiana’s Vice President of Kauai 2SHUDWLRQV IURP LWV RIŅFH LQ /LKXHģV .XNXL *URYH ([HFXWLYH &HQWHU +DZDLLDQD 0DQDJHPHQW &RPSDQ\ /WG LV +DZDLLģV FRQGR DQG FRPPXQLW\ DVVRFLDWLRQ management company, with over 750 association clients throughout the state.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — Long-term U.S. mortgage rates edged up again this week with the key 30-year loan rate reaching levels not seen in more than three years. The average rate on the 30-year loan this week rose to 4.72%, from 4.67% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday. The average rate has jumped 1.5% in the past three months, the fastest pace of increases over that stretch of time since May 1994. A year ago, the 30-year rate stood at 3.18%. The average rate on 15-year, fixed-rate mortgages, popular among those refinancing their homes, climbed to 3.91% from 3.83% last week. With inflation at a four-decade high, the increases in home loan rates come a few weeks after the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter point in an attempt to cool the economy. The central bank, which which had kept its benchmark rate near zero since the pandemic recession struck two years ago, has signaled potentially up to seven additional rate hikes this year, meaning mortgage rates likely will continue to rise over the year. Home prices are up about 15% over the past year and as much as 30% in some cities. Homes available for sale have been in short supply even before the pandemic started two years ago. Now higher prices and rising loan rates will add to the obstacles would-be buyers face as the spring homebuying season starts.
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Hawaiiana’s Kauai Properties: BOB WILSON SR. MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE
LUCY TAYLOR SR. MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE
AMY CAMPBELL MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE
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MIRISHAE MCDONALD MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE
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WHIT VAN BLARGEN MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE
HINAHEA LANGI OFFICE MANAGER, SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
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For more information about Hawaiiana’s awardwinning services, contact Sunshine Hatto at (808) 792-0515 or sunshine@hmcmgt.com.