Christopher Tellis

<p>With the end of 2021 approaching, home buyers are now looking ahead to next year. And many of them share the same kinds of questions regarding the housing market.</p> <p>What will the market be like in 2022? Will it be easier to buy a home next year, compared to 2021? In short, what should home buyers expect from the real estate market in 2022?</p> <h2>5 Housing Market Trends We Could See in 2022</h2> <p>While no one can predict future housing conditions with certainty, we can make a few educated guesses based on current trends and conditions. With that in mind, here are five housing market trends for 2022 that might affect home buyers.</p> <h3>1. Tight inventory conditions expected to continue.</h3> <p>Low supply within the housing market was one of the biggest stories of 2021. The short version is there aren’t enough homes on the market to satisfy the demand from buyers. And experts believe this trend will continue in 2022, to some degree.</p> <p>But there might be a bit of good news on the horizon, from a home buyer’s perspective. Some analysts expect to see a gradual increase in the number of homes for sale during 2022.</p> <p>For instance, a recent housing market forecast from Realtor.com predicted a slight uptick in overall inventory levels. To quote their December 1st report:</p> <p>“Realtor.com forecasts 2022 home sales (+6.6% year-over-year) will hit their highest level in 16 years as buyers remain active and for-sale inventory begins to recover from recent steep declines.”</p> <p>This is arguably one of the most important housing market trends for 2022, from a home buyer’s perspective. But don’t be discouraged. If we learned anything from 2021, it’s that buyers can still succeed despite the ongoing inventory crunch.</p> <h3>2. Home prices will likely keep climbing.</h3> <p>In many U.S. cities, home prices rose at an unprecedented pace during 2021. Some housing markets experienced annual growth of more than 30%. As a result of this trend, house values across much of the country have reached all-time record highs.</p> <p>This is another housing market trend that will carry into 2022. While price growth is expected to slow down a bit over the coming months, home values nationwide will probably keep rising to some degree.</p> <p>This could create a sense of urgency among buyers — and rightfully so. If prices continue to climb as expected, it could make a strong case for buying a home sooner rather than later. Buyers who postpone their purchases until later in 2022 might end up paying more.</p> <p>But again, real estate conditions can vary from one city or metro area to the next. So you’ll want to conduct local research to see what’s happening in your housing market.</p> <h3>3. More competition from millennials?</h3> <p>According to the Realtor.com forecast cited earlier, the 2022 housing market could bring a surge of buying activity from millennials. (These are people born between 1981 and 1996.)</p> <p>Realtor.com’s researchers stated that a large number of these folks are entering prime home-buying age. So they could contribute to a rise in home sales in 2022, while increasing housing market competition in general.</p> <h3>4. Higher loan limits have been announced.</h3> <p>Here’s some good news for home buyers planning to buy a house in 2022. As we explained in a previous article, borrowers will enjoy higher mortgage loan limits next year compared to 2021.</p> <p>Federal housing officials have increased the loan limits for conventional conforming loans, as well as FHA-insured mortgages. They made these changes in response to significant home-price growth that occurred during 2021.</p> <p>Basically, this means borrowers have a higher range of financing to work with in 2022, without having to use the more restrictive “jumbo” loan products.</p> <h3>5. Favorable mortgage rates continue, but…</h3> <p>Mortgage rates are another important housing market trend to watch in 2022.</p> <p>The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage loan hovered below 3.2% for all of 2021. And while rates are expected to creep upward in 2022, they’ll probably remain favorable. That’s good news for borrowers.</p> <p>A forecast published by Freddie Mac earlier this year suggested that 30-year mortgage rates could average around 3.5% during 2022. That would be a slight increase from where we are in December of 2021, but still low by historical standards.</p> <p>So there you have them, five housing market trends for 2022 that could affect home buyers!</p> <p>Disclaimer: This article includes forecasts issued by third parties not associated with our company. Such predictions are the equivalent of an educated guess and should be viewed as...

<p>Purchasing a home is a huge financial commitment. Before getting wrapped up in the excitement and stress of house-hunting, it’s important to measure your expectations for what you can afford and your home loan options. Beginning with this crucial step can make the entire process more efficient – getting you settled into your ideal new property quicker.</p> <p>Whether you are actively looking for a new residence or know moving is going to be part of your future, it’s always important to understand how your actions can affect your prospects at securing a loan. Our lenders at InterContinental Capital Group have shared three things they evaluate in a mortgage application so you can be prepared to put your best foot forward.</p> <h2>A thorough assessment of the “3 C’s”</h2> <p>Dustin DiMisa, CEO of InterContinental Capital Group, founded his company on the belief that home financing should be a straightforward and individualized process. Today, ICG pairs every applicant with a licensed mortgage specialist from their state. Clients will be educated on their local housing market and walked through their own 3 C’s to understand how likely their loan request is to be accepted.</p> <h3>1. Credit Score</h3> <p>Your credit score is the first item that lenders will assess to determine your eligibility for a loan. As Credit Karma explains, your backer will generally seek out your middle score from the three major credit bureaus. They are ultimately looking to see if you have a long track record of using credit responsibly.</p> <p>A higher credit score usually means a better chance for approval at lower rates, so it’s crucial for prospective homeowners to continuously monitor their number. If you want to improve your credit score before applying for a loan, Credit Karma suggests fixing any delinquent accounts, making every payment on time and trying to use less than 30% of your available credit. Additionally, avoid opening any new accounts if you are looking to put in a request soon.</p> <p>With many accessible – and free – options for checking your credit score, you can be actively improving your chances to receive a home loan. If you need more guidance on how your spending habits may be affecting these odds, a qualified lender from ICG can walk you through the fine details and help make an improvement plan.</p> <h3>2. Capacity</h3> <p>Lenders want to be assured that you have the financial means to honor your monthly loan payments. Just because you can take out a massive loan doesn’t mean you shoud, as NerdWallet emphasizes, both you and your lender should be focused on how much you can afford rather than how much you can borrow.</p> <p>There are many factors that a creditor will evaluate to determine your capacity to make monthly payments, including your:</p> <p>Debt-to-income ratio Loan-to-value ratio Annual income Interest rate</p> <p>As the hopeful homeowner, you should also be realistic about the other “what-if” scenarios that could impact your ability to pay your monthly fees. For instance, moving into a new space can result in extra money being spent on needed renovations, general maintenance and new furniture. These expenses can add up quickly within a short period of time, possibly leaving you strapped for cash when your payment is due.</p> <p>Carefully plan out all scenarios to better understand your capacity, and utilize some online tools like those offered by NerdWallet to get a better understanding of your financial position. Before applying for a loan, try to pay off some of your existing debt and rearrange your budget to include some of the what-ifs and a down payment.</p> <h3>3. Collateral Value</h3> <p>Understandably, your home is usually used as collateral for a mortgage. This means if you stop making your monthly payments, the lender can take possession of your home and possibly sell it to repay the loan. Financer’s take the value of the collateral into consideration when assessing a loan request.</p> <p>If you are asking for a million dollar loan and your home is worth only a fraction of that, your application is going to be rejected. Lenders want to be confident that in the worst case scenario if a client is unable to make payments, they can sell the asset to recoup their loan amount.</p> <p>Being realistic about your collateral value is important to understand how much you are likely to receive from a lender. This can also mean reaquirement of thorough inspections of your new home to make sure there will be no costly surprises that could lower its value.</p> <p>At ICG, home loans can be provided without taking collateral beyond the property that needs financing, which is ideal for protecting your other personal assets.</p> <h3>Adding technology to the mix</h3> <p>These three easy steps provided by ICG streamline the home loan process while giving potential homeowner’s insight into what it takes to qualify for a mortgage. If you have a good credit score, can make your monthly loan payments on time and have strong collateral value, the loan acquiring process is easy.</p> <p>Furthermore, ICG has utilized a wide array of digital tools and technological advances to help their clients. Allowing you to take control of your finances and understand the entire process, the Electronic Loan center allows you to monitor the process of your application and receive and sign electronic disclosures. Moving these processes online makes the loan processing journey seamless and transparent.</p> <p>Comprehending what lenders are looking in your application can help you take steps to better your chances at qualifying for a home loan. Being prepared with the 3 C’s can move your application along swiftly, as can knowing what kind of loan you want or need.</p> <p>If you would like to know more about the loan options offered by ICG, or more help understanding if you qualify for a home loan, contact us today.</p> <p><strong>Sources:</strong></p> <p>https://www.creditkarma.com/home-loans/mortgage-rates/educational https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/mortgages/how-much-can-i-borrow-calculator https://intercontinentalcapital.com/dustin-dimisa/ https://intercontinentalcapital.com/loan-options...

<p>Searching for a home can be an exhilarating adventure full of hope and potential. When you're still in the hunting and daydreaming phase, the possibilities tend to seem endless. Whether you're looking for a ready-made dream home or hoping to refinance so you can transform your current property, the options are there just waiting for your perusal.</p> <p>Once you get to the actual purchasing or refinancing stage, though, matters become a bit more complicated. In fact, they can be downright nerve-racking at times. What's the first step you should take? What are lenders looking for in a potential borrower? Where do you go from there? At InterContinental Capital Group, we're here to walk you through the entire process, making the journey from a castle in the air to a tangible home in the perfect location as simple as possible.</p> <h2>Types of Loans Available</h2> <p>Just as you'll find a variety of homes within your eligibility parameters, you'll also have an array of loans from which to choose. For many borrowers, this leg of the journey is even more confusing than the initial three steps involved in the loan qualification process. We work directly with our borrowers rather than bringing a middle-man into the picture. As such, we can offer you a variety of options where loans are concerned.</p> <h3>FHA Mortgage Loans</h3> <p>Federal Housing Administration loans are generally offered with less stringent guidelines than the conventional alternatives. Lower credit score requirements are in place for these loans, and borrowers can benefit from smaller down payments and lower insurance rates as well as a number of other advantages. FHA loans give lower-income families and those with less-than-perfect credit histories a better chance of purchasing a home.</p> <h3>Conventional Mortgages</h3> <p>Fixed-rate conventional mortgages allow you to lock in indefinitely on the rates at the time of acquiring your loan. You'll always know exactly what your monthly payment will be, and if you borrow when rates are low, you could save a considerable amount of money throughout the life of the loan.</p> <h3>Adjustable-Rate Mortgages</h3> <p>With an adjustable-rate mortgage loan, the interest rates at the time of your new home purchase or refinance will be locked in for a specified number of years. Once this period ends, your interest rate will fluctuate depending on the current market. Many borrowers tend to shy away from this type of loan, but it could be a good option for you if you don't intend to stay in the home for more than a few years or you're refinancing a current loan.</p> <h2>Home Loans designed to fit your specific situation</h2> <p>Of course, a number of different options apply to all common loan types. Our team of professionals will speak to you on an individual basis to help find the mortgage program best suited to your particular situation. Feel free to fill out the form provided on our website to get started, chat online with a live representative, or you can call one of our offices for more information. Let our mortgage experts at InterContinental Capital Group help you find the loan of your dreams to purchase or refinance your...