Boston Real Estate for Sale

Buying a Boston condo: Financial concerns

Buying a Boston condo: Financial concerns. Last week, Fannie Mae released their Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI). Though the survey showed 77% of respondents believe it’s a “good time to sell,” it also confirms what many are sensing: an increasing number of Americans believe it’s a “bad time to buy” a home. The percentage of those surveyed saying it’s a “bad time to buy” hit 64%, up from 56% last month and 38% last July.

The latest HPSI explains:

“Consumers also continued to cite high home prices as the predominant reason for their ongoing and significant divergence in sentiment toward homebuying and home-selling conditions. While all surveyed segments have expressed greater negativity toward homebuying over the last few months, renters who say they are planning to buy a home in the next few years have demonstrated an even steeper decline in homebuying sentiment than homeowners. It’s likely that affordability concerns are more greatly affecting those who aspire to be first-time homeowners than other consumer segments.”

Let’s look closely at the market conditions that impact home affordability.

A mortgage payment is determined by the price of the home and the mortgage rate on the loan used to purchase it. Lately, monthly mortgage payments have gone up for buyers for two key reasons:

Mortgage rates have increased from 2.65% this past January to 2.9%.
Home prices have increased by 15.4% over the last 12 months.

Based on these rising factors, a home may be less affordable today, but it doesn’t mean it’s not affordable.

Three weeks ago, ATTOM Data released their second-quarter 2021 U.S. Home Affordability Report which explained that the major ownership costs on the typical home as a percent of the average national wage had increased from 22.2% in the second quarter of 2020 to 25.2% in the second quarter of this year. They also went on to explain:

“Still, the latest level is within the 28 percent standard lenders prefer for how much homeowners should spend on mortgage payments, home insurance and property taxes.”

In the same report, Todd Teta, Chief Product Officer with ATTOM, confirms:

“Average workers across the country can still manage the major expenses of owning a home, based on lender standards.”

It’s true that monthly mortgage payments are greater than they were last year (as the ATTOM data shows), but they’re not unaffordable when compared to the last 30 years. While payments have increased dramatically during that several-decade span, if we adjust for inflation, today’s mortgage payments are 10.7% lower than they were in 1990.

What’s that mean for you? While you may not get the homebuying deal someone you know got last year, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still buy a home. Here are your alternatives to buying and the trade-offs you’ll have with each.

Alternative 1: I’ll rent instead.

Some may consider renting as the better option. However, the monthly cost of renting a home is skyrocketing. According to the July National Rent Report from Apartment List:

“…So far in 2021, rental prices have grown a staggering 9.2%. To put that in context, in previous years growth from January to June is usually just 2 to 3%. After this month’s spike, rents have been pushed well above our expectations of where they would have been had the pandemic not disrupted the market.”

If you continue to rent, chances are your rent will keep increasing at a fast pace. That means you could end up spending significantly more of your income on your rental as time goes on, which could make it even harder to save for a home.

Alternative 2: I’ll wait it out.

Others may consider waiting for another year and hoping that purchasing a home will be less expensive then. Let’s look at that possibility.

We’ve already established that a monthly mortgage payment is determined by the price of the home and the mortgage rate. A lower monthly payment would require one of those two elements to decrease over the next year. However, experts are forecasting the exact opposite:

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) projects mortgage rates will be at 4.2% by the end of next year.
The Home Price Expectation Survey (HPES), a survey of over 100 economists, investment strategists, and housing market analysts, calls for home prices to increase by 5.12% in 2022.

Based on these projections, let’s see the possible impact on a monthly mortgage payment: By waiting until next year, you’d potentially pay more for the home, need a larger down payment, pay a higher mortgage rate, and pay an additional $3,696 each year over the life of the mortgage.

Boston Condos for Sale and the Bottom Line

While you may have missed the absolute best time to buy a home, waiting any longer may not make sense. Mark Fleming, Chief Economist at First American, says it best:

“Affordability is likely to worsen before it improves, so try to buy it now, if you can find it.”

Boston Condo Buyers FAQ

Is it a good time to buy a Boston condo for sale?

Yes.Fannie Mae released their Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI). Though the survey showed 77% of respondents believe it’s a “good time to sell,”

Are Boston condo mortgage rates going up?

Yes, mortgage rates have increased from 2.65% this past January to 2.9%.

Are home prices increasing?

Yes, Home prices have increased by 15.4% over the last 12 months.

Boston Condos for Sale

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Buying a Boston condo: Financial concerns

Today’s blog post is about financial concerns when buying a Boston condo. Whether you’re buying a triple deck in Dorchester or a luxury Boston Beacon Hill condo, we all have concerns we need to address before signing documents for buying a Boston condo. Let’s address a few of them:

Building Eligibility for Certified Mortgages

In today’s mortgage market, downtown Boston condos may be eligible for three types of home loans certified by government-sponsored entities such as Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, and the Federal Housing Administration. The guidelines are usually related to the bylaws and management records of the homeowners association. If the building does not qualify for conventional or FHA loans, your mortgage broker or real estate agent may still be able to find a lender that will provide financing, but this could come with a higher down payment and more expensive closing costs. You may be able to refinance into a conventional loan down the line if the building becomes eligible.

Boston Condo Association Litigation History

As a condo buyer, don’t be discouraged to learn that a lender will not grant a mortgage on a condominium tower deemed to be too risky due to a history of prior and pending lawsuits involving the homeowners association. Instead of trying to find another lender, you may want to look for other listings.

Insufficient Condo Down Payment

This issue is not uncommon in the downtown Boston condo market due to high demand and high property values. Not all homebuyers will be able to come up with a 20 percent down payment on the penthouse unit of a boutique condo in Beacon Hill. In this case, applying for FHA financing is a solution that may allow a down payment as low as 3.5 percent, and some of the funds can come from gifts made by relatives.

Low Condominium Appraisals

Even though low appraisals are not common in established markets such as downtown Boston, there is always a chance of this happening and holding up the loan approval. Appraisals can always be disputed, but success may be hard to come by when a bank is processing the loan application internally. Mortgage brokers have a greater chance of winning an appraisal dispute, and they can also push for a second appraisal as long as the seller knows getting to the closing table will take longer.

Whatever type of Boston condo you’re looking for, whether it’s condos, lofts, or penthouses, make sure to connect with a reliable agent who knows the downtown neighborhoods. Reach out to Ford realty at 617-595-3712.

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Buying a Boston condo: Financial concerns

Boston Real Estate for Sale

Buying a Boston condo: Financial concerns

Alternative 1: I’ll rent instead.

Alternative 2: I’ll wait it out.

Boston Condos for Sale and the Bottom Line

Boston Condo Buyers FAQ

Is it a good time to buy a Boston condo for sale?

Are Boston condo mortgage rates going up?

Are home prices increasing?

Boston Condos for Sale

Buying a Boston condo: Financial concerns

Building Eligibility for Certified Mortgages

Boston Condo Association Litigation History

Insufficient Condo Down Payment

Low Condominium Appraisals

Boston condos for sale

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Boston Condos for Sale

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