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Penn Cove Park
Welcome to Penn Cove Park. There is no doubt you will find a home you like here. There is an array of newer and older homes amongst this quiet community on the northern shoreline of Penn Cove off Monroe Landing. The central location between Oak Harbor and Coupeville provides not only more options for educational opportunities but also quick access to all the amenities both cities have to offer.
What sets this neighborhood apart from some of the others you might find on Whidbey Island is that residents not only have access to a private beach, but they also have a boat ramp. During the summer the water is warm enough to swim in because the cove is protected from the strong offshore winds that other water access areas are exposed to, making it likely the warmest beach on Whidbey Island. Not to mention, the incredible views of Penn Cove, gorgeous views of Saratoga Passage and the lovely historic Town of Coupeville. On sunny days you can spot snow covered mountains in the distance and a pod of Orca whales may be playing in the Cove.
One of the major benefits of living here is the short distance to the only Hospital on the island, Whidbey General Hospital. Downtown Coupeville offers quaint restaurants, galleries, shops, and a museum that overlook the cove offering luxurious views making for special trips all year round. Oak Harbor, just north of the neighborhood is home to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island where you will find an array of fast-food restaurants, car washes, and big-name shopping centers. In between the two discover the heart of Whidbey, with family farms like Three Sisters Market, small churches, and one of the very few left in the USA the Blue Fox Drive-in Movies with attractions like arcades, go-carts, and food!
Are you ready to get to know this Whidbey Island neighborhood better? Check it out here.
Have questions? We are happy to help. Connect with us here.
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Annual Report 2022
Are you interested in buying or selling, or just wanting to learn more about the market or just Whidbey Island in general? We are here to help! Connect with us here.
What is an Interest Rate Lock?
It is no surprise that you might have questions when buying a home. There is a lot to know. Having a good realtor on your side can help you navigate some of those tough questions. Don’t have a realtor of your own? Contact us here and we will get you connected.
In this article, we will be discussing mortgage loan rate locks and how they are used to help you when you are buying a home.
In a market with frequently changing interest rates, some people worry that their interest rate will change before they get into their homes. Depending on the individual circumstances this could be a realistic fear. It is important to discuss this with your trusted realtor and your lender. However, lenders know you need time to search for your home after you have been pre-approved. A rate lock is implemented to protect your agreed-upon rate for a specific length of time.
Let’s discuss this further.
A rate lock is an agreement between you and your lender guaranteeing a specific interest rate will be provided to you for a specific length of time after the pre-approval. This is called the rate lock period. Your lender will confirm with you your interest rate, the start date, and the date of expiration.
What if interest rates go up before I close on a house?
Rest assured you are locked in at your agreed-upon rate even if interest rates have gone up before you close. But again it depends on the expiration date. You might be wondering how lenders can do this. As soon as your rate is locked, lenders purchase money from their investors for you at your rate to be ready for you to spend it when you find your home. Assuming your loan application is approved (see our “Nervous about getting approved for a home loan?” article) and all the terms and conditions for the approval have been met the money is made available to you at closing regardless of the changes in the market after you had locked in your rate. Lenders do not ask you to pay a higher interest rate just because market rates have shifted upward.
Why you shouldn’t wait to lock your rate even when interest rates are dropping.
Would it be more disappointing to have locked in a rate and find that you have missed a lower rate, or NOT locking in your rate and then having rates increase? Trying to time the market can be a dangerous game. Often the market spikes without warning leaving buyers regretting not locking in lower rates. Don’t forget if rates continue to fall, you can often refinance your loan typically after 120 days. Check your lender’s post-closing refinancing policy and make sure to discuss this with your lender ahead of time.
If you do not have a lender of your own or would like to discuss buying or selling a home, please do not hesitate to connect with us so that we can help you.
Email us at WhidbeyCommunications@windermere.com or call us at 360.675.5953
Nervous About Getting Approved For a Home Loan?
Are you nervous about getting approved for a home loan?
Don’t be! Staying informed about what to expect and what you should and should not do will help ease some of that worry. We are here to help you. Follow these simple DOs and DON’Ts and they will help you avoid hiccups during the approval of your home loan.
Dos:
- Continue to your current rent or mortgage payments on time.
- Stay up to date on all existing accounts (even if you are paying them off).
- Continue to work for your same employer.
- Continue to use the same insurance company.
- Continue living at your current residence.
- Continue to use your credit cards as normal.
- Call your trusted lender if you have any questions.
Don’ts:
- Make any major purchases like cars, boats, furniture, jewelry ect.
- Apply for a new line of credit (credit card or loan) even if you are pre-approved.
- Open a new credit card.
- Transfer any balances from one account to another.
- Pay off any collections or accounts without first checking with your trusted lender.
- Close any credit card accounts.
- Change bank accounts or banks.
- Max out or overcharge your current credit cards.
- Consolidate your debts into fewer accounts.
- Take out a new loan.
- Start any home improvement projects.
- Finance any elective medical procedures.
- Open new cell phone accounts.
- Create a new fitness membership at a gym or club.
If you run into any unique situation that leaves you questioning whether you should proceed it is in your best interest to connect with your lender and ask before you make any decisions. Your lender can help you determine what is right for you in your unique situation to achieve your financial goals.
If you do not have a lender of your own or would like to discuss buying or selling a home, please do not hesitate to connect with us so that we can help you.
Email us at WhidbeyCommunications@windermere.com or call us at 360.675.5953
Drop in Mortgage Rates, What that Means for You
Mortgage rates rise and fall in response to varying inflation. If 7% was too high for you, it is likely now a better time to connect with your lender to see if the current rates better align with your monthly housing allowance goals, as mortgage rates have begun to decline. Keeping an eye on inflation will offer you a strong indicator to where mortgage rates will go.
While there is no comparison to the rates offered at the beginning of 2022 there is hope that they will ease a bit from the dramatic climb.
Buyers Purchasing Power
If you are considering buying, this decline in mortgage rates means an increase in your purchasing power. For example, let’s assume you want to buy a $400,000 home with a monthly payment between $2,500 and $2,600. Consider the chart below to see how your purchasing power changes as mortgage rates move up and down. The red demonstrates payments above your desired threshold while the green represents payments within and below your desired price range.
This is a small example of how a little quarter-point change in mortgage rates can significantly impact your monthly mortgage payment. It is of the utmost importance to work with a trusted real estate professional and lender who follow the market and understand the projected mortgage rates for the days, months, and year ahead,
If you are considering buying and do not have a trusted real estate broker already on your side, connect with us and we will pair you with a broker that will meet your needs.
A Different Approach to Developing Wealth
Mynd recently released their 2022 Consumer Insights Report that demonstrates how millennials and Gen Z’s have taken a different approach to developing wealth than previous generations.
For example, while 9% of Baby Boomers are contemplating the idea of investing in rental properties over 43% of Millennials and Gen Zs are choosing to remain in their current living environments and invest in rental properties elsewhere to build their wealth.
BUT IS IT WORKING?
This strategy is becoming increasingly popular. It allows the investor to remain living without disruption to their lifestyle in a place they may not be able to afford to purchase a home of their own. Instead of uprooting their lives and relocating elsewhere to attain the dream of homeownership the investor achieves homeownership by purchasing a home in a more affordable location with the intention of renting it out.
With no disruption to their life, they become a homeowner and investors at the same time. Their purchase not only creates monthly passive income for their pocketbooks but also builds equity over time – ultimately increasing their overall net worth.
They can later choose to continue to rent out the home, sell for an increased price, or move into the home if or when they want or need to.
READY TO EXPLORE THIS APPROACH?
If you would like to explore this idea further connect with us so we can help you build your wealth through real estate.
VA Home loans help Veterans Reach The American Dream
VA Home loans help veterans reach the American dream.
If you or a loved one has served in the military this article is meant for you.
It is important for you to not only know that there are Veterans Affairs (VA) home loans available to you, but also understand the program, its purpose, and the benefits available to you at its fullest.
Follow along as we break it down into bite-size pieces so that you can be best prepared for the purchase of your own home.
UNDERSTAND THE PROGRAM
Veteran Affairs home loans provide millions of veterans the ability to purchase their own homes. They have been providing these types of loans over the past 78 years.
To be eligible for a VA home loan one must be an active service member, a veteran, or an eligible surviving spouse.
UNDERSTAND ITS PURPOSE
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs wants to say thank you for serving by making homeownership a real possibility for those who have dedicated their lives to serving our country. They have made it their mission to serve you by providing home loan guarantee benefits in addition to other housing-related programs that assist you in buying, building, repairing, retaining, or adapting a home for your own personal use.
UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS
Some of the major benefits of using a VA home loan is that most eligible borrowers can purchase the home with NO DOWN PAYMENT! That means you don’t have to save up to buy your own home and you are not penalized for not having a down payment. Typically, most other loans that have down payments below 20% require what is called Private Mortgage Insurance often referred to as PMI. This is an additional monthly fee tacked onto the mortgage that can be removed once you’ve reached 20% of the mortgage. How does this benefit you? You have an overall reduced monthly cost. In addition, VA loans offer competitive terms and mortgage interest rates.
The Executive Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs Loan Guaranty Service, John Bell, recently described the strength of the program by saying:
“It provides early ownership for many people that would not have that opportunity to begin with. Since there’s no down payment, it allows people to hold their wealth and it gives them the ability to have long-term financial security by being able to own a house and let that equity grow.”
Our veterans sacrifice so much during their service to our nation. One way we thank them is to ensure they have the best information about the benefits of VA home loans. Thank you for your service. If you are considering using your VA home loan and wish to speak with an agent, please connect with us here or email us at Whidbeycommunications@windermere.com.
When Rents Rise, You Pay More But You Don’t Get More
When rents rise, you pay more but you don’t get more.
Interest rates might be rising, but so is rent! As Nadia Evangelou, Senior Economist and Director of Forecasting at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), says:
“There is no doubt that these higher rates hurt housing affordability. Nevertheless, apart from borrowing costs, rents additionally rose at their highest pace in nearly four decades.” So, which is right for you? Buying a house or renting? If you are finding yourself in a place where you are struggling to determine which is the right decision here’s some food for thought.
RENT CONTINUES TO RISE
Rent has continually risen significantly for decades with no end in sight. It is no coincidence that as costs rise rents do too. In fact, 72% of landlords intend on raising the rent on at least one of their properties within the next year. Could that be you? Have you ever stopped to think that when rents rise, you pay more, but you don’t get more? Not only can you make money in the long run by buying a home but buying a home can prevent you from getting trapped in the cycle of continually rising rent.
When you become a homeowner, you have the opportunity to lock in your monthly payment for 15 to 30 years without it increasing as rent does. Be sure to discuss the advantages of the different types of loan options you qualify for with your Mortgage Lender (don’t have one? You can find one here). This is where homeownership pays off. Not only does your monthly payment remain low as rents around you increase creating a shield of protection from inflation but you also gain equity as your home value increases, and your loan amount decreases with each additional payment producing significantly more equity in your home each month.
ON THE FLIP SIDE
On the flip side, you need to consider the maintenance and upkeep costs of owning your own home. There is no calling the landlord when things break down or wear out and depending on the age and condition of the home you could be looking at paying a big lump sum in the future. Beyond cosmetics maintenance, you will also need to consider the cost of replacing things like your hot water heater, furnace, or even the roof over time.
Homeownership is not the right decision for everyone but consulting with an experienced Windermere broker to help weigh through all the considerations is something we love to help with, and it doesn’t cost you anything. In the meantime check out this article to dig deeper into whether or not buying or renting is better for you. Don’t have your own Windermere agent yet? Connect with us here.
You’ll Lose Money When You Overprice Your Home
You are probably asking yourself, “did I read that right?”
Yes, yes you did.
It is normal for sellers to want to get the most money out of the sale of their homes. It feels safe to list your home at the price you are desiring to get, but the reality is listing high might actually do your pocketbook more harm than good in the long run. Follow along as we explain why.
RISKS OF OVERPRICING YOUR HOME
You are drawing the attention of the wrong buyers.
Most people begin their home purchasing journey by searching which homes are available in their desired location online. Consider this. Your home is worth $500,000, but you list it for $575,000. When buyers are looking online, they filter to find homes within their price range and typically by $25,000 increments. The person looking for a $500,000 home will never see yours and if they do they will believe it is out of their reach, and when the buyers looking in the $575,000 range see your home and compare it to others in that range, they will get the impression it is not worth it, and there are better options.
Fewer people will see your home.
When your home is overpriced, the issue can be detected by buyers just by looking at your online listing and will pass on viewing it in person. The more showings you have, the more legitimate interest there is, and the more likely your home is to sell. Showings give potential buyers an opportunity to see the home first-hand giving them the opportunity to imagine themselves living there.
On the other hand, if you get lots of showings because your photos look better than reality but no offers you’ve wasted your best shot at getting the right buyer through your home and you there are no redo’s for first impressions. This leads us to our next point…
You are sending the “I’m an undesirable home” message to the public.
As people continue to look for a home and new buyers enter the market, they might see your home online, but by that time they will also see the “time on market”. The longer your home sits on the market, the less attractive it becomes psychologically to everyone. Nobody wants the home that nobody else wants. Once it has lost its appeal the damage is done. You’ll find yourself beginning to reduce your price and often end up at a price less than what the home could have sold for if it was priced right the first time.
In conjunction with price reductions, the longer your home sits on the market, the more expenses you incur. Consider mortgage payments, utility costs, lawn care maintenance, seller’s fees, and more while you are trying to move out.
Your buyers won’t be able to finance if it doesn’t appraise.
Perhaps you drop the price just enough to intrigue a buyer but still above market level. Maybe you’re lucky enough to hook a buyer. Then the appraisal comes back low. Now you either have to come down in price or lose the buyer and start over again, with 20-30 days more on market…
If you are considering selling your home and would like a complimentary analysis to determine the correct value of your home in this market connect with us to be paired with an experienced Windermere agent that can help you with your unique situation and avoid all the overpricing pitfalls.
