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Where the stock market goes, so does real estate. These days the stock market is up; so is real estate, said Susan McHan, Opes Advisors CEO and president. McHan and chief investment officer Mike Duvall shared their analysis of the economy and Silicon Valley’s housing market with members at Wednesday’s Los Gatos/Saratoga District tour meeting.
“There is amazing infrastructure in the Silicon Valley area arising from the development of new companies and when that happens, money drops in our area. Money is coming back to Silicon Valley,” announced McHan.
McHan added that it is “an unbelievable time” to buy property in the region. Interest rates are low, values are up and home prices are at a 14-month high. Illustrating the correlation between the stock market and real estate, McHan noted indicated just as the Dow Jones Industrial and S & P 500 Composite returns increased 19 and 23 percent, respectively, from January 2012 to May 31, 2012, Bay Area median home prices rose 30.8 percent.
The mortgage advisors said interest rates are at an all-time low and cannot get any lower. They expect rates to remain this way for at least another two years and then rise. Inflation is still at a low level that the Feds are more worried about deflation at this time.
Despite the recovery, there are challenges ahead. Expect a mild recession on the horizon. During the next year, McHan anticipates earnings and revenue growth of companies to slow down. High-income earners will especially feel the impact as the tax rate policy is realized. The federal income tax on $400,000 income earners will rise from 35 percent to 39.6 percent, as will medicare taxes for those with incomes above $200,000. Companies will also feel the effect of corporate tax policies.
The global economy will likewise experience a slowdown due to debt concerns in Europe, China and the U.S. Not to worry, said McHan. This recession will not be as stark as what others predict it will be. There will be light at the end of the tunnel. She predicts 2015-2018 will be the “most bullish years” and the best years yet to come.
On the mortgage lending side, they announced effective January 10, 2014, the distinction between Ability to Repay and Qualified Mortgages (QM) will be more defined and borrowers will see a difference in rates between these two types of mortgages. Lenders need to and are beginning to enter the non-conforming market, as well.
“This is good news for us. The more lending, the better for all,” said McHan.
Members of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS®, Santa Clara County Association of REALTORS® and San Mateo County Association of REALTORS® met with U.S. Representative Anna Eshoo.
Members asked their representatives in Congress to:
1. Restructure Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac and Encourage the Return of Private Capital. Members requested that the chairmen of the House Financial Services Committee and the Senate Banking Committee hold hearings that focus on restructuring the secondary mortgage market, and that the emphasis of these hearings be the crafting of comprehensive bipartisan legislation that resolves the conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. They stressed an efficient and adequately regulated secondary market is essential to providing affordable mortgages to consumers; that the federal government must clearly, and explicitly, offer a guarantee of some mortgage instruments; and that the government’s guarantee should ensure a wide range of safe, reliable mortgage products for creditworthy consumers.
2. Preserve homeownership tax policies. As Congress considers proposals to reform the federal tax code, SILVAR REALTORS® said lawmakers should consider the vital role that real estate tax provisions play in the nation’s housing markets and economy, as well as the financial well-being of Americans and their families. As real estate markets continue to recover, Congress must first do no harm to the following:
• Mortgage Interest Deduction: Oppose efforts to change or eliminate the mortgage interest deduction for primary and second homes.
• Property Tax Deduction: Property taxes paid are properly not considered “income” that should be subject to federal income tax. Congress should not tax “income” that doesn’t exist and oppose elimination of the deduction for property taxes.
• Capital Gains Exclusion for Sale of Principal Residence: Individuals can exclude the first $250,000 (and married couples the first $500,000) of gain from the sale of their principal residence from capital gains tax. This provision allows homeowners to build equity and save for retirement and should be maintained.
3. Preserve the Mission and Purpose of the FHA Program. SILVAR REALTORS® asked their representatives to ensure that the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) single-family
program has the tools and policies in place to meet its mission of access to safe, affordable mortgage financing to qualified borrowers nationwide. They said FHA’s single-family mortgage insurance program helps preserve private financing options for homebuyers regardless of local, regional or national economic conditions. They asked that the legislators continue support for H.R. 1145 (Waters (D-CA), Capuano (D-MA)), which provides FHA with the flexibility to make necessary changes to the program, provides taxpayer protections against lenders who make errors of material fact, and improves program oversight. They asked that Congress provide FHA with tools, but also protect FHA from any further restrictive requirements that keep more people out of the program.
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The tragic events at the Boston Marathon serve as a reminder that we should always be prepared to safeguard our family and home during an emergency. The best way to prepare for any emergency is to prepare an emergency supply kit, have a family emergency plan, and keep informed.
The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) shares the following compilation of preparedness and safety tips from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and American Red Cross.
1. Create a household disaster kit. Since electricity, water, gas and telephones may not be working during an emergency, you should be prepared to fend for yourself for at least one week. This kit should hold at least a one-week supply of the following items:
• Drinking water (minimum one gallon per person per day).
• First aid supplies, medications, medical consent forms for dependents spare eyeglasses, and essential hygiene items, such as soap, toothpaste and toilet paper.
• Emergency lighting—light sticks and (or) a working flashlight with extra batteries and light bulbs (hand-powered flashlights are also available).
• Whistle (to alert rescuers to your location).
• A hand-cranked or battery-operated radio (and spare batteries).
• Canned and packaged food, including snack foods high in calories and cooking utensils, including a manual can opener.
• Warm clothing, sturdy shoes, extra socks, blankets, and perhaps even a tent.
• Heavy-duty plastic bags for waste and to serve other uses, such as tarps and rain ponchos.
• Work gloves and protective goggles.
• Pet food and pet restraints.
• Copies of vital documents, such as insurance policies and personal identification.
• Cash in small bills.
• Comfort items, such as games, crayons, writing materials, and teddy bears.
• A pipe wrench to turn off gas or water
NOTE: Replace perishable items like water, food, medications, and batteries on a yearly basis.
2. Have a family emergency plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to plan in advance.
• Consider locations you frequent and have a plan for each location.
• Choose an out-of-state friend or relative to call and alert other relatives and friends that you are all right. Be sure every family member knows the phone number and has a cell phone, coins or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact.
3. Keep Informed. Subscribe to an alert service. AlertSCC is a free and easy way for anyone who lives or works in Santa Clara County to get emergency warnings sent directly to their cell phone, mobile device, email, or landline. To receive alerts, register with the system at http://www.alertscc.com/.
For more information on emergency preparedness and prevention tips, visit
http://www.ready.gov/today or http://www.redcross.org/prepare/location/home-family.
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is raising its mortgage insurance premiums (MIP) and changing MIP cancellation policies. These changes may impact first-time home buyers, but they are needed to mitigate risk and strengthen the solvency of the mortgage insurance fund.
FHA faces financial problems stemming from losses on reverse mortgages and forward loans sustained during the housing crisis and low home values, causing a shortfall in its reserves. There is talk that FHA may need a government bailout of $943 million in tax payer funds.
Traditionally, FHA loans should make up between 10 and 15 percent of the market. In 2012, due to the economic downturn and absence of a robust private lending market, FHA insured over 25 percent of all homes purchased in that year. The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) says had FHA not stepped in to fill the market void, many families would have been unable to purchase homes, housing values could have dropped an additional 25 percent, and the country would be much further from a recovery.
Facing multibillion dollar losses, FHA has taken a number of steps to shore up funds. Beginning April 1, 2013, FHA’s annual mortgage insurance premium for all new loans that are less than or equal to $625,500 and with a loan-to-value (LTV) ratio greater than 95 percent will be 1.35 percent of the loan amount. The loan to value ratio is calculated as the percentage of the value of the house that is paid for by the loan.
FHA will also require most borrowers to continue paying annual premiums for the life of their mortgage loan. Effective June 3, 2013 FHA will require borrowers who take out a new FHA loan with an LTV ratio of greater than 90 percent to pay the MIP until the end of the mortgage loan term or for the first 30 years, whichever comes first. With an LTV equal to or less than 90 percent, the MIP will be assessed until the end of the mortgage term, or for the first 11 years, whichever occurs first. Previously, once the loan was paid down to 78 percent of the original value of the house or after five years, whichever came later, the borrower would no longer be required to pay the MIP.
FHA insured loan limits are currently calculated at 125 percent of the local area median home price, up to a maximum of $729,750 in highest cost markets like Silicon Valley. The limits are temporary and set to expire at the end of 2013 to 115 percent of local area median home prices with a cap of $625,500. There are discussions in Washington of lowering this amount further, however nothing has been established yet.
In Silicon Valley, where home prices are some of the highest in the nation, many buyers are borrowing at the top of the FHA limits. The MIP can amount to hundreds of dollars each month, in addition to their regular mortgage payment. For instance, buyers with a $600,000 FHA-backed mortgage who put 8 percent down will pay at the 1.35 percent rate, which comes out to well over $600 per month in mortgage premiums. Whereas previously, this additional payment would have been eliminated once the LTV ratio hit 78 percent or five years, whichever was later, now this payment will be assessed for the life of the loan.
FHA also will require lenders to manually underwrite loans for which borrowers have a credit score below 620 and a total debt-to-income (DTI) ratio greater than 43 percent. Also announced, but not yet approved, is a proposal by FHA to increase the minimum down payment requirement for mortgages with original principal balances above $625,500 from 3.5 to 5 percent.
A higher down payment requirement could impact millions of first-time home buyers. Many first-time home buyers rely on FHA-insured loans because they can require a down payment as low as 3.5 percent. In 2012, more than four out of every 10 first-time buyers purchased their homes with an FHA-insured mortgage. It remains to be seen whether these numbers will go down with the new higher rates and requirement that mortgage insurance be paid for the life of the loan.
NAR supports legislation that strengthens FHA’s fiscal solvency and that balances the need to protect the fund from tax payer risk with the need to continue providing access to safe and affordable mortgage financing. While these changes may be necessary in the short-term to help stabilize the FHA fund, NAR’s position is that higher fees make it difficult for first-time buyers to purchase a home, as well as repeat buyers who are relocating from less expensive to higher cost areas. NAR has encouraged FHA to reconsider the need for these changes when the fund returns to full capitalization.
April 2013 marks the 45th anniversary of the 1968 landmark Fair Housing Act, which strives to to ensure equal housing opportunity for all. Each year REALTORS® join the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, and rest of the nation in recognizing April as Fair Housing Month.
REALTORS® play a vital role in ensuring fair housing for all and strive to make homeownership accessible to everyone. The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) works to help create an environment where everyone can choose where they want to live and not be discriminated against as they seek to achieve the American dream of homeownership.
Carolyn Miller, president of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS®, whose members are also members of NAR, says REALTORS® abide by a Code of Ethics that states REALTORS® shall not deny equal professional services and shall not be a party to any plan or agreement to discriminate against any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, or sexual orientation.
“REALTORS® want all buyers and sellers to enjoy the benefits of a housing market free from discrimination,” says Miller.
On April 26, SILVAR is promoting Fair Housing Month by offering At Home With Diversity®, a course that teaches REALTORS® and other business professionals how to work effectively within a multicultural market. The full-day course addresses topics like diversity, fair housing and business planning development. For more information about At Home With Diversity®, call SILVAR at (408) 200-0100.
“Knowing how to work effectively with diverse populations can help you build business success in today’s multicultural real estate market,” adds Miller.
Under the law, a home seller or landlord cannot discriminate in the sale, rental and financing of property on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. They cannot instruct their real estate agent to convey any limitations in a sale or rental.
Buyers or renters have the right to expect housing will be available to them without discrimination, including:
• housing in their price range made available without discrimination.
• equal professional service.
• the opportunity to consider a broad range of housing choices.
• no discriminatory limitations on communities or locations of housing.
• no discrimination in the financing, appraising, or insuring of housing.
• reasonable accommodations in rules, practices and procedures for persons with disabilities.
• non-discriminatory terms and conditions for the sale, rental, financing, or insuring of a dwelling.
• freedom from harassment or intimidation for exercising their fair housing rights.
Buyers or renters who believe they have experienced discrimination may file a complaint with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing within one year of the alleged discrimination.
HUD recently launched a new mobile application for iPhone and iPad that provides the public information about their housing rights and responsibilities. The app also provides information about the fair housing complaint process, and allows the public to access HUD’s toll-free discrimination hotline and link to HUD’s fair housing website: http://www.hud.gov/fairhousing
At round table discussions, REALTORS® shared their thoughts about the future. (Photo courtesy of MLSListings Inc.)
With the changing demographic and socio-economic landscape and changing economic concerns, the real estate industry sees itself facing a transformation. NAR launched the REThink Initiative in August 2012 during its annual Leadership Summit in Chicago, Ill. The REThink Initiative will use the experiences and insights of REALTORS®, academia, consumers and others to plan for and adapt to dynamic changes in the industry.
At Friday’s workshop, REALTORS® discussed different versions of what the future holds for the industry. Workshop participants were asked to consider a focal question: In an ever-changing world, what is the future of the real estate industry in 5-10 years, and how will this affect consumers, real estate professionals, industry organizations and associations?
At the round table discussions, participants examined several scenarios for the industry and elements that are likely to impact the future of U.S. real estate, including the long-term effects of the recent recession, the global economy, technology, demographic forces like the retiring Baby Boomers, emerging Echo Boomers, increasing ethnic diversity, and population growth. Environmental concerns, like growing scarcity of energy and raw materials, and how they could affect housing patterns and design, access to owning a home, and the value of homeownership, were also explored.
Cross-country workshops are being conducted through May 2013. Insights from members will provide critical input into NAR’s future strategy and help formulate a shared vision about the future REALTORS® want to create for themselves, their association, for the industry, and for society as whole.
For more information about NAR’s ReThink Initiative, visit http://rethinkfuture.com.
A Notice of Credit-Based Denial to Rent (RNDR) is a new form that has been added to the PRDS library and may be accessed online by SILVAR and SAMCAR (San Mateo County Association of REALTORS®) REALTOR® members at http://www.prdsforms.com. The RNDR is a form needed in the event a potential tenant is turned down due to an unfavorable credit rating.
In addition to Form RNDR 5-09 Notice of Credit-Based Denial to Rent, the revised PRDS Supplemental Seller’s Checklist (SSC) is now also available online for SILVAR and SAMCAR REALTOR® members.
PRDS Forms is an extensive line of paper and online forms for residential purchase and sales transactions. These forms are available online free of charge as a member benefit to all SILVAR and SAMCAR REALTOR® members. Created by REALTORS® for REALTORS®, these forms are highly acclaimed, and have been heavily used for over 25 years by listing agents from leading offices in Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Peninsula.
To access these and other PRDS forms, visit http://www.prdsforms.com.
California Governor Jerry Brown will speak to REALTORS® at the California Association of REALTORS® Morning Briefing on Legislative Day. SILVAR members are encouraged to participate in this important event, which will be held on Wednesday, May 1. The deadline to sign up is Monday, April 22.
Legislative Day is the day REALTORS® from all over California travel to Sacramento and meet with their elected officials to discuss critical legislation that can affect REALTORS®, homeowners and private property rights. REALTORS® make up the largest group that travel to the nation’s capital to speak with their legislators.
When members arrive in Sacramento, they will receive a special briefing at the Sacramento Convention Center from California Association of REALTORS® lobbyists, REALTOR® leadership, Governor Brown, and other special guests. A joint luncheon with members of SILVAR, the Santa Clara County Association of REALTORS® (SCCAOR) and San Mateo County Association of REALTORS® (SAMCAR) will follow the briefing.
After lunch, SILVAR REALTORS® will attend meetings with all of the legislators in Silicon Valley, including Senators Jim Beall and Jerry Hill, and Assembly Members Paul Fong and Rich Gordon. At these meetings, REALTORS® will have the opportunity to discuss important real estate issues, such as private property rights, legal reforms and housing opportunity policies.
Personally meeting our legislators and discussing real estate-related issues that may adversely affect our clients – buyers, sellers, homeowners and private property rights – makes a difference! For more information about Legislative Day, contact SILVAR Government Affairs Director Jessica Epstein at (408) 200-0100.
In an effort to provide California home buyers with up-to-date information about available home buyer assistance programs, the California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.) has launched California Mortgage Resource Directory (http://mortgage.car.org), an online search tool that identifies current mortgage programs in communities throughout the state.
“Millions of dollars go unused every year because home buyers are unaware of the various buyer assistance programs available to them,” said C.A.R. President Don Faught. “With California Mortgage Resource Directory, REALTORS® and buyers can quickly connect with any number of home buyer resources without having to search within each municipality individually.”
California Mortgage Resource Directory helps bridge the down payment gap for homebuyers and connects them with resources that they may not have otherwise known existed. Buyers can search by city or address for public- and private-funded assistance programs including FHA/VA, HUD, affordable fixed-rate mortgages, rehab loans, and more.
“The California Mortgage Resource Directory is a good resource if you are thinking of buying a home and are assessing your finances. Many buyers are unaware of down payment and other home buyer assistance programs that are out there. This would be a valuable tool for both REALTORS® and their clients,” said Carolyn Miller, president of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS®.
“Low mortgage interest rates help make homes affordable for buyers, but many can’t come up with the down payment needed to qualify for a loan. The more money a buyer can put on a down payment, the lower the amount of the loan, so the California Mortgage Resource Directory can prove valuable to home buyers looking for down payment assistance,” added Miller.
The new directory is powered by Down Payment Resource, the nation’s only web-based aggregator of home buyer programs. The tool was developed by Workforce Resource (www.workforce-resource.com) and is made available through Multiple Listing Services, REALTORS® associations, and nonprofits.
At its February 26 meeting, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors voted to postpone a discussion on eliminating Propositions 90 and 110 in San Mateo County.
For over 20 years Propositions 90 and 110 have created a pathway for senior citizens (those over 55) and the disabled to move into San Mateo County. The current law states that a senior citizen or disabled individual can transfer their base tax rate from another county when they buy a home in San Mateo County, as long as the new home is of an equal or lesser value.
Without notice to SILVAR or neighboring San Mateo County Association of REALTORS® (SAMCAR), the San Mateo County Manager placed the proposal to eliminate propositions 90 and 110 on the supervisors’ agenda for the February 26 meeting. Though only made public on Thursday, February 21, SILVAR was able to mobilize REALTORS® to quickly respond by emailing the San Mateo County supervisors and letting them know their opposition to the proposal to repeal the propositions. SILVAR’s Government Affairs team also reached out to each member of the Board of Supervisors to express its concern.
SILVAR would like to thank all who responded to the Call for Action email. Over 70 REALTORS® who live in San Mateo County sent emails to the supervisors. Additionally, several REALTORS® from SILVAR and SAMCAR attended the Tuesday Board of Supervisors meeting.
Although the supervisors listened and took the item off the agenda at their Tuesday meeting, members need to remain vigilant because the issue has not gone away. It is highly likely that the item will be placed back on their agenda in the near future.
SILVAR is seeking individuals who can testify about the important role Propositions 90 or 110 played for a client in buying a home in San Mateo County. If you have a story, please contact SILVAR Government Affairs Director Jessica Epstein at (408) 200-0108 or email jepstein@silvar.org.
Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® says ... 