• Menu
    facebookinstagramtwitterlinkdinpinterest
  • Contact Us
  • 970.221.5995
  • 1018 Centre Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80526

Fort Collins HomesFort Collins Homes

Fort Collins and Northern Colorado Real Estate

  • Our Agents
  • Search
    • Coming Soon
    • Our Listings
    • Under Contract
    • All Listings
    • New Construction
  • Careers
    • Join RE/MAX
    • About Us
  • Buyers
  • Sellers
  • Open Houses

Can You Get a Mortgage If You’re Self-Employed?

 

Can You Get a Mortgage If You’re Self-Employed?

Whether you’ve owned your business for many years or started a new one, know that self-employed people can and do get mortgages.

Typically, lenders ask for documentation that includes a minimum of two years of personal and business tax returns, recent bank statements, year-to-date profit and
loss statements, and documentation of other assets which prove financial stability. Lenders also consider details about the length of time you have been self-employed
and how long you’ve done the type of work you are doing.

Lenders may review legal documents that established the business entity as an S-Corp, LLC, or Partnership. The financial strength of the business, demand for its
products and services, and future outlook will all be considered in the approval process.

Exceptions to the two year rule for self employment do exist.

There is a difference between a borrower who is self-employed for one year who has worked in the same field for many years, compared to the borrower who is self-employed for one year in a new line of work.

For example:
• If you were a W2 employee in the same field of work for five to seven years, earning $50,000, and opened your own business less than two years ago, you may not need a two year self-employment history because you’re in the same field and earning similar or more income.

• If you are a self-employed borrower in a new line of work, you may need to wait until you can provide two years of income stability even if you have the current income to qualify and are making more than you were prior to opening your new business. In this example, you may have adequate income but lack a long-term history in your new line of work.

Bottom Line: Work with an experienced loan officer who is skilled in helping self-employed borrowers. They can look at your overall situation, review mortgage options, and advise you regarding the timeframe needed to satisfy underwriting guidelines and obtain a loan approval.

Contact me for recommendations of lenders who are experienced working with self-employed borrowers!

Source: Mortgage Market Guide

Posted in: Buyers, RE/MAX Advanced Tagged: Buyers, Buying, Buying a Home, Buying A New Home, Colorado, Colorado Real Estate, Finance, financial, Fort Collins, Fort Collins Real Estate, Home Buyers, Home Buying, northern colorado, Northern Colorado Market, RE/MAX, RE/MAX Advanced, Real Estate, Real Estate Market, Self-employed

Home Ownership Or Renting?

Tired of working so hard just to build your landlord’s equity instead of your own? Been dreaming about paint swatches and obsessing over Pinterest projects? Making that leap from renting to owning a home comes with many perks — both financial and emotional. And even though home ownership comes with great responsibility, you might be surprised how achievable it can be.

Certainly, the best time to trade security deposits for a down payment is different for everyone. If you’re thinking about switching from renting to owning, ask yourself these five questions to decide if you’re ready to embark on the home ownership adventure.

1. Are You Financially Prepared?

Let’s not beat around the bush: Buying a home requires a substantial financial commitment.

There’s a down payment, of course. “On average, you want to have a minimum of 5% to 7% of the cost of the home you’re targeting,” says Jason Harriman, a REALTOR® with San Antonio-based Heyl Real Estate Group at Keller Williams Realty. Then, add 3% to 6% for closing costs, which will vary based on where you live and what taxes your state and city require you to pay.

Tip: Keep in mind if you put down less than 20%, you’ll pay PMI, private mortgage insurance, which protects the lender in case of default. Usually, it’s about $50 to $200 a month. But once you reach a certain threshold on your loan to value ratio, you can cancel PMI.

A healthy credit history is also important. Most borrowers will start to qualify for a mortgage with a minimum score of 620 — but the most competitive interest rates will be offered to those with a score of 700 or above. So if you haven’t started practicing those good credit habits yet, it’s time to start developing them.

One of the trickiest hurdles for young adults, so many of whom are lugging around student loan debt, is the debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. Mortgage companies want borrowers to have a certain level of cash flow each month, and that means taking into account how much you’re paying out to other lenders. Ideally, a borrower’s debt-to-income ratio — how much you pay toward debt each month divided by your gross monthly income — should fall below 36%. (Strictly speaking, a loan is considered able to be paid if the DTI doesn’t exceed 43%.) If yours doesn’t, think about how you can get that debt needle moving in the right direction.

“The best way to do this is to pay of any unsecured debts like credit cards and personal loans, and keep them as close to a zero balance as you can,” says Harriman.

2. Are You Prepared to Make Compromises?

Kathleen Celmins, who manages the personal finance site “Stacking Benjamins,” was financially prepared to manage a mortgage. But once the house hunting began, she quickly realized she was priced out of the homes she had envisioned.

“I originally wanted a single-family home with a yard and in a great neighborhood,” she says. But her given price point, the homes she could afford ended up being in, well, not the greatest neighborhoods. “At one point, we looked at a property that was directly behind a strip club,” she laughs. “We didn’t even go inside.”

After several weeks of searching, Celmins realized she needed to find a middle ground. “In my price range, I could get a not-so-great house in a not-so-great neighborhood. Or, I could get a really cute condominium with a gas range and granite countertops,” she says. “It was something I compromised on, I gave up a yard for having fancy stuff in my condo.”

3. Are You Emotionally Ready?

When it comes to renting, surprises don’t require much emotional investment. The rent goes up? You can move. The fridge is on the fritz? The landlord will send someone over. Home ownership is a bit more hands-on. If the toilet breaks, it’s time to start reading Yelp reviews. And if property taxes unexpectedly rise, it’s on you to appeal or pay up.

“My homeowners association fee doubled in the first year I owned by condo,” says Celmins. “Then my real estate taxes were reassessed. My mortgage payment went up and I panicked. I didn’t even know that could happen.”

Of course, having the financial flexibility to cover those unexpected things is important. But don’t overlook the importance of having the mental and emotional capability to dealing with them responsibly when they arise. Everything could be peachy for months, and then three maintenance issues might spring up in the same week. Stress management and problem solving skills are home ownership biggies.

4. Will Owning Pay Off in the Long Run?

Depending on the home you choose and where you live, you may pay a lower mortgage than you paid for rent. But even if you don’t, there’s still the financial advantage of building equity in your home, instead of lining your landlord’s pockets.

5. Has Your Lifestyle Outgrown Renting?

Many people find a rental can only take them so far. When you’re ready to start a family, you’re going to want a few extra rooms, and that can get expensive with rising rental rates. A yard also provides a safe place for Junior to pay or for a dog to scamper around. And speaking of Fido, the vast majority of renters have trouble finding a place that will allow for their pet. Home ownership can end that stress for good.

Then there are renovations. If you’re itching to test out your DIY skills and personalize your space, you’re probably ready to own. Landlords who allow property renovations — especially DIY projects — are few and far between.

Buying a first home is a big change — both from a financial and an emotional perspective. Still, for many, home ownership can be one of the most rewarding life choices one can make. “Turns out it’s awesome,” says Celmins. “I love it so much.”

Source: Alaina Tweddale | houselogic.com

Posted in: Buyers, News and Announcements, RE/MAX Advanced Tagged: Building Equity, Buying a Home, Buying A New Home, First Time Homebuyers, Fort Collins, Guide for First Time Homebuyers, home, Home Ownership, Homebuyers, northern colorado, Owning a Home, RE/MAX, RE/MAX Advanced, Renting

6 Tips To Buying A New Construction Home

Buying a new construction home is a bit different than purchasing a resale home — one that’s been previously owned by someone else. You’ll need to be familiar with a few tricks of the trade, along with understanding a bit about how the process works.

Buying A New Consturction Home

1. Use your own Broker/Agent.

ALWAYS use your own RE/MAX Advanced Broker/Agent; doing so will help ensure that you get what you want. Understand that the sales reps you meet at new construction communities are likely representatives of the Seller — the builder, corporate owners, developers, whomever — they are there to present their product, answer your questions … and do the best job for the Seller.

2. Don’t expect price reductions.

Yes, it does happen. But overall, remember that builders have established a set of prices that they feel best make their product (the houses) marketable with an expected profit margin. Furthermore, lowering the price on a house drops the comparable value of other houses in the community, thus bringing the entire suite of houses down in price.

3. Look instead for builder concessions in the form of additional upgrades.

Rather than price reductions, you may be able to gain a few upgrades from the builder at no cost, or for less money. Perhaps the builder would be willing to include a fence, landscaping, upgraded carpeting, or appliances as part of your purchase without charging you extra.

4. Builder incentives in the form of interest rates, etc., may not be coming from the builder.

Lots of new communities boast incentive programs that cite things like “3.75% financing for 30 years” or “Zero Closing Costs.” What’s important to know is that the builder may not be the one actually paying those closing costs, or reducing the interest rates. Typically, those types of incentives are coming from the builder’s preferred lender who is counting on a sufficient number of loan transactions in order to recoup the cost of the incentives.

5. Expect to use the builder contract or addendum.

In almost every case, new construction homes require the use of a builder’s contract or at least a lengthy addendum in addition to the typical purchase forms used by a Broker/Agent. Generally builder forms include language specific to the terms of the building process and can be many pages long, full of tightly packed terms. While much of the language is common sense, be sure to read the contract thoroughly yourself (as will your Broker/Agent) and then consult with a qualified real estate attorney if you have questions or concerns. Agents, even those sales reps for the seller, aren’t allowed to (and shouldn’t) attempt to advise you or interpret what those custom forms really say.

6. Builder warranties vary.

Not all builder warranties are the same. Some builders warrant their work from top to bottom for several years, some only for one. Many builders will offer a warranty of up to about 10 years for structural-type issues, with other warranty time frames for things like plumbing leaks. In addition, you’ll find that your new home will likely
have individual warranties for appliances, roofs, windows, etc. Be sure to carefully review the warranty offered by the builder of your desired home before signing the final contract for your new home purchase.

Looking For More Information?

Take a look at our Pinterest Board – House Hunting Tips
https://www.pinterest.com/remaxadvanced/house-hunting-tips/

Or check out some other links:

http://www.hgtv.com/design/real-estate/how-to-buy-in-new-construction

https://www.redfin.com/blog/2014/08/10_tips_for_buying_new_construction.html#.VdO3hflVhHw

Posted in: Buyers, News and Announcements, RE/MAX Advanced Tagged: Builder Addendum, Builder Concessions, Builder Contract, Builder Incentives, Builder Warranties, Buyers, Buying a New Construction Home, Buying A New Home, House Hunting, New Construction, RE/MAX, RE/MAX Advanced, tips

REMAX Advanced, Inc.
RE/MAX Advanced, Inc. | 1018 Centre Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80526 | 970.221.5995 © 2021 · Ft Collins Homes | RE/MAX Advanced, Inc. · Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All Rights Reserved. | DMCA Notice | Sitemap Accessibility: RE/MAX Advanced is conducting periodic site audits in order to identify potential accessibility issues and is implementing changes to improve accessibility. For more information, contact RE/MAX Advanced.
RE/MAX Advanced, Inc. | 1018 Centre Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80526 | 970.221.5995

© 2021 · Ft Collins Homes | RE/MAX Advanced, Inc. · Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All Rights Reserved. | DMCA Notice | Sitemap

Accessibility: RE/MAX Advanced is conducting periodic site audits in order to identify potential accessibility issues and is implementing changes to improve accessibility. For more information, contact RE/MAX Advanced.