Gary Pierpont Blog

Applications for new home purchases jumped approximately 8% according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Builder Application Survey for October. Conventional loans made up 68.2% of all loan applications; FHA loans made up 16.2%, RHS/USDA loans made up 1.5% and VA loans made up 14.2%. The MBA’s chief economist, Mike Fratantoni said, “applications for new home purchases picked up in October, particularly for higher-priced homes. The continued improvement in the job market and still low mortgage rates are supporting the upper levels of the purchase market while the tight credit environment continues to constrain sales at the entry level.” Additionally, the average loan amount on new homes rose nearly $2,000 from September to October 2014. More here

Many high-end homeowners are insisting on a new set of amenities to improve their quality of life. A few of the more popular extravagances are: A subterranean garage; a garage that moves your car to its desired location below ground automatically, at the touch of a button. Also, dining areas located within wine cellars are gaining in popularity. In addition, indoor sport and activity rooms continue to be sought after, along with elaborate air-purification systems. More here

While cleaning out gutters is a dreaded task for many homeowners, it must be addressed in order to keep potential structural disasters at bay. Blocked gutters can cause damage to the trim and siding of your home, interior walls, and can even cause leakage in your basement. Listed here are a few tips that may help you when cleaning out your gutters: By rule of thumb, you should clean out your gutters once in the fall, and once each spring. More maintenance may be required, depending on the number of trees in close proximity to your home. You will need a ladder in most cases, and you should use gloves. Remove all debris, and then flush the gutters out with a hose to remove anything that may be left over. If you find any leaks or damaged spots, you can quickly caulk them with gutter sealant. You may want to consider investing in gutter guards, which will make upkeep easier. More here

Consumer confidence in housing is on the rise, reaching an all-time-high. According to Fannie Mae’s National Housing Survey for October 2014, 45% of survey participants believe that they will be more financially secure within the next year. Many of the participants also expect the economy to improve, and 44% expect housing prices to jump and believe now is prime time to sell. The chief economist at Fannie Mae, Doug Duncan said, “consumers are growing more optimistic about the housing market in the face of broader improvement in economic sentiment.” More here

The National Association of Home Builders/First American Leading Markets Index (LMI) reports the housing market continues to make successful strides toward recovery. The U.S. housing market reached 90% of its normal economic housing activity last quarter, up 1% from the second quarter of 2014. Positive recovery is expected to maintain gradual growth. Kevin Kelly,  the NAHB Chairman said, “continued job creation, economic growth and increasing consumer confidence should help spur pent-up demand for housing.” More here

According to Freddie Mac’s most recent Primary Mortgage Market survey, mortgage rates increased for the second week in a row. The survey reports that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage jumped over 4%, coming in at 4.02% averaged nationally while the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage also increased 0.8%, and averaged 3.21% nationally. Additionally, the national averages for the 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage increased to 2.97% and the 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.45%. More here

According to a survey that involved 2,000 home-buyers, 80% said they regretted at least one thing about their house, post-purchase. The study found that the number-one complaint was that the home was too small. Following close behind, the main regrets were, lack of closet space and not enough bathrooms. Experts have given a few tips to help you be sure you are making the right choice when buying a home, here. 

Sealing your asphalt driveway is a necessary preventative measure to ensure protection from water. Cracks and potholes from water damage can result in expensive repairs. Here are a few tips for applying asphalt sealant: When sealing your driveway, make sure there is no expectation of rain for up to 72 hours after application. Also, the ground temperature must be above 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid coming into contact with sealant and avoid vapor inhalation. Clean off the surface of the asphalt with detergent and rinse well before you begin. When finished, allow time for the sealant dry completely. Apply the sealant in thin layers, and try to work on one small section at a time. Finally, the sealant will take approximately 24 hours to dry, do not drive or walk on the driveway during this time. More here

According to Black Knight Financial Services, as many as 25% of American borrowers with 30-year mortgages could benefit from refinancing their homes. Trey Barns, the senior vice president of Loan Data Products for Black Knight Financial Services said, “before the most recent reductions in the average 30-year mortgage interest rate, approximately six million borrowers met broad-based ‘refinancibility’ criteria. These criteria assume loan-to-value ratios of 80% or below, good credit, non-delinquent loan status and current interest rates high enough that borrowers have an incentive to refinance.” More here

Reverse mortgages have begun to gain more positive attention as new laws make the option more attractive to both borrowers and loan officers. In the past, there were some concerns, but now that new laws protect the borrower, the option has become safer, and ultimately, more appealing. Reverse mortgages have ensured that many older Americans can stay in their homes by tapping into their home equity, and it’s overall popularity is rising. Many experts are now promoting reverse mortgages to older individuals as a way to escape financial hardship. More here