4 Tips For Purchasing A Home In A Seller’s Market
Purchasing a home is both exciting and challenging. Those challenges can reach new levels in a seller’s market, where there are more people wanting to purchase a home than houses for sale. Prices tend to be inflated during a seller’s market and stiff competition requires quick decision making. If you’re currently in the process or planning on purchasing a new home soon, let these four tips guide you along the way.
1. Apply For Preapproval.
Interra Credit Union provides two options for our members to confirm their financing to the seller. A prequalification is a quick turnaround that covers a basic review of the member’s credit bureau report. A pre-approval provides a complete credit review confirming employment history, income (pay stubs, W-2s and tax returns) and assets (bank statements and investments). “The pre-approval route provides our members with more purchasing power,” Todd Potter, Senior Vice President of Mortgage Services, stated. “If a seller receives two offers, one from a buyer who is prequalified and one who is preapproved, their realtor will recommend the preapproved offer, even if the prequalified offer is higher,” he added. “A preapproved buyer is a more qualified player in the market, especially in a seller’s market,” he concluded.
2. Analyze Home Improvements vs. Down Payment Plan.
If a buyer is looking to purchase an existing home, there is a good possibility that they will want to make changes or renovations to the house. It is important to consider the budget for home renovations when deciding on a down payment plan.
3. Have A Buyer's Agent Represent You.
Having a buyer’s agent represent you through the process is a free way to ensure your best interests are being considered. “Buyer agents know the market, how to properly structure an offer, and have the wealth of knowledge to best assist you,” stated Potter. “They also have great relationships with financial institutions to ensure you receive the best mortgage option for your needs,” he added.
4. Hold Off on Additional Big Purchases.
It is important not to make any significant changes throughout the entire house searching process.
“Everything is being monitored and scrutinized throughout the process,” said Potter. “It is important to maintain your employment status and to hold off on applying for other credit during this time,” he concluded.
Interested in learning more?
Interra’s mortgage team of professionals are ready to assist you.
• Apply online now.
• Check out Interra’s free mortgage calculators at interracu.com.
• To learn more, call 574-534-2506 or visit one of Interra’s offices.
Stay Tuned! The First-Time Home Seller Webinar is coming up soon. Watch the August newsletter for more details.
Online Banking: Did You Know?
Interra’s online banking allows card control capabilities. You can simply login into your Interra online banking and go to the dashboard where you will find the tab “credit cards.” Once you have selected this tab, you will find a column titled “card controls.”
Card controls allows you to:
• Unlock/lock a select card
• Determine internal purchase usage standards
• Enable/disable merchant controls
• Enable transaction controls
• Set spending limits
To learn how to activate and use card controls, please visit www.interracu.com/onlinebankin...
Elkhart Fair Tickets
Interra is a proud sponsor of the Elkhart County 4-H Fair that will take place July 23-31, 2021. New this year, the fair is selling admission tickets, concert tickets and wristbands online only. This means ticket and wristband sales will not occur at any Interra offices this year. To learn more or purchase tickets, go to www.4hfair.org.
Next Step, College!
Congratulations to the many recent high school graduates in our local communities! Some of these high school grads are gearing up for their next step into college. Through the hustle, bustle and excitement that comes with this new chapter, the aspect of tuition and student loans also becomes a reality. College is a big investment, we get it. And we’ve got it.
Financial resources such as scholarships, federal loan programs, and personal resources may not cover ever-increasing college education costs. To help fill those funding gaps, consider Interra’s private student loan program.
Benefits to Interra’s private student loan program:
• Work with your trusted financial institution.
• No origination fee.
• Flexible repayment options.
• Interra student loans are available at more than 2,000 schools.
• An existing loan consolidation program is also available.
Interra partners with Credit Union Student Choice regarding student loan education and resources. Research, compare and apply for the student loan you need at www.interracu.com/personal/loa....
Use the Equity In Your Home
Have you been considering a house renovation? Or possibly looking into refinancing your home during
this seller’s market? If so, a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)¹ from Interra Credit Union could help you get started!
A special promotion is happening for members with an existing HELOC loan, as well as new HELOC loans opened July 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021.
• Advances from July 1 – September 30, 2021 ONLY will receive the promotional or introductory rate of 2.79%APR² on those advances until June 30, 2022.³
• No closing costs⁴
• Low annual fee⁵
• This promotional rate is only on advances posted to the line of credit account July 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021. Advances made prior to July 1 and on or after October 1, 2021, are not eligible for the special rate. New HELOC loans must close on or before September 25, 2021, to be able to take advances during the promotional period before it ends on September 30, 2021.
Get Started Today.
Look to the trusted loan professionals at Interra to help you every step of the way.
• Apply online now.
• Learn more about HELOCs at interracu.com.
• To learn more about this special promotion or apply in person, call 574-534-2506 or visit any Interra office.
