“Great Service & Communication”
"Great service, communication and professional. Thanks guys! We were working a specific date and you got us to it!" -Jeannette D.
27Oct
06Oct
“Will find you the best financing products for your specific situation”
"We have used ALV Mortgage for our mortgage financing three times now. Not surprisingly, we received superb and individual service. Anthony will find you the best financing products for your specific situation. The underwriters and staff are professional and patient. (A quality needed in today's uncertain economic times.) A special shout out to Rhoda and Barrett. They answered all our questions in a timely and thorough fashion. They were very swift to respond and communicated our progress promptly. ALV found the best rates for our purchase and refinances. I would recommend them to anyone wanting a completely satisfying mortgage financing experience." -Cameron E.
06Oct
“I continue to be impressed by their attention to detail and professionalism”
"If you want to work with a company that are experts in the business, have great rates, exceptional service AND give back to their community, look no further. ALV goes above and beyond to deliver and exceed expectations. I've had the opportunity to work with them on many levels, and I continue to be impressed by their attention to detail and professionalism." -Sue C.
22Sep
More Housing Bubble Fears in the Media
Home prices have risen 12% year-over-year nationally since 2006. In Utah alone home values have gone up 28.5% over the past year. This has prompted another round of media fearmongering that a housing bubble is imminent in the upcoming year. The media has been talking about a housing bubble for the past several years, only to see home prices continue to be well supported.
When it comes to these dramatic headlines it can be hard to know what to believe. You want to put your trust in the industry experts. Those of us in the housing industry respect that buying a home is a major life transaction, and we offer advice based on what the current data shows.
So, despite what you may be reading the housing market is still undeniably strong. There are definite signs of demand cooling down. However, buyer traffic is still at historically high levels compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Comparing today’s housing market to the market in 2006 requires us to understand some key differences to help us see the full picture.
Let’s break this down.
The majority of individuals who buy homes do so based upon the monthly payment. Therefore, we must consider differences in mortgage interest rates, as well as differences in household income between the market in 2006 and today.
Mortgage rates in 2006 ran about 3% higher than interest rates that are available today. We’ve seen rates as low as 2.75% (2.893% APR). This helps make the monthly payment today much lower, even in some cases where the amount borrowed is higher.
Meanwhile, average hourly earnings have increased by 55% from 2006 to today, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Because of the rise in income, as well as the drop-in interest rates, the cost to purchase a home today is significantly more affordable than it was in 2006.
Additionally, today’s appreciation is due to record low home inventory levels and strong demographic demand, which wasn’t the case in 2006.
Don’t let the media scare you out of all the wonderful benefits of homeownership. Contact me today and let’s get started on finding your dream home for an amazing rate!
**SOURCE: MBS HIGHWAY**
25Jun
“Friendly, Professional, & Efficient”
"I found Anthony & all the staff @ ALV Mortgage to be friendly, professional, & efficient. My experience with ALV was excellent & I would recommend them to anyone seeking a mortgage." -Andrew M.
09Mar
Tax Season 2021
Although it’s hard to believe, it's tax season once again. With the filing deadline approaching in April, many lucky filers will be looking forward to a nice tax refund. There are a lot of different ways that you could put that money to good use, one of which is Real Estate.
Owning a home has many key benefits when compared to renting. While 100% of your rent payment goes to your landlord, part of your Mortgage Payment goes towards principal…Which is like a forced savings plan for you to build up equity. Which makes buying a home is an amazing investment!
In fact the forecasted rate of appreciation in the United States over the next 12 months is 6%. That means you could expect a significant gain over the next 12 months!
You could use your tax refund as a down payment on a new home or investment property. Many benefits come from putting down a large down payment such as qualifying for a lower rate, a lower monthly payment, or even eliminating mortgage insurance.
I would love to talk to you about the benefits of owning a home in your local market! Give me a call today and let's talk. 801.206.4343
16Feb
Pandemic Changed Homeowner Needs
As we look back over the past year, we have certainly lived through one of the most stressful periods in modern history. After spending so much more time at home throughout the pandemic it’s no surprise that the needs of homeowners are changing.
The pandemic has become the biggest motivating factor causing real estate to transact that we have ever seen in our careers. It has caused all of your clients to re-evaluate where they want to live, what features they need in a house and helped them determine their “why” for what they need in their house.
What used to be a place to return to after a long day now serves multiple purposes to people all day, every day. The home now serves as an office, school, restaurant, gym, playroom and for some as an escape from the stress of the outside world.
We are seeing more people leaving the cities. As telecommuting and remote work are increasing among industries many realized they no longer need to live near their work.
The increase in remote work has caused a fluctuation of people not only leaving the city but moving to another state. A recent client we helped purchase a home moved from California to Utah to be closer to their family now that their employer allows them to work remotely.
We have also seen an increase in home improvement and remodeling projects. Research has found that 70% of American homeowners completed a home improvement project since the start of the pandemic.
The most popular upgrades are a backyard makeover, addition of a home office, home gym, or entertainment space such as a deck or patio, swimming pool, or theater room. People are needing to make their house functional for daily life, but also a means of escape since traveling and other avenues of relaxation have been put on hold.
We predict these changes in homeowner needs will last long after the pandemic is over with many people realizing the importance of having a space that is not only comfortable but also functional.
As we look beyond the trials of the pandemic, many are hoping for a new beginning, and for some that could mean moving.
If the pandemic has changed your needs or if you are looking to tap into your equity to finish a home improvement project of your own, reach out. We can help evaluate your current situation and create a plan to get you into the home that is perfect for your needs.
09Feb
A Refinance Success Story
A recent borrow we worked with decided to complete a cash out refinance so he could finish his basement remodel and other home renovations that his wife had been bugging him about for years.
He started out in a VA loan with a great rate of 3.625%. We were able to drop his rate to 2.375% and pull $75,000 cash out.
He was able to use the money to complete all of their home renovations before the new year. But the best part about the refinance was that even though his loan amount increased by $75,000, his monthly payment only went up by $19 per month because we were able to drop the interest rate so much.
Another great bonus of a cash out refinance is that if interest rates have dropped since you took out your original loan, a cash-out refinance could also lower your mortgage rate at the same time.
If you are not sure if a cash out refinance is right for you, give us a call! We can help you explore your options and see what refinance option would be best for your situation.
801.206.4343 | NMLS # 888979
02Feb
The Case for a Starter Home
4.5 years ago, the Martinez family wanted to buy a house. At the time, the number one thing for this family of four was sticking to their set budget. They qualified for $150,000 however, to stick to their budget they had to be under $120,000. They were determined to stick to their budget.
They finalized their first purchase in June of 2015 for 1,080 sq. ft. three-bedroom, one bath for $115,000. Things they did not like about this house was that it only had one bathroom, it did not have a garage, and the city wasn’t an ideal location for them. But they loved yard and the budget worked, so they decided to make this their starter home.
Four years later they took out a HELOC and completely remodeled the house. It was now nicely updated, but still only 1,080 sq. ft. with one bathroom. Despite their home not growing, their family sure did. Today they have three kids and one on the way which means it is time for a change.
Through appreciation over the last 4.5 years and with the remodel, their home is now worth $250,000. They gained over $100,000 in equity.
We are now searching to buy their forever home with a $350,000 to $400,000 price range which fits nicely inside their new budget as they have progressed in their careers and are now making more money.
Had they rented the last 4.5 years they would not have a large down payment and they would be looking to buy a $250,000 to $300,000 house which would not get them exactly what they want in terms of space.
They did not get what they wanted when they originally bought 4.5 years ago. But by buying then, they set themselves up to get what they really want today.
Too often I have clients who tell me they can’t afford what they want so they are just going to rent. This is a huge mistake! Home prices keep going up and often times it is the appreciation from the first house you don’t love that allows you to get into a house you do love further down the road.
If you are interested let me run a rent vs buy scenario for you to help show you how much you could be losing by not buying now.
26Jan
Don’t Let a Down Payment Hold You Back
A recent borrower I worked with was a past client that I helped purchase a condo 5 years ago and at the time it was the perfect pad for him and his girlfriend. A few years down the road they got married, each graduated from the University of Utah, and have progressed in their careers.
As the years went on, they found their Condo was getting a little cramped. They have plans to start a family soon and really wanted a house where they could invite friends over to entertain (you know, as soon as the pandemic is behind us).
They needed the equity from their condo to use as the down payment on the new house, (which by the way had appreciated $100,000 from when they bought it 5 years ago). However, the market is really tough right now and they did not want the stress of listing their condo, going under contract, and then having less than a week to find and go under contract on a new house.
We were able to save the clients a lot of stress by buying their new house first and selling the condo later on. We were able to accomplish this timeline by opening a HELOC (home equity line of credit) on their condo. We accessed the equity from the HELOC and used that as the down payment for their new home.
They were able to be patient and wait for the perfect house to pop up on the market. Once it did, they were able to get the house under contract quickly thanks to their pre-qualification. With the purchase complete they were able to list and sell their condo and pay off the HELOC.
They are now extremely happy with their big beautiful new house and can’t wait for what the future will bring for them and their family.
If you are feeling like you are stuck in your property due to lack of means for a down payment, there may be a direction like this one that we can take to help you get into a better housing situation.
