Blog
August 2017 Market Report
Let’s look at our usual metric of number of transactions for sellers normally associated with new construction (i.e. builders and lot developers) for August 2017. We find 141 transactions in August, which is consistent with expectations for completions of early-year...
Lubbock Texas Market Report 07-2017
Looking at grantors transferring more than two parcel during July 2017, grantors that we generally associate with new construction accounted for 131 transfers. This beats the per-month average in 2017 Q2. We note that many of the transfers were multi-lot, meaning that...
Market Report through Q2-2017
New residential construction lead the way in disposition transactions through the first two calendar quarters of 2017. Looking at grantors transferring more than two parcel during each month, grantors that we generally associate with new construction accounted for an...
What Is The Debt-To-Income Ratio (DTI)?
Measuring your existing debts against your existing income is one part of a lender’s required assessment of your ability to repay a loan. Like the video says: debts are existing financial commitments; a car payment is a debt a grocery bill is not. To calculate...
What Does Ability To Repay Mean?
What are the “Ability to repay” rules about? In a nutshell, as this video shows, new laws require lenders to make a good-faith assessment of a borrower’s capacity to pay back their loan over time. It’s a longer-term view that goes beyond immediate income, debt...
What Is A Qualified Mortgage?
As this video explains, Federal laws put into effect in 2014 and supervised by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau define lending practices and loan terms for a new category called “Qualified Mortgages.” They provide stable loan features for...
What Is A Rate Lock?
Mortgage rates change constantly through an unpredictable combination of government policies and economic conditions. This video explains the common term ‘rate lock.’ A “Rate Lock” is a guarantee that a lender will honor a specific combination of...
What Is A Certificate of Eligibility, or COE?
What Is A Certificate of Eligibility, or COE? The COE is the key document that verifies to lenders that someone is eligible for a VA-backed loan. Servicemembers, Veterans and National Guard and Reserve members may apply online or through their lender; most...
What Are The Major Types Of VA Loans?
What Are The Major Types Of VA Loans? Major Veterans Affairs loan programs described in this video include: 1) Purchase Loans. These help eligible parties buy a home at competitive interest rates with little to no down payment and little or no private mortgage...
What Are VA Home Loans?
What Are VA Loans? As the video says, the name is misleading – they’re not loans FROM the VA. The VA – short for “US Department of Veterans Affairs” – is the Federal military veteran benefit system. The VA administers benefits and services for...
