4/8/16

9 Neighborhood Features That Bring Values Down

9 Neighborhood Features That Hamper Values

Certain neighborhood features near a home – like cemeteries and power plants -- could drag down a home’s price. Realtor.com® recently identified which of those features could have the biggest impact.
To calculate, realtor.com® analyzed home prices and appreciation rates in ZIP codes of the 100 largest metro areas across the country where a specific so-called “drag-me-down facility” – such as power plants or homeless shelter – was present.
Realtor.com®’s research team then calculated the potential discount by comparing the median home price of the ZIP codes with that facility with the median price for all homes in the same country.To calculate, realtor.com® analyzed home prices and appreciation rates in ZIP codes of the 100 largest metro areas across the country where a specific so-called “drag-me-down facility” – such as power plants or homeless shelter – was present.
The following neighborhood features emerged as the ones that could potentially drag down home values by the greatest amounts:
  1. Bad school: -22.2% (translation: home owners near a bad school received 22.2 percent less than an average home in the same county could get)
  2. Strip club: -14.7%
  3. High renter concentration: -13.8%
  4. Homeless shelter: -12.7%
  5. Cemetery: -12.3%
  6. Funeral home: -6.5%
  7. Power plant: -5.3%
  8. Shooting range: -3.7%
  9. Hospital: -3.2%
Source: “The Neighborhood Features That Drag Down Your Home Value – Ranked,” realtor.com® (March 28, 2016)

4/1/16

New Loan For Home Energy Upgrades

Fannie Debuts Loan Option for 'Green' Retrofits

Fannie Mae announced HomeStyle Energy mortgage, a program to help borrowers make energy and water energy efficient upgrades to their home. 
With the new loan, home owners will be able to finance energy upgrades when purchasing or refinancing their home. The new mortgage will also be available to properties like condos.
Borrowers purchasing a home or wanting to improve their existing home will be able to receive up to 15 percent of the as-completed appraised value of the home to use for energy efficient upgrades. An energy report is required. Without a report, borrowers can still finance up to $3,500 in water efficiency upgrades.
“The National Association of Home Builders has found that energy efficient features are highly desired by home owners, and we are committed to helping lenders serve these customers,” says Carlos Perez, Fannie Mae senior vice president and chief credit officer for single-family. “HomeStyle Energy mortgage will be particularly helpful to borrowers who want to pay off debt for existing energy improvements. It will also benefit home owners who want to make their home more comfortable and efficient.”
The program applies to all Fannie Mae approved lenders.
Source: Fannie Mae