Millennials in the Real Estate Market: From “Trending” to Triumphing

We’ve heard all of this craziness about millennials making their stamp in the real estate market in a big way. It’s true. They are. But that’s not without their challenges and roadblocks. I mean, it’s not like millennials already have that down payment and reserves in place to qualify for a home loan and move right in! So, needless to say, while the millennial movement of the real estate market is trending, for at least the past couple years, it’s certainly not pushing the market where it needs to be.

But the Good News Is as 2018 Continues Forward, Millennials Will Find Their Footing in the Real Estate Market in a Big Waymillennial home buying-1

So says many experts already. It just so happens that we’re at a pivotal point in the lifespan of a millennial as a professional with growing incomes that they get more and more ambitious. As we head more and more into 2018, and the real estate market continues to grow in inventory, you can expect to see this group of hungry buyers make up a respectable 43% of all home purchases by the end of 2018. That’s impressive.

That’s not bad compared to this current year’s 40%. Let that sink in. 3% goes a long way in just one year, translating to potentially thousands of new homes built and sold.

The important thing millennials need to keep in mind is to not wait. Act now. Mortgage rates will climb a bit — by about 5% — once we reach the end of 2018. This is all due to economic growth, inflation, and monetary policy normalization.

So the Bottom Line Is This: If You’re a Millennial, Don’t Sit on Your Hands

Get aggressive. One aspect of how our market’s going to grow is this: new home building. But it’s all for naught if the buyers aren’t there, and we’re counting on you, millennials, to bring the coin! You just need to sign up now with the H.O.P.E. Program and get started!

 

Real Estate Market Update: Second Half of 2018 Will See Housing Shortage End!

Extremely good news, don’t you think? Not that the so-called ‘bad news’ we’ve been experiencing was technically so horrible. Yes, the housing shortage was a bit of a downer for our real estate market, but as we mentioned before — it’s a typical real estate trend, completely natural, no need to panic.

The Better News Is Apparently Ambitious Home Development Will Squash That Home Shortage as Soon as the Second Half of 2018

So be patient. The first half of 2018 might be a bit challenging for prospective home buying-2home buyers, but stick it out — because come June this market will see the first net inventory gain of new homes since 2015.

Look for markets in Boston, Detroit, and Nashville to get the biggest boom once that inventory comes around, and it’s all thanks to, yes, serious bullish construction wanting to propel that industry forward. Because, yes, those home builders need to make money somehow, right? Way better than constantly shuffling people around in existing homes thanks to the record housing shortage dips.

The only downside to this coming trend is that home inventory relief will only at first hit the upper tiers, making their way down the lower end. This means if you’re looking for that ideal starter home somewhere around in June, you might still have some trouble. Expect price ranges for those new homes to hit the $350K and up range, but at the very least you’ll see home prices slow down to just 3.2% each and every year.

In Other Words, If You’re Looking for the Mid-price to Starter Home, Expect the Market to Get Just a Little Harder Before It Gets Better

Thankfully, that’s really not a bad thing. That’s just how the market trends work. And the good news is this: that’s how a healthy real estate market works. Things are looking up. Which is why you really should get in on the H.O.P.E. Program right now and start working toward your dream.

 

Meet the Phoenix Program: Your Ticket to Fast Sub Prime Credit Improvement

And trust us when we say this — this isn’t your typical credit repair plan. Not by any stretch. As a partner of this program, H.O.P.E. yet again brings, well, hope to the masses struggling for a way to boost their credit without paying an arm and a leg, and the beautiful thing about the Phoenix Program is that you don’t have to pay any arm or leg for it!

The Phoenix Program Essentially Is What We Call a “Sub Prime Credit Store”

You get a $1,000 line of credit, basically, to get the services you need to notphoenix program credit repair only repair your credit, but prepare you for anything like ID theft, first-time home buying, legal assistance, and much more. Just check out the services that can go into your line of credit:

  • Rent Payment Reporting
  • Tax Preparation
  • Roadside Assistance
  • Debt Validation
  • Budget Planning
  • Insurance Planning
  • And That’s Just the Start of It!

You’re asking why you really do need any of these services, of course…. The fact is that line of credit actually benefits your credit score. By getting any of these services, you boost it immediately and you reap the benefits of any of these services in the long run. Like killing two birds with one stone.

And You Get That $1,000 Line of Credit for Just $29 a Month

So do the math. Any or all of these services. Paid on your line of credit. You make payments like you would for any credit card. And your credit score goes up. The crazy thing is…. You don’t even need to get any of these services. Just pay the $29 a month, and your score instantly goes up as the line of credit’s reported to the bureaus.

How’s that for easy credit repair?

U.S. Housing Inventory Drops to Record Lows, But There’s No Need to Panic

No, seriously — don’t panic. Resist. The fact is the real estate market is like an ocean. Lots of waves, ups and downs, and the correct pieces of the chessboard make the appropriate moves to keep the ocean moving the way it should. And at this point, we’re at a wave that’s so low that people are now beginning to wonder if anyone’s going to be willing to move out of their old home and buy a new one (that is, of course, the driving force of a burgeoning real estate market, however….)

The Fact Is More and More People Are Seeking to Increase the Value of Their Own Properties, Remodeling, Sticking It Out for the Long Haul, and That’s Not Necessarily a Bad Thingreal estate market-1

For the most part, it’s great for credit. Great for home values. Great for homeOWNERS (yes, not buyers, or sellers, but here’s the catch….). And what this type of wave in the real estate ocean will do is simply push developers and builders to find the ‘hidden gems’ in an industry that still needs a bit of a push.

Because the losers are, indeed, real estate firms. Realtors. Property management companies. When the inventory isn’t there, the buyers won’t be. Agents will struggle finding those buyers or sellers in the game. It’ll be tough to move this market, keeping the machine well oiled.

The reason, though, why this isn’t such a bad thing is that the one game-changer to keeping the market moving forward is that developers need to get creative. Build more. Since home renting’s still on the rise in a really big way, let’s get some more apartment complexes up. And it takes a little bit of faith….

Why? Because no one knows just what the buyer’s market really looks like.

We Can Say for Certainty, Though, That “If You Build It, They Will Come”

Millennials are still looking to break out. After all, home renting’s still growing (which is why the home buying market and inventory is still crawling). So target them. The millennials. The prospective home renters. Give them a reason to buy, or at the very least, pursue an RTO. Give them the kind of affordable housing that’ll whet their appetites.

We know: it takes a lot to build new opportunities. House flippers know this, but at the end of it all, the rewards are splendorous.

This is an excellent example of a housing market that isn’t necessarily a “dead horse,” or even a “lame one.” Just a horse that still hasn’t bolted out of the starting gate.

All it takes is one whip.

4 Simple Steps to Debt Validation That’ll Give You a Leg Up on Collectors

And people thought they were powerless against that evil phone call from the bill collector, right? WRONG! Listen up — you do have rights when it comes to debt collections, but not many are even aware of what the laws say regarding those issues — namely one particular point everyone should take note of when it comes to credit repairDebt validation.

You Do Have a Right to Ask for DEBT VALIDATION When Called by a debt validation-1Debt Collector

What is “debt validation”? It’s your right as a consumer to ask for proof from a collector who calls you about the debt in question. Under the FDCPA, debt collectors are actually required to send you notice within 5 days of calling you. If they don’t, you may have a lawsuit you can file for violation of your rights.

Moreover, the notice should tell you that you have 30 days to either validate or dispute the debt — which means you technically have a chance to ensure that the debt doesn’t even belong to you. If you miss out on that chance, then legally the collector can assume that the debt really is yours to pay.


So What Do You Need to Do When Validating Debt?

Here’s a list of the steps in detail:

    • Simply Send a Letter to the Collection Agency (CA) — The letter should ask for them to show “proof,” to validate the debt they’re asking about. You can find a sample letter for formatting right here.
    • While Waiting for a Reply, You Can Check to See if the CA Is Licensed — If the CA is not, that ends the game entirely. You win. Not every state requires CA licensing, though. The ones that don’t include Georgia, California, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Montana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina.
    • If Not Licensed, You Send Another Letter — This letter will specifically say that the CA is violating state law, and if they continue harassing you, you’ll file a lawsuit against them. ‘Nuff said.
    • If the CA Goes Dumb Even After That, You Then File That Lawsuit — And if the CA doesn’t even send you sufficient proof, you then send a copy of the validation letter you originally sent, a copy of the return receipt, and a statement to the FDCPA that the CA in question has violated your rights. End of story.


Know That It’s Well Worth the Time You’ll Take to Get That Done

All it takes is just one letter. If they show proof, and the proof’s all good…. Then you know what you’re dealing with. If not, then you’re a step ahead of the game and that much closer to cleaning out your own credit report without spending a dime! How’s that for tips from the H.O.P.E. Program?

 

 

 

The Good News Is You Have Lots of Ways to Handle Debt Collection

One might think there’s only one way to get rid of debt collections — simply change your identity and move to Tokyo (not really). Seriously, though, debt collection arguably might be even worse than debt alone. But even then, if you’ve got those creditors constantly barking down your smartphone door, there are ways for you to get out of that kind of trouble — and here’s the best part — LEGALLY.

Here Are the Key Ways You Can Eliminate Debt Collection From Most Favorable to Least (and Believe It or Not, Some of These Actions Might Surprise You)

The first thing you need to understand is that getting rid of debt collections isn’t just about paying up — but negotiations and even debt validation. And for good reason. Because a debt collection doesn’t look good on a credit report. So your first priority is fixing that credit, but you’ve got to be a bit slick about it in the sense that you have options., starting with….

Settlement

This is the most ideal, believe it or not. Some might think you wouldn’t want this. The fact is many collectors will offer this option as a benefit to you. A “settlement payment” not only satisfies the debt collection in question but also removes that negative item completely from your report.

The best part is that it’s a settlement. You’re actually not paying the entire balance at all. It’s an agreement to simply pay off a portion of it, and you benefit from the negative being completely removed as if it never existed. Your credit will be improved. You won’t have a penalty for not paying the entire amount. And, of course, you save a whole lot of money.

Payment in Full

That’s obviously the next best thing. You get it removed, but you’re paying off the entire balance, late fees and interest and all. It’s not a bad thing, but if we’re talking about saving money, you sort of lose some in this journey of getting yourself back to credit worthiness.

Still, sometimes you can’t help this. After you hit a certain statute of limitation, settlements aren’t ever offered. You’re basically forced to make that payment in full if you want the negative removed from your report. But honestly…. It’s worth it!

Settlement, But Reported as “Paid in Full”

Whoa. Now that’s a different option. As you can see, though, you don’t get the exact benefit of having the item completely removed off of your report. Instead, as part of the agreement, the settlement will be whatever amount is decided between you and the collector, and the listing on your report won’t be removed; instead it will be listed as “PAID IN FULL.”

It’s not necessarily a bad thing. But it does show that you had some issue paying your bills, although you were able to resolve it. In truth, it won’t necessarily hurt, but doesn’t help much either. Having the item on your report completely removed is always the best way to go.

Settled, But Reported as “Settled”

And who knew there was yet another option for negotiation? Again, if you had no choice and the collector would agree on listing this item as “paid and settled,” at the very least this wouldn’t be a negative item, per se, but not nearly a booster as you’d like for your credit score.

Some collectors won’t budge on this unless you’re willing to pay the entire balance in full. So you take what you can get. However, understand this: sometimes something is better than nothing.

And Lastly, Just Paying the Debt in Full. Period.

Wait…what? We already listed this. Here’s the big difference, though. There’s no negotiation here. That’s key.

This simply means you paid the debt in full without any negotiation to remove the item off your report or at the very least report it as “paid” or “settled.” Keep in mind collectors are not required to do anything for you in terms of what your credit report states unless you specifically request it.

Once you pay that debt, it doesn’t mean the item will get removed from your report at all. It might actually stay on there unless you contact the credit bureaus and take action. And that’s a whole other animal to deal with when you could’ve dealt with it right then and there on the phone with the collector in the first place.

Ultimately, This Proves One Important Thing for You:

You have control. In many ways, you are in charge. Don’t think you’re not. After all, it’s your credit report — not the bureaus! They already have plenty of credit reports to deal with from other people all over the country.

Claim yours. And do something about whatever the problems are. Your actions will make all the difference.

A Look Into the Excellent 1st Time Home Buyer Programs

And, more importantly, why you need one. Here’s a surprising statistic for you: 70% of all real estate transactions involve first-time home buyers…. But here’s the shocking truth — just about all of them have no idea what they’re getting themselves into!

And That’s Why the H.O.P.E. Program Even Offers Their Very Own 1st Time Home Buyer Programs for FREE

You heard correctly. A free educational course on what it takes to get in your first home, and we’re talking about everything you would possibly need to know, such as:

  • What’s an FHA Loan?
  • What’s a USDA Loan?
  • What’s a VA Loan?
  • What Does PMI Stand for?
  • What Does MIP Stand for?
  • Is “Zero Down” Possible?
  • How About Down Payment Assistance?

You also get to know just what’s in a house payment (believe us, it’s important to know), such as the acronym PITI, which stands for “Principle,” “Interest,” “Taxes” and “Insurance.” The 1st Time Home Buyer Programs you can enroll in even educate you on the entire home buying process from front to back so when you’re ready to jump into this massive real estate ocean, you won’t drown in it.

What Are Other Things You’ll Learn With These 1st Time Home Buyer Programs?

Everything from how to find the right realtor — to who actually pays for that realtor. Additionally, signing up for these programs gets you access to free credit repair (which, as you might know, is a rare thing for that to be FREE).

The great benefit of having this program around is a way for the most important aspect of this real estate market — YOU — to know the ins and outs like a realtor. Hands down.

So Want to Get Started?

All you need to do is enroll in the H.O.P.E. Program and say these awesome words: “I WANT TO ENROLL IN A 1ST TIME HOME BUYER PROGRAM.” We’ll hear every word. We understand. And our priority will be to get you the knowledge you need. Cheers.

The Current Housing Shortage Has a Silver Lining: Want to Know What It Is?

it’s no secret that the United States housing shortage is now quite the cry for buyers — for good reason. People want to buy. You’ve seen it all recently in this growing economy. It’s basically how the real estate market has been burgeoning for quite a while. There’s now a big problem, though, what with natural disasters, a new urban crisis, and new regulatory and tax questions. In a nutshell….

Less and Less Homeowners Are Looking to Sell Their Homes: the Essence of the Housing Shortage

We’re at a stage where millennials are looking to break out. Gone are the apartments. They’re moving out of mom and dad’s. The problem is the inventory — there are fewer and fewer houses on the market. And the worst of it is that could very well settle the market and bring it on a downswing. You and I both know we don’t want that.

As the headline mentions, though: there is a silver lining. And a beautiful one. If someone could figure out how to pull that silver lining from the sky, of course!

Believe it or not, but there is something great about having a housing shortage — it’s called opportunity. And it falls right on the laps of developers. Hard thing to have on laps, but the truth is no longer will the investment ever be on a billion-dollar tech startup. That’s old hat.

Nowadays the economy looks to develop the mid-priced single-family home that a buyer can actually afford. We just need someone to develop them!

You could be looking, possibly, at urban row housing. Transit-oriented development. Remember: millennials these days often take the bus or train. Or even bike to work. Certain starter homes could break big. Even affordable rental units could be the exact push this market needs as long as developers can find the sweet spot:

It’s All About the Right Price…. The Right Land Costs…. The Right Location…. And the Right Amenities

We know it’s a gamble. Above all else, developers take that gamble big time. They’re banking on whether or not developments hit home, populating with people who would be proud to be called a first-time home buyer. That’s like a magical phrase in this real estate industry.

And know this: the higher-end market still looks good. Nothing wrong there. But this market is like a very big house. The foundation, for the most part, will be the middle ground. When there’s nothing left to work with, foundation weakens!

The Real Good News Is You Better Believe Someone Out There Is Checking the Writing on the Wall

It’s a goldmine. We’re talking boku bucks. People want to make some real coin? Give those prospective home buyers something to buy! And the money will just roll in along with that nice silver lining.