Blog - Michael Inkman

Mortgages and Divorce: Keeping Your Home During Life’s Changes

April 17, 2024 by Michael Inkman

Divorce or separation is a challenging time, and amidst the emotional and logistical complexities, handling mortgage issues can add another layer of stress. For many couples, their home represents not just a financial investment but a symbol of stability and security. However, when relationships break down, decisions about homeownership become crucial. Here is some guidance on how to navigate mortgages during a divorce or separation.

Communication is Key: Open and honest communication between partners is crucial when it comes to mortgage matters. Discuss your options openly and try to reach a consensus on what to do with the family home. Whether it’s selling the house, buying out one partner’s share, or continuing joint ownership for a period, clarity is essential.

Understand Your Mortgage: Take the time to review your mortgage documents thoroughly. Understand the terms and conditions, including any clauses related to divorce or separation. Knowing your obligations and rights regarding the mortgage will help you make informed decisions.

Explore Your Options: There are several options available when it comes to dealing with the mortgage during a divorce. Selling the house and splitting the proceeds is one common approach. Alternatively, one partner may choose to buy out the other’s share, refinancing the mortgage in their name alone. Another option is to continue joint ownership for a certain period, allowing time for market conditions to improve before selling.

Consult Professionals: Seeking advice from legal and financial professionals is highly recommended. A divorce attorney can help you understand the legal implications of various decisions and ensure that your rights are protected. Additionally, a financial advisor can provide valuable insights into the financial implications of different options and help you make sound decisions for your future.

Consider the Long-Term Financial Impact: When making decisions about the family home, consider the long-term financial implications for both parties. Can one partner afford to keep the house on their own? Will selling the house provide enough funds to secure alternative housing? These are important questions to consider when evaluating your options.

Prioritize Emotional Well-being: Divorce is emotionally taxing, and decisions about the family home can be emotionally charged. It’s essential to prioritize your emotional well-being throughout the process. Seek support from friends, family, or a therapist to help you navigate this challenging time with resilience and grace.

Plan for the Future: Once you’ve resolved the mortgage issues related to your divorce, it’s important to focus on rebuilding your financial future. Create a budget, set financial goals, and develop a plan to achieve them. Whether it’s saving for a new home, investing for retirement, or starting a new chapter in your life, having a clear financial plan can provide a sense of direction and stability.

Remember, while navigating mortgages during a divorce can be challenging, it’s essential to approach the process with patience, empathy, and a focus on finding solutions that work for both parties. By communicating openly, seeking professional advice, and prioritizing your long-term financial well-being, you can navigate this transition with confidence and emerge stronger on the other side.

Understanding Closing Costs When Buying a Home

April 16, 2024 by Michael Inkman

Buying a home is an exciting journey, but it’s not without its twists and turns. One specific daunting aspect for many homebuyers is understanding the sphere of closing costs. These additional expenses can catch even the most prepared buyers off guard if they’re not properly understood. So, let’s discuss the world of closing costs and shed some light on what to expect when purchasing your dream home.

Appraisal Fees: Before finalizing a mortgage, lenders typically require an appraisal to ensure the property’s value aligns with the loan amount. Appraisal fees can vary depending on the size and location of the property but generally range from a few hundred to a thousand dollars. It’s crucial to budget for this expense as it’s a non-negotiable part of the home-buying process.

Title Insurance: Protecting your ownership rights is paramount when purchasing a home. Title insurance safeguards against any issues with the property’s title, such as liens or disputes, that may arise after the purchase. While it might seem like an added expense, the peace of mind it provides is invaluable. Title insurance costs vary but typically amount to around 0.5% to 1% of the home’s purchase price.

Home Inspection Fees: Hiring a qualified home inspector is essential for uncovering any potential issues with the property before closing the deal. While not always mandatory, a home inspection can save you from costly surprises down the road. Inspection fees can range from $300 to $500 on average, depending on the size and complexity of the home.

Closing Agent Fees: A closing agent, often an attorney or a title company representative, facilitates the closing process and ensures all necessary documents are properly executed. Their fees cover administrative tasks, document preparation, and overseeing the closing proceedings. Closing agent fees vary but typically amount to around 1% to 2% of the home’s purchase price.

Property Taxes and Insurance: Depending on when you close on your new home, you may be required to prepay property taxes and homeowners insurance for the upcoming year. These expenses are typically prorated based on the closing date and can add a significant amount to your closing costs.

Origination Fees: Charged by the lender, origination fees cover the cost of processing your mortgage application and underwriting the loan. These fees can vary widely but generally range from 0.5% to 1% of the loan amount. It’s essential to shop around and compare origination fees when selecting a lender to ensure you’re getting the best deal.

Escrow Fees: If you opt to use an escrow service to hold funds and coordinate the closing process, you’ll likely incur escrow fees. These fees cover the cost of managing the escrow account and ensuring all parties fulfill their obligations. Escrow fees typically amount to around 1% of the purchase price but can vary depending on the complexity of the transaction.

Navigating the realm of closing costs can feel overwhelming, but understanding what to expect can help alleviate some of the stress associated with buying a home. By budgeting for these expenses and working closely with your real estate agent and lender, you can approach the closing table with confidence and excitement as you take the next step toward homeownership.

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – April 15th, 2024

April 15, 2024 by Michael Inkman

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is showing higher than expected inflation, and the Producer Price Index (PPI) is showing lower than expected inflation. The two are in conflict with each other; however, the Consumer Price Index is still the far greater indicator for inflation as it directly impacts the cost of living for everyone, not just production assets.

Given the Federal Reserve’s recent speeches it would seem that there is very likely to be a delay in the rate cuts this upcoming quarter. They have stated numerous times they are driven largely by data and that data has proven that inflation is still not as quite under control as they had anticipated moving into Quarter 2. Lending partners have been responding in kind to the news as they have had strong rate increases across the board for the previous week.

Producer Price Index

The producer price index is more volatile than a similar survey of consumer prices, but it’s not pointing to a broad acceleration in U.S. inflation. To be sure, the PPI has moved higher in early 2024. The yearly rate of wholesale inflation climbed to an 11-month high of 2.1% in March from 1.6% in the prior month.

Consumer Price Index

The cost of consumer goods and services rose a sharp 0.4% in March, capping off a third straight month of elevated inflation readings that will make it hard for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates soon. The increase in the consumer price index last month exceeded the 0.3% forecast of economists.

Primary Mortgage Market Survey Index

• 15-Yr FRM rates are seeing an increase by 0.10% with the current rate at 6.16%
• 30-Yr FRM rates are seeing an increase by 0.06% with the current rate at 6.88%

MND Rate Index

• 30-Yr FHA rates are seeing a 0.25% increase for this week. Current rates at 6.70%
• 30-Yr VA rates are seeing a 0.26% increase for this week. Current rates at 6.72%

Jobless Claims

Initial Claims were reported to be 211,000 compared to the expected claims of 217,000. The prior week landed at 222,000.

What’s Ahead

The Beige Book report is the only impactful release next week. We should see a relatively calm week, as the weeks following inflation data reports often have a less-filled schedule. This upcoming week should feature the usual weekly reports in jobs data.

Lee Vanvolkenburg

15:43 23 Nov 23

Michael and his team were wonderful to deal with. They were excellent with communication and always available to answer questions. Thank you all!

williams lovos

22:54 16 Nov 23

We close on the house tomorrow! Thank you David and Michael for making my first home buying a smooth process. I had several out of the ordinary situations that would had easily not been possible to get the loan in the time that they were able to approve it. My wife and I are forever grateful for the work the team did. Thank you again!

Mario Silvestri III

16:45 16 Nov 23

Rex Perkins

16:56 15 Nov 23

Everything had been going well over the past two years since refinancing an existing mortgage. The application process, approval, servicing website, everything had been very smooth, nothing but the best service. I then had a minor issue arise. We had a wind loss claim on our home and, unfortunately, I had put off getting the check cosigned until the last minute. An issue arose as part of a minor miscommunication in terms of where the check was to be forwarded for endorsement.

To make a long story short, I feared that this miscommunication and misdirected check coupled with my procrastination were going to result in the check expiring and a huge hassle on my part to go through the process again. Mr. Inkman nor his branch were in any way involved with my account or account management, yet, the check inadvertently ended up in their draft loss department and I feared this would further delay things. I was a bit frantic.

One of those that I emailed was Mr. Inkman. In an era when customer service is not as valued as in the past, I was very skeptical I would meet the deadline. But, to my surprise, Mr. Inkman took it on his own to personally get things done and get the issue resolved. It appears that he tracked down the overnighted check personally, directed it for signature, packaged and overnighted the check back to me. All the while remaining professional and pleasant and providing consistent email updates on the status. It doesn't even look like he delegated, rather taking the initiative and seeing it through on his own.

To me, that's not just doing a job, that's going above and beyond in terms of leadership, professionalism, and customer service. We could not be more happy. And, as a further sign of good will, the Fairway CEO actually emailed me personally to follow-up and assure resolution. Been very happy with Fairway since my refinance, Mr. Inkman's efforts only further reinforce that opinion.

Samer Fallouh

15:01 15 Nov 23

Debbie Salas

21:47 03 Oct 23

This transaction probably would not have happened without Michael. Whenever we hit a stumbling block, he found a way around it! He kept us informed and was a positive light all the way through to the end and beyond.
Thanks

Eric Kieffer

22:46 16 Aug 23

Did business with Michael about 20 years ago and he was happy to help us again. He and his team did a great job. See you in another 20.

Mortgages and Divorce: Keeping Your Home During Life’s Changes

Understanding Closing Costs When Buying a Home

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – April 15th, 2024

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