Aug. 1, 2023

August 2023 Newsletter

https://thewiseagent.com/news/?newsID=138601

Posted in Buying a Home, Community News, Market Updates, Real Estate News, Selling Your Home
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July 3, 2023

July 2023 Newsletter

https://thewiseagent.com/news/?newsID=137289

Posted in Buying a Home, Community News, Market Updates, Real Estate News, Selling Your Home
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July 3, 2023

June 2023 Newsletter

https://thewiseagent.com/news/?newsID=135707

Posted in Buying a Home, Community News, Market Updates, Real Estate News, Selling Your Home
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May 23, 2023

May 2023 Newsletter

https://thewiseagent.com/news/?newsID=135585

Posted in Community News
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Feb. 19, 2019

Looking to sell your home fast!?!

Posted in Selling Your Home
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Jan. 17, 2019

Mortgage Minute with Mike Tizzano 1-17-2019

Challenging Conventional Wisdom

Always put 20% down if you have it, always pick the lowest interest rate,…..

Ah, conventional wisdom.  Ideas that are so widely accepted that they go unquestioned. It’s amazing how often conventional wisdom is actually not wise.  This is especially true in home financing, where old tired ideas continue to be pervasive in the way consumers think.  The area where this is most obvious is when considering how much money a home buyer needs to put down to get the best mortgage. 

Most lenders out there have tunnel vision.  When doing what they think is best for their client their only consideration is, “how can I get them the lowest rate” when they should actually be concerned with how to put them in the best overall financial situation.  Often the loan program with the lowest interest rate is the best option for the client but for many others programs that offer more flexibility are better options.  The other piece of conventional wisdom I like to challenge is the idea that you should put 20% down if you can to avoid mortgage insurance. Below you’ll find 2 examples:

1.      An acquaintance of mine was working with an online lender.  She was having some issues and asked for my advice. (Aside from you should have called me in the first place) She was a first time buyer, had an extremely high credit score, not a lot of money to put down and irregular income.  The online lender had her in an FHA loan.  I advised her that a Home Ready loan might work better for her because it required a lower down payment (3% vs 3.5%) and at her credit score the price for the monthly mortgage insurance would be lower.  In addition to that the MI on the Home Ready is automatically removed 8 years or so into the loan, whereas the FHA loan it remains for the life of the loan.  When she questioned the online lender his response was that Home Ready is FHA! It’s not, it’s a Fannie Mae product.  When she pointed that out he responded that the rate on the FHA program was lower.  So even though the overall cost of the loan for FHA was higher, his argument was for the lower interest rate.  Let’s just say the rest of the loan process with the online lender went as well as expected.  That’s one example where conventional wisdom should be ignored.

2.      A recent client had sold a home a few months back and was living with family.  When he found the home he wanted to purchase he wanted to put 20% down, which was all of the money he had in the bank.  Past lenders that he worked with led him to believe that you should avoid mortgage insurance at all costs.  My view is always that if you can leave some money in the bank after closing you should.  So I showed him an option of putting 15% down with lender paid mortgage insurance. Sometimes with LPMI you see a little higher interest rate but that is because it’s more often used for those putting down 5 to 10%.  I’ll fill you in on a little secret, banks and investors like having a little bit of MI on a loan, so quite often you’ll actually get a better interest rate with 15% down than you will with 20%.  In his case doing the Lender Paid MI left the rate exactly the same as if he were to put 20-25% down.   The bottom line is he got to keep $22,000 in his pocket and the mortgage payment increased by less than $100 per month.  Had he put the full 20% down he’d have been in a new home with $0 in the bank.

That’s just two recent examples I can site where conventional mortgage wisdom proved incorrect.   There are countless others, so be sure that whoever you are working with has the tools and the patience to present you with more than just one option and is willing to take the time to explain the pros and cons of each.  Adhering to conventional wisdom could potentially cost you thousands of dollars.

Mike Tizzano NMLS #1015837

Sr. Loan Officer- The Tizzano Team @ Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation

Posted in Buying a Home
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Dec. 28, 2018

Coming Soon 3729 E Taro Lane Phoenix AZ 85050

New Listing

Available January 1, 2019

3729 E Taro Lane Phoenix, Arizona 85050 MLS #5858430
Listed at $350,000 
This 3 bed, 2.5 bath, with a separate office/den, features a remodeled kitchen & master bath, 2 car garage, 2,142 sqft = $163 per sqft , located near 51 & 101 freeway. Just a few minutes from Scottsdale, Desert Ridge, and even downtown Phoenix. To schedule a showing contact Bryan Deboda 602-317-1334

Posted in Buying a Home, Selling Your Home
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Nov. 29, 2018

10 tips for buying a NEW BUILD home

10 tips to consider when buying a new build (these are merely suggestions)

  1. Bring your realtor - you must register your realtor the first time you visit a new build site.  This ensures you have representation during the entire process.  Its free to you and your realtor should give you valuable information to give you peace of mind.
  2. Know if you want a single story or two-story home. The floor plan must make sense for your lifestyle. For example, if you have young children you may not want a two story or a two story where the master bedroom is downstairs.
  3. “Location Location Location” - this doesn't just apply to the community. Each lot has its benefits and negatives for lifestyle preferences and resale purposes.
  4. Research the builder and the sub-contractors - for example: when walking through a model home ask who designs and installs the kitchen cabinets and look at their reviews.
  5. Join or view the neighborhood community page (Facebook or Nextdoor) During a resale transaction a buyer is given a 10-day inspection period.  As realtors we provide a Buyers Advisory so that our clients can do their own research on the home and surrounding community.  A new build may not have a lot of statistics about its immediate neighborhood but joining a community page may help with your research. I will provide a link to the Arizona Buyers Advisory below.
  6. Have your own Home Inspection done. When you sign a contract with the builder request what information they will need to have your own inspection done.  If you want to hire an inspector that can walk each phase such as framing and electrical those inspectors are available as well.  The extra money you spend could save you some headaches later. Be well informed on the builder’s warranty and claims process.
  7. Read the builders contract.  Some important information to know - How can you back out and get your earnest money back.  How are repairs handled if it’s the 3rd time breaking?
  8. Talk to other people who have built in that sub-division! I recommend you walk around and talk to the residents. Tell them you are thinking about building and if they had any tips or things to watch out for.
  9. When you walk through a model home you are looking at their most upgraded product. Don't expect your home look or even price out the same.  Focus on the bones of the house and if it will fit your likes and lifestyle.
  10. Know your timeline – If you need to get into a new home faster consider buying a spec home. These are homes where the previous buyer withdrew somewhere in the process.  Their loss can be your benefit.                                          

If you need a referral for a new build home inspector, contractor for estimates, landscaping estimates, or even a interior designer give me a call. 

Posted in Buying a Home
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Nov. 21, 2018

Are we in for a more balanced Real Estate Market?

Are you thinking about selling or purchasing a home in 2019?  You are in luck because 2019 is projected to be a more balanced market.  2018 was a sellers’ market in Arizona due to the small inventory of quality homes, # of buyers, and rising interest rates.  We are currently in the last quarter of 2018 and signs of a pending balanced market are showing.  Homes are sitting longer, there were less closings, and sellers are reducing sales prices at record rate compared to the previous month. Interest rates are going up and this may encourage those buyers who are sitting on the fence to act.  For those buyers who are choosing to not purchase a home because of the fear of a bubble burst, I encourage you to do more research into what caused the 2008 financial crises.  2019 should be a great year for both seller/buyers so take advantage. 

Posted in Market Updates
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Nov. 8, 2018

Fall slow down is here

For those who anticipated the market shift this isn't news to you. 

Whats currently happening:

Homes are sitting longer

Sellers are reducing their prices

This time of year (Holiday Season) is the slower time of year (lower # of new listings) 

Interest rates have been going up = buyers are getting nervous

People are affraid of a market crash. I don't like the word crash. The market will slow down, it was destined too. We were at record sales prices and historically low interest rates that were eventually going to go the opposite direction. Crash is too harsh of a word to use and that causes a lot of fear for buyers and sellers. When the market crashed in 2008 we all know a lot of bad policies contributed to it. Buyers couldn't get loans and the market stalled.  With this current slow down buyers will still see the value in owning versus renting, sellers will still need to move, downgrade, upgrade, etc etc. Most importantly loans are still available. There is a huge difference between a slow down and a crash. As a seller and buyer you have to know the difference and plan accordingly. 

Posted in Market Updates
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