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Purchasing a home in the current environment

Posted on 2/6/25 at 9:48 pm
Posted by Lickitty Split
Inside
Member since Apr 2017
4076 posts
Posted on 2/6/25 at 9:48 pm
So a great house has become available and the wife and I are wanting to put in an offer. I want to give you my timeline so you can help me determine the optimal path forward.

We see this next house as our second to last house as we intend on building our own around 12-15 years from now. Love the prospective house but don’t currently have enough saved up unencumbered to do the full 20% down. I’m not willing to free up the money that is otherwise earning between 8-15% annually or take a tax hit to get to the 20%.

I’m thinking put the minimal amount required for the down payment with the expectation of refinancing in the next 2-4 years. Obviously the rates would need to go down at least 1% from current market for the refinancing to make sense.

I’m thinking I go 30 yr fixed. I know some lenders are offering to lower the rate by 1% for a year to get people to buy now but that’s a gimmick. I know you can recast loans but I don’t want to do that either.

My neighbor was able to effectively refinance his loan without zero costs but is his term was extended to the original term length in order to do so. This was during 2020 and he say the lender reached out to him for that deal. This is the option I would like to have but I have no idea what it’s called (terminology) or whether it’s something that can even be offered as an option up front. Basically, I want to avoid the costs the refinance in the near term, get the benefit of the appreciation in the property to rid myself of pmi, and lower my payments all within the next 4 years.

Do I find a lender willing to do this or is this something I can express to a broker who can find this deal for me?
Posted by JohnnyKilroy
Cajun Navy Vice Admiral
Member since Oct 2012
38471 posts
Posted on 2/6/25 at 9:52 pm to
If the house checks all the boxes and you can afford it, just buy the house.


You plan to be there at least 10 years. Don't sweat the small stuff.
Posted by TorchtheFlyingTiger
1st coast
Member since Jan 2008
2624 posts
Posted on 2/7/25 at 6:38 am to
quote:

I’m not willing to free up the money that is otherwise earning between 8-15% annually or take a tax hit to get to the 20%.

I was in in this situation and borrowed against my investments at a favorable rate using a securities backed line of credit or pledged asset line .
Posted by Drive4show
Member since Aug 2009
437 posts
Posted on 2/7/25 at 9:00 am to
quote:

I’m not willing to free up the money that is otherwise earning between 8-15% annually or take a tax hit to get to the 20%.


A tax-free, zero-risk 6-7% return isn't bad...
Posted by XenScott
Pensacola
Member since Oct 2016
3669 posts
Posted on 2/9/25 at 11:31 am to
Avoiding PMI is worth it. That’s “dead” money you get no value from. Keep that in mind when crunching numbers.
Posted by Billy Blanks
Member since Dec 2021
4751 posts
Posted on 2/9/25 at 12:15 pm to
quote:

Basically, I want to avoid the costs the refinance in the near term, get the benefit of the appreciation in the property to rid myself of pmi, and lower my payments all within the next 4 years.



Then do a
quote:

I know you can recast loans


It's a 1 time fee of like 300 bucks to get the payment where you like if you make a sizeable lump sum payment.
quote:

I’m thinking put the minimal amount required for the down payment with the expectation of refinancing in the next 2-4 years


This is assuming they will go down. I wouldn't bet on this.

quote:

This was during 2020


Will never have another one of those in our lifetime.

Posted by ItzMe1972
Member since Dec 2013
11421 posts
Posted on 2/9/25 at 12:20 pm to
"My neighbor was able to effectively refinance his loan without zero costs but is his term was extended to the original term length in order to do so."
--
Semantics...

It was not zero costs if additional payments were tacked onto the end of the loan.

So he did pay to refinance.
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