this post was submitted on 15 Apr 2024
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[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago

It's a general problem in real estate now; commercial and residential.

Everyone who was able to refinance to low mortgage rates locked them in. That means that just about anyone who wants to roll over a real estate investment has to take a huge hit in the process. Those rollovers are normally a big part of liquidity and they've all dried up.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago

this is the problem and not people transferring 15% of the housing market into short term rentals.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Its less of a problem of lock in here in Australia. Our rates tend to only be fixed for the first few years. Then you go to the variable rate. We have an opposite problem, where we have what's known as a mortgage cliff. People who signed up at affordable repayment amounts end that lock in period and have payments jump significantly. Some are forced to sell.

Being locked in seems better than being forced to sell.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

Here in Germany you can decide how long you want your rates to be fixed, with the tradeoff being that longer times of fixed rates usually have slightly higher rates (in German its Zinsbindung).

I am lucky and happy that I chose to do 30 years fixed rates, after those 30 years I only have like 2k€ left anyway, so it doesnt matter what rates I get then really.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I would like to introduce you to 2008...

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

Yes, just America was affectednbynthe global financial crisis. Unless you mean the sub prime rates, which ISNA different thing than fixed rates. Usually those on a sub prime rate are on a higher rate not lower.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 7 months ago (1 children)

People forget .... If you refinance you are essentially selling the house to yourself with the lower rate, but Mr. Taxman will up your taxes to the current market value of your home, which is ridiculously high right now. Any savings in interest goes back into higher taxes. And now you will need more expensive insurance to cover the increase in home value.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

This is not how things work in the US. At least not in the states that I've lived in: TX, CA, IL.

My current state, TX, regularly updates the property value assessment, so even if I don't refinance, my property taxes goes up. With homestead exemption, the rise is capped at 10%, but over 2-3 years, it easily catches up to the market value.

But if you're in CA or NV, that value assessment increase is capped at something like 2% or 1% annually, respectively. (Proposition 13) Creating situations where homes purchased 20 years ago are still paying really low property taxes compared to today's buyers.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Isn't that the way it should be? In Florida it's capped low per year also...you bet the county raises it the max each year. My 95 year old neighbor has a yearly tax bill of 590, mine was 6k. If I stay in my house 50 years, my tax bill will be 1 tenth that of the new owners too.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Its good and bad. I'm conflicted about it, because I think everyone should pay a fair share of the property tax. The person that moved in 20 years ago and the person that moved in yesterday should shoulder the same amount of burden if their properties are equivalent.

But I also think its stupid that my property tax goes up just because some idiot decided to overpay for the house a few houses down the street.

I simply don't like the idea that the property tax is tied directly to the appraised value of my house. It should really be tied to the size of the land that I am occupying and the total cost of running the city/county that I am in. If I build a fancy shed (insert any structure here) in my backyard, that shouldn't really cause my taxes to go up even if it increases the value of my property. The only exception is if I change the dwelling type. If it goes from a single family home to a multifamily unit, then definitely the tax rate should be reevaluated, if it is using the infrastructure more.

[–] [email protected] 33 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Kinda strange reading all these comments about how people dislike their house and where they live, but can't imagine giving up their mortgage rate.

The almighty mortgage handcuffs, the true American dream.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 7 months ago (1 children)

My wife and I LOVE our house and don't want to leave, but we definitely thought it was going to be a starter home. We straight up could not afford the mortgage payments anywhere else at today's rates, even in a much smaller house

[–] [email protected] 6 points 7 months ago

I couldn’t afford to buy the house I currently live in, today. The “value” of my house almost doubled in value, and interest rates are close to triple what I have now. There is no way my family is going to move out, it’s pretty stupid that an upgrade of a home, in terms of dollar value, would put me somewhere much smaller.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 7 months ago

Oh look it's me. 3.125%

[–] [email protected] 21 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

Are we like not even allowed to talk about renting out our home in order to upgrade or something? That's the play right now. Net present value of your almostfree money is maximized by turning it into cashflow. Plus you don't blow 6% on closing costs, and it's all the same to the bank in terms of getting another loan. It actually ends up being an equity asset as well as income.

Err, what I meant to say was murder all landlords.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 7 months ago (1 children)

It's possible, if you have the savings for a second down payment. I'm pretty sure you also lose certain tax advantages if you convert your primary home to an income property. Depending on how long you've owned it, that can work out to a serious hit.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 7 months ago (1 children)

You can't deduct the mortgage interest (you can on the new primary residence though), but suddenly every dollar you spend on the rental property is tax deductible as a business expense. And you can like deduct depreciation on the appliances and shit. It's actually more tax advantaged in some situations.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Check with an accountant. In some cases you are better off not taking a deduction. It depends on a lot of factors that an accountant whould know.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago

Yeah, I have a lot of experience in this area, including accountants and lawyers.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

/raises hand

[–] [email protected] -1 points 7 months ago

I have a feeling something will happen that will make them unstuck so that investment firms can scoop them up too.

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