Las Vegas, Nevada, has experienced a significant rise in housing costs in recent years, creating pressure for those seeking to buy a home. According to U.S. Census data, the median sale price of new homes was $302,400 in November 2018. Las Vegas is in the vicinity of the national average, with the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors putting the median sale price at $295,000 in August 2018.
While this is slightly below the national average, it is also a 13.5 percent year-over-year increase.
This rapid rise comes at a time when Las Vegas is becoming a popular destination. Realtor.com actually labeled the city as the most in-demand real estate market of 2019, as economic growth, high demand for properties, and other factors are creating a hot housing market.
With so much demand for housing on the horizon, shopping around for the best mortgage is critical. Read on to learn more about how you can get the best mortgage rates in Las Vegas.
Table of Contents: Mortgages in Las Vegas:
Current Mortgage Rates in Las Vegas, NV
Mortgage Factors in Las Vegas, NV
The Las Vegas real estate market has been heating up for a while. It has hit a breaking point with escalating costs and a high demand for properties. In this climate, lenders are positioned to be cautious about who they give loans to. With mortgage rates set to be fairly high and competition for homes stiff, it’s important to understand exactly what goes into how your mortgage rate is calculated.
Understanding the factors that influence your mortgage rate can enable you to take action to improve the likelihood of getting the lowest rate possible. If you are in the early stages of searching for a home, you can take a few months to gradually work on improving your situation. If you’re about to start shopping for a mortgage, you still may be able to take some quick actions that will help you get the rate you’re looking for.
Knowing what influences your rate isn’t just useful in helping you improve the chances of getting a better rate from a lender. It can also make it easier to shop around and identify your best options, ensuring you don’t run into a situation where you get a lower rate, but have higher total costs for the loan.
Some regional issues, such as competition between lenders in your market, can influence rates. Larger, macro-considerations or personal matters tend to be more impactful in the end. As such, here’s a look at five of the most critical elements that affect mortgage and refinance rates in Las Vegas.
Credit Score
Your credit score is among the most influential benchmarks used to calculate your mortgage rate. Lenders will incorporate the credit score of all parties taking responsibility for the mortgage. However, a report from the Federal Trade Commission pointed out that lenders may be more flexible if you can explain specific reasons why your credit score is low in a way that alleviates risk.
For example, if a member of your household experienced a serious and costly illness a couple of years ago. You may now be in a position in which your household has recovered financially, but your credit score isn’t back to normal. Some lenders may be more flexible in this type of situation, so you should always shop around and not assume that you’re stuck with a high rate for a mortgage or refinancing if your credit isn’t great.
Property Type
According to a Home Buying Institute report, banks typically see single-family homes meant to be used as a primary residence as the lowest-risk mortgage properties, meaning borrowers are more likely to get a better rate. Conversely, specialty properties, such as multi-unit dwellings, condos, or vacation homes can be considered riskier by the lender, leading to higher rates.
Points
Typically, making a larger down payment is seen as the best way to reduce the total cost of the loan by improving your equity and reducing the amount of funding necessary, but that isn’t your only option. Some lenders allow you to purchase points that can be applied directly to a reduced interest rate. It’s important to evaluate the total cost of points relative to the savings achieved to ensure you end up with the best value possible.
Location
We mentioned that some regional factors can influence mortgage rates. Besides competition between lenders, you may also have access to some specific loan programs in one region that would be unavailable in others.
For example, a report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau mentioned that both rural and urban regions present unique home buying challenges that local lenders may resolve through partnerships with government loan programs.
Loan Type
Mortgage rates vary substantially between loan types. In terms of conventional loans, fixed-rate mortgages tend to have higher initial rates than adjustable-rate alternatives, but the adjustable-rate could rise over time and become more expensive.
You’ll also want to consider specialty, low-rate loans you may be qualified for and shop around to see what unique options different lenders offer. Whether you’re refinancing or seeking a new mortgage is also relevant here, as some lenders may offer special refinance programs.
How to Get the Best Mortgage Rates in Las Vegas, NV
According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, less than half of mortgage seekers check in with multiple lenders to compare rates. This is, on some level, a reflection of how the mortgage market has traditionally operated. Historically, banks and credit unions dominated the lending space and offered services primarily through their branches.
To seek a loan, you had to travel to a physical location for a set appointment, work through your financial details, and file a formal application. From there, you’d either get a rate quote a few days later or immediately if the bank employees possessed the digital tools to process your details quickly when you meet with them.
With such a complex process in place, it became normal to just go to a local branch and see what one could get for a mortgage. Shopping around took so much time that it wasn’t realistic for many. This has now changed, as digital banking services have become more common and lenders have worked to make the entire mortgage process more accessible.
Compare Mortgage Quotes Online
While you can still go to a branch location for a formal meeting, many lenders are providing more convenient options. You can browse mortgage options online and talk with a loan officer on the phone to get a quote from most lenders today. Many lenders have adopted fully online processes, letting you file an application digitally and get an almost instantaneous quote.
On top of all this, lending marketplaces or exchanges let you submit your application and automatically view potential loan options from diverse lenders, giving you the ability to browse a variety of mortgages all in one transaction.
Shopping around is getting easier. The cost savings can be great. Even if you only get a rate that’s a few tenths of a percentage point lower, the long-term cost reduction can be thousands of dollars. As such, our best advice on getting the best mortgage or refinancing rate in Las Vegas is to shop around with both local and national lenders.
As you look to save money on your mortgage or refinance, you’ll also want to consider fees for tasks like home appraisal and government paperwork that comes with such loans. While you can often negotiate some of the fees that come from the lender, most government-related expenses can’t be avoided.
Recommended Mortgage Lenders in Las Vegas, Nevada
- Quicken Loans: This lending marketplace gives you access to quotes from a variety of lenders in one place, providing convenience and visibility that can help you get the best mortgage or refinancing rate available.
- Ally Bank: As an online-only bank, Ally Bank is able to provide an intuitive, digital-focused experience that helps you access the services you need regardless of your location.
- Better Mortgage: Another online lender, Better Mortgage puts its emphasis on providing advice and guidance to support you during the lending process. The lender offers a variety of mortgage and refinancing options and the ability to apply points or credits to your loan.
- LendingTree: Similar to Quicken Loans, Lending Tree provides a robust mortgage marketplace that can give you access to a variety of loan options in a single location.
