DAVIDSONVILLE, ANNAPOLIS, EDGEWATER, ARNOLD AND SEVERNA PARK REAL ESTATE
Last week’s email to the Wall Street Journal’s real estate followers contained a Good News/Bad News tale dealing with European home loan rates. Annapolis readers in a position to entertain thoughts of owning a Parisian flat or sunny Tuscan vacation hideaway would have been encouraged at first by the attractive “good news” part: the extraordinarily low mortgage interest rates now prevalent on the Continent.
Fixed terms “of over 10 years at 1.44%”! Some, even at 1.35%!
Given the generally lower property taxes and the advent of mortgage companies now catering to American clients, perhaps a European vacation home could be within reach!
However, by the time any Annapolis readers finished reading, it’s unlikely many would retain that initial enthusiasm. Here are some of the details:
- In Italy, foreigners are forbidden from borrowing over 60% of the purchase price. In France, 70%.
- To qualify in many European countries, 30 to 35% of your after-tax income must cover all your existing debt, including the new one. Plus, income from rentals doesn’t count.
- Any tiny misstep in borrowers’ credit history can be a stopper. For instance, Annapolis applicants who bounced a check 5 years ago would have a problem qualifying for that Parisian pied-a-terre.
- Closings typically take 3 months.
- Ageism abounds. One 54-year-old American couldn’t get a term longer than 19 years. It’s legal for lenders to require mortgages to be paid off “before a borrower turns 70 or 80.”
- Closing costs are astronomical: in Italy, 9% of assessed value for existing properties, and 10% of the purchase price for new ones.
The French have an additional grim proviso that might have Annapolis buyers thinking twice: borrowers are required to take out a life insurance policy naming the lender as beneficiary.
Even given today’s near-historically low U.S. levels, the comparison with European home loan rates by themselves might make ours seem “downright usurious” (as the Journal puts it). But that’s only before the entire offering is divulged. For an in-depth perspective on Annapolis real estate matters, do call me!
DEBORAH LAGGINI, Long and Foster Real Estate, Annapolis, MD 21403
CELL 410.991.6560
EMAIL [email protected]
REALTOR, Annapolis, Davidsonville, Edgewater, and Surrounding Communities