Navigating Estate Planning

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Estate planning often feels overwhelming due to its complexity and the many uncertainties surrounding it. However, there are key insights to help guide your decisions. As current federal estate and gift tax exemptions are set to expire at the end of 2025, it’s a crucial time to reassess your estate plan. Here are answers to some of the most common estate planning questions, addressing how to make the most of your assets while preparing for potential changes in tax laws.

What Happens to Gifting If Exemptions Decrease After 2025?

Current regulations ensure that gifts made under the increased exemptions from 2018 to 2025 will not face adverse tax consequences if the exemption decreases in 2026. For instance, if you gift $10 million now and the exemption drops to $7 million later, there will be no retroactive taxation on the extra $3 million gifted. Additionally, individuals can give annual gifts of up to $18,000 in 2024 to as many recipients as they wish without impacting their lifetime exemption.

Does the Type of Account Matter for Estate Taxes?

The federal estate tax applies to the value of all assets owned at death, regardless of account type. However, retirement accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs cannot be gifted during your lifetime without triggering taxes. For more tax-efficient transfers, consider gifting assets held in brokerage accounts or real estate. If much of your wealth is tied to retirement accounts, strategies like Roth conversions can help reduce the income tax burden for beneficiaries, though the full account value remains part of the estate.

How Are Real Estate and Business Assets Taxed in an Estate?

Real estate and business assets are included in the estate’s value for tax purposes, regardless of whether heirs plan to sell them. While beneficiaries typically don’t owe estate taxes directly, states with inheritance taxes—such as Maryland and Pennsylvania—may require heirs to pay taxes on inherited assets.

To avoid forcing a sale of assets, estates should have enough liquid funds to cover potential tax liabilities, which are generally due within nine months of death. Certain provisions, such as installment payments, may apply to family farms or closely held businesses to ease the financial burden.

What Role Does Life Insurance Play in Estate Planning?

The death benefit of a life insurance policy is generally included in the decedent’s estate unless the policy is held in an irrevocable trust. Transferring ownership of the policy to a trust can exclude its value from the taxable estate. Annual exclusion gifts—$18,000 per beneficiary in 2024—can help fund life insurance premiums for policies held in trust.

When Should You Revisit Your Estate Plan?

It’s advisable to review your estate plan every three to five years or after significant life events, such as a change in net worth, a relocation to a different state, a birth or death in the family, marriage or divorce, or changes in tax laws. Additionally, consider revising your plan if those designated as executors, guardians, or trustees are no longer suitable for their roles.

How to Get Started

If it’s been years since you last updated your estate plan, or if you lack a trusted advisor, now is the time to act. Start by organizing your financial information and identifying your goals. Many online tools can help streamline the process, ensuring your first meeting with an estate attorney is productive and efficient.

By staying informed and proactive, you can navigate the complexities of estate planning with confidence, ensuring your assets are distributed according to your wishes while minimizing tax liabilities for your beneficiaries.

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A Guide to Honoring and Growing Your Legacy

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This week, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hovered at 6.49%, according to Freddie Mac. While this is a slight increase from the previous week, it remains significantly below the two-decade high seen last fall. The modest decline in borrowing costs appears to be spurring homeowners to refinance, with mortgage applications surging 17% last week. Refinancing activity, in particular, shot up by an impressive 35%, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

The recent drop in mortgage rates, which hit a one-year low, has been a welcome development for borrowers. Analysts predict further decreases later this year as the Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates, potentially easing the financial burden on homebuyers and homeowners alike.

Despite these positive trends, housing affordability remains a pressing issue. Rising home prices and persistent inventory shortages have kept homeownership out of reach for many Americans, particularly in high-cost urban centers such as San Diego and New York. Nationally, home prices have hit record highs several times this year, according to data from S&P Global and the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

“Housing has a lot of challenges ahead of it, not the least of which are high mortgage rates, high home prices, and a lack of inventory,” said Tom Porcelli, Chief US Economist at PGIM Fixed Income. The average monthly mortgage payment has doubled over the past four years, creating significant financial strain for prospective buyers.

A lack of available housing units continues to fuel price increases. However, some progress has been made, with housing inventory improving each month in 2024, according to NAR. In regions like Tampa, Denver, and Minneapolis, an uptick in residential construction has helped moderate price growth. Tampa, for instance, has experienced a surge in new housing developments, easing inflation in the area significantly from over 11% in 2022 to just 2.4% this year.

The Federal Reserve’s ongoing effort to combat inflation has been hampered by persistently high shelter costs. While inflation has dropped from its 2022 highs to a 2.9% annual rate in July, shelter expenses accounted for nearly 90% of last month’s consumer price increases. Excluding shelter, inflation rose by only 1.7% over the past year, highlighting the outsized impact of housing costs on the broader economy.

Amid these challenges, lower borrowing costs could provide some relief. Economists anticipate the Fed will lower its benchmark interest rate by a quarter-point as early as next month, with some speculation of a more significant half-point reduction. These cuts are expected to influence mortgage rates indirectly through their effect on the 10-year US Treasury yield, a key benchmark for mortgage pricing.

However, even as rates decline, it remains unclear if they will drop below 6%. While this would bring rates closer to pre-2022 levels, they are still considerably higher than what was seen during the past decade. For now, the housing market continues to navigate a complex landscape of fluctuating rates, high prices, and limited supply, leaving prospective buyers and policymakers grappling with the question of how to create a more accessible path to homeownership.

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Housing Market Sees Mixed Signals as Mortgage Rates Hold Steady

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This week, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hovered at 6.49%, according to Freddie Mac. While this is a slight increase from the previous week, it remains significantly below the two-decade high seen last fall. The modest decline in borrowing costs appears to be spurring homeowners to refinance, with mortgage applications surging 17% last week. Refinancing activity, in particular, shot up by an impressive 35%, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

The recent drop in mortgage rates, which hit a one-year low, has been a welcome development for borrowers. Analysts predict further decreases later this year as the Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates, potentially easing the financial burden on homebuyers and homeowners alike.

Despite these positive trends, housing affordability remains a pressing issue. Rising home prices and persistent inventory shortages have kept homeownership out of reach for many Americans, particularly in high-cost urban centers such as San Diego and New York. Nationally, home prices have hit record highs several times this year, according to data from S&P Global and the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

“Housing has a lot of challenges ahead of it, not the least of which are high mortgage rates, high home prices, and a lack of inventory,” said Tom Porcelli, Chief US Economist at PGIM Fixed Income. The average monthly mortgage payment has doubled over the past four years, creating significant financial strain for prospective buyers.

A lack of available housing units continues to fuel price increases. However, some progress has been made, with housing inventory improving each month in 2024, according to NAR. In regions like Tampa, Denver, and Minneapolis, an uptick in residential construction has helped moderate price growth. Tampa, for instance, has experienced a surge in new housing developments, easing inflation in the area significantly from over 11% in 2022 to just 2.4% this year.

The Federal Reserve’s ongoing effort to combat inflation has been hampered by persistently high shelter costs. While inflation has dropped from its 2022 highs to a 2.9% annual rate in July, shelter expenses accounted for nearly 90% of last month’s consumer price increases. Excluding shelter, inflation rose by only 1.7% over the past year, highlighting the outsized impact of housing costs on the broader economy.

Amid these challenges, lower borrowing costs could provide some relief. Economists anticipate the Fed will lower its benchmark interest rate by a quarter-point as early as next month, with some speculation of a more significant half-point reduction. These cuts are expected to influence mortgage rates indirectly through their effect on the 10-year US Treasury yield, a key benchmark for mortgage pricing.

However, even as rates decline, it remains unclear if they will drop below 6%. While this would bring rates closer to pre-2022 levels, they are still considerably higher than what was seen during the past decade. For now, the housing market continues to navigate a complex landscape of fluctuating rates, high prices, and limited supply, leaving prospective buyers and policymakers grappling with the question of how to create a more accessible path to homeownership.

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Experts Weigh in on Falling Mortgage Rates and the Housing Market

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Over the last three years, the mortgage landscape has shifted dramatically, with average rates on 30-year fixed mortgages almost doubling. On August 19, 2021, borrowers could secure an average rate of 2.86%, whereas today’s rate has climbed to 6.57%. This sharp increase, combined with record-high home prices, has placed homeownership out of reach for many prospective buyers. However, recent months have brought some relief, with average rates dropping from 7.22% in early May to 6.57%. Experts believe that with potential Federal Reserve action, rates could fall even further by September.

Mortgage experts are closely watching upcoming inflation and employment reports. Jason Obradovich, chief investment officer at New American Funding, notes that inflation data, set to be reported on August 30, and the September jobs report will be key in determining the Fed’s decision on rates. If inflation continues to decline and unemployment rises, Obradovich suggests mortgage rates could see a substantial decrease, potentially even dipping into the 5% range by fall.

Not all experts, however, anticipate a dramatic dip below 6%. Rob Cook, vice president at Discover Home Loans, argues that while a Fed rate cut may create downward pressure on mortgage rates, it’s unlikely they’ll fall below 6% this year. He points out that market expectations for a September cut are already high, which means the effect of such a move may already be partially reflected in today’s rates. Jeff Tucker, principal economist at Windermere Real Estate, echoes this sentiment, predicting that any Fed reduction is unlikely to bring 30-year mortgage rates below the 6% threshold due to pre-existing market expectations.

Sarah Alvarez, vice president of mortgage banking at William Raveis Mortgage, sees rates trending lower, potentially reaching the 5% range in 2025. While acknowledging the potential for rate decreases, she encourages buyers not to focus exclusively on timing the market. With a reminder that it’s always possible to refinance if rates drop further, she highlights the importance of moving forward when the right home becomes available.

Yet, uncertainty remains. Obradovich points out that unexpected economic developments could push mortgage rates upward, regardless of employment trends. For example, if inflation unexpectedly rises, rates could increase despite high unemployment.

For prospective buyers considering whether to act now or wait, the decision involves weighing current conditions against potential future savings. Locking in today’s rates offers the stability of a fixed monthly payment, regardless of future rate hikes. Conversely, holding off could result in a lower rate down the road, meaning a reduced monthly payment. However, waiting may also lead to increased competition among buyers, potentially driving home prices higher if rates fall and more people re-enter the market.

Ultimately, the choice to buy now or wait depends on individual circumstances and priorities. As Alvarez advises, calculating potential costs carefully is essential; paying a bit more on a mortgage today could help buyers secure a home they love while minimizing the risk of getting outbid in a competitive market.

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Why a 5.5% Mortgage Rate Could Be the Key to Reviving the Housing Market

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Mortgage rates have become a key driver in today’s housing market, as homebuyers show high sensitivity to even slight changes in rates. Over the past year, rising rates have cooled demand and slowed home sales, while temporary rate drops have seen buyer interest surge. New research from John Burns Research and Consulting suggests that the magic mortgage rate to revive the market may be around 5.5%, marking a significant threshold for buyer affordability.

In the past year, mortgage rates soared to over 7%, a high not seen in recent years, before easing slightly to around 6.27% as of the latest data. This significant jump in rates has left many existing homeowners reluctant to sell, as they are locked into historically low mortgage rates secured over the past few years. This reluctance to reenter the market at higher rates has kept inventory levels low, squeezing potential buyers looking for options. As a result, the market has seen reduced activity, with more than half of surveyed homeowners and renters expressing that now is not an ideal time to buy, citing high mortgage costs as a barrier.

The study highlights that 5.5% seems to be the tipping point for many consumers. A majority of survey respondents indicated they would not consider purchasing a home if mortgage rates were above this rate. Nearly two-thirds of consumers also believe a “normal” mortgage rate should be below 5.5%, even though historical averages suggest otherwise. Since 1971, mortgage rates have averaged around 7.75%, peaking at 18.83% in the early 1980s and reaching record lows of 2.65% in 2021.

This consumer hesitation has encouraged homebuilders to offer rate buydowns, often covering up to 6% of the mortgage amount to reduce rates closer to the 5% mark. Builders find that subsidizing mortgage rates significantly increases buyer interest, allowing them to move inventory despite a general market slowdown. This strategy has proven successful as builders benefit from the lack of inventory in the existing home market, with the low supply pushing more buyers toward new constructions.

However, despite these efforts, the mortgage rate forecasts for the rest of 2023 are not optimistic about returning to 5.5%. Experts at the Mortgage Bankers Association and Wells Fargo predict rates will stay slightly above 6% through the second quarter, while Fannie Mae and the National Association of Home Builders anticipate rates even closer to 6.6%.

With no immediate expectation of rates dropping to 5.5%, potential homebuyers may continue to hesitate, and sellers may stay put with their low-rate loans. This persistent divide in expectations underscores how critical mortgage rates are to market dynamics, as buyers and sellers alike remain cautious amid ongoing rate uncertainty. For now, the rate-sensitive housing market looks poised to remain sluggish, with lower rates the key to unlocking greater activity and demand in the months ahead.

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