down payment and closing costs: Why It's a Smart Move to Buy a Home in the Current Market
- 12/10/23 01:20 PM
If you're in a financially stable position, now might be the perfect time to embark on your homeownership journey. Buying a home today offers several advantages, including the opportunity to build equity and stabilize your housing costs in the face of rising expenses. Explore the reasons why purchasing a home now can be a wise decision in the current market. By purchasing a home today, you can start building equity, which is an investment in your future. Additionally, opting for a fixed-rate mortgage allows you to stabilize your monthly housing costs for the long term, even as other expenses continue … (3 comments)
down payment and closing costs: Gift Amount Increased for 2022
- 09/28/22 10:04 AM
The limit for tax free gifts for 2022 is $16,000 and no tax is due to the donor or the donee. There are provisions that would allow gifts higher than this amount providing the total lifetime gifts above the annual exclusion of $12.06 million for 2022 has not been met. The donor and donee can be separate persons so that the aggregate tax-free gift for one-year amounts to more money. For instance, a father and mother can gift $16,000 each to their married son in 2022 and an additional $16,000 each to the daughter-in-law for a total $64,000. If the son and … (3 comments)
down payment and closing costs: Existing Homeowners May be Facing Higher Payments
- 05/29/22 12:38 PM
Existing Homeowners May be Facing Higher Payments5/18/2022 As a current homeowner, you may be basking in the consolation that you bought before the market got crazy with higher prices and interest rates. However, it doesn't mean that you may not be facing higher mortgage payments for next year. Most homeowners pay their taxes and insurance into an escrow account with their mortgage payment. The lender monitors the account to be sure there are enough funds available when the taxes and insurance are due. If there is a shortage, it could cause your payment to increase. In 2021, the national average increase in home … (1 comments)
down payment and closing costs: Coordinating the Sale and Purchase of Your Home
- 04/20/22 06:32 PM
Usually, it is easier to buy a home than to sell a home but that isn't necessarily the case currently. In today's market, it can be scary to sell your home before buying another because you could find yourself without a home. Most sellers will not accept a contingency on the sale of a buyer's home in today's market. So, let's look at some of the alternatives that homeowners are using to facilitate the transactions. If you have the income, credit, and cash available, the replacement home can be purchased with a new 80-90% loan-to-value mortgage and sell the existing … (3 comments)
down payment and closing costs: Doing Nothing is Costing Something
- 07/21/21 09:57 AM
It has been said that more money has been lost due to indecisions than ever was due to making the wrong decisions. Many times, the larger the decision, the more likely procrastination comes into play and doing nothing will cost something. Buying a home is certainly one of the biggest decisions people make. Careful consideration and planning are necessary steps leading to a prudent decision. Considering today's market that includes a global pandemic, financial volatility, and rapidly rising home prices, it is understandable that many people thinking about a home purchase are in a wait and see posture. However, there is a cost … (1 comments)
down payment and closing costs: First Love, Second Wife or Third REALTOR
- 06/21/21 03:21 PM
There is a story of a real estate agent's prayer: "Dear Lord, if I can't be someone's first love, or second wife, at least, please let me be their third REALTOR®." In a normal market with a balanced supply of sellers and buyers, this describes the preference that it might be better to be the third listing agent to help the seller after they became more realistic about their list price. In today's market, it might have more to do with buyers because of the increased competition, their chance of having an accepted offer is greatly reduced and it is only … (2 comments)
down payment and closing costs: "Mise en Place" for Homebuying
- 05/18/21 07:36 PM
In cooking, "mise en place" describes having all your ingredients measured, cut, peeled, sliced, grated, as well as bowls, utensils and pans ready to use before you begin cooking. The advantage is to inventory the ingredients and recognize if you have everything you need. You are less likely to leave out an ingredient or step because it is "set up" and ready to use. The same technique works well in the homebuying process, especially in today's highly competitive environment where multiple offers are normal and bidding wars are commonplace. Check your credit ... not only does credit determine if you will get a … (2 comments)
down payment and closing costs: It's Worth Digging a Little Deeper
- 09/06/20 07:20 PM
There are hundreds of thousands of people who believe, for one reason or another, they cannot afford to buy a home currently. Some people may not for any number of reasons but it would be very surprising to know how many who can buy but have gotten some bad information along the way. It's worth digging a little deeper to find out the facts. John and Karen have been renting a home for the last five years at $2,000 a month. During that time, the value of the home they were renting went up by $30,000 in value while the unpaid balance decreased … (1 comments)
down payment and closing costs: Why Put More Money Down?
- 02/18/20 07:34 PM
The least amount in a down payment is an attractive option when people are thinking of buying a home. A common reason is to have cash available for furnishing the new home and possible unexpected expenses. Some people don't have any options because they only have enough for a minimum down payment and the closing costs. For those fortunate buyers who do have extra money available, let's look at why you'd want to do such a thing. Most loans in excess of 80% loan to value require mortgage insurance to protect the lenders for the upper portion of the loan … (0 comments)
down payment and closing costs: Another Source for a Down Payment
- 12/30/19 05:59 PM
1/1/2020 Borrowing from a 401k, 403b or the cash value of life insurance policy is a common financial strategy. While taxpayers are not allowed borrow from either a traditional or Roth IRA, they can withdraw funds before age 59 ½ for specific purposes like a first home purchase, qualified higher education expenses or permanent disability without incurring a 10% penalty. First-time home buyers can make a penalty-free withdrawal of up to $10,000 if they haven't owned a home in the previous two years. This would allow a married couple who each have an IRA to withdraw a lifetime maximum of $10,000 each, penalty-free … (2 comments)
down payment and closing costs: No One Wants to Pay More than True Value
- 11/29/11 10:21 AM
No one wants to pay more than its value regardless of the product. When you buy bananas for 49 cents a pound at one store and see them for 39 cents a pound at another store, it's not the ten cent difference as much as it is about overpaying.A buyer who only has enough available funds for down payment and closing costs will have to live in a home exactly the way it is for some time. They may not be able to make the changes that would really make it feel like home until they've saved more money.Let's say you … (9 comments)
If you're in a financially stable position, now might be the perfect time to embark on your homeownership journey. Buying a home today offers several advantages, including the opportunity to build equity and stabilize your housing costs in the face of rising expenses. Explore the reasons why purchasing a home now can be a wise decision in the current market.
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