Prepaying Your Mortgage
Paying off your mortgage can provide peace of mind and is a worthy goal but is it the best thing for you to do at this time. Do you have higher interest rate debt currently? If you have credit card debt with double-digit rates or personal, car or student loans, you’ll probably save more money from interest by paying these things off before you pay off your mortgage which is usually one of the lower rates on debt. Many financial advisors recommend funding your annual retirement contribution before paying down a mortgage. If your company offers matching funds for your contribution, you...
Read MoreWhat kind of properties are these?
It is the way the property is used that determines the type of property it is, not what it looks like. Based on the intent of the owner, the property could be a principal residence, income property, investment property or dealer property. A principal residence is a home that a person lives in. There can be only one declared principal residence. It is afforded certain benefits like deducting the interest and property taxes on a taxpayers’ itemized deductions, up to limits. Up to $250,000 of gain for a single taxpayer and up to $500,000 for a married couple filing jointly can be...
Read MoreDo You Know the Way?
It may be natural for first-time buyers to be unsure of the process of buying a home because they haven’t been through it before but even repeat buyers need to know changes that have taken place since the financial housing crisis. The steps in the home buying process are predictable and generally follow the same pattern. It certainly makes the move stay on schedule when you know all the different things that must be done to get to the closing. In the initial interview with your real estate professional, you share the things you want and need in a home, discuss available financing and...
Read MoreFirst Time Buyers look to 203k Loans
It’s been said that if you can find a home that has most of what you want, you should go ahead and purchase it. Many first-time buyers are using everything they have for a down payment and closing costs and would have to “live” with the less than perfect home until they can save the money to make the changes. The FHA 203(k) mortgage allows a borrower to purchase a home and provides additional funds for improvements to be made. These types of renovations can include kitchen and bathroom remodels, flooring, plumbing, heating and air conditioning systems, additions and other...
Read MoreDown Payment Assistance
Down Payment Assistance in Tampa Bay I believe so strongly in down payment assistance as being a vehicle to get renters into home ownership. Being a teacher in Tampa Bay for first time home buyers over the years, I have stressed home ownership as being a way to get ahead in life. You and I know that renting is throwing away money. I think back to just last January, when I held some classes at my office for first time home buyers. People mentioned that prices were going up. Now here we are a year later and 10% increases in home prices from 2017 are typical. In addition to home value...
Read MoreHow to prepare for hurricane season in Tampa
How to prepare for hurricane season in Tampa While there’s no denying that the Tampa Bay area has seen more than its fair share of dry weather this spring, hurricane season (and an increase in rainy days) is just around the corner. As a matter of fact, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting an above average hurricane season, with 11 to 17 named storms, of which they’re predicting five to nine will be hurricanes. Two to four are expected to be “major” hurricanes. That means NOW is the time to get prepared for hurricane season, before a storm is headed our...
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