Much to the frustration of taxpayers all over the country, the tax-filing season begins in January and runs through April 15 of each year. The year 2020 brought us many changes, including an extension on filing taxes. Taxes this year are due on July 15th. Are you ready? As the current tax season approaches, it presents an opportunity to help tax-payers clarify their responsibilities and remind them of certain important tax deductions that may be available. Filing Responsibilities Every person in the United States is required to file their tax returns by July 15 so long as they have some form … [Read more...]
You Ask, We Answer: What is Private Mortgage Insurance or ‘PMI’ and How Does It Work?
For many homeowners, their mortgage payment contains more than just principal and interest. A little something called PMI could be representing a significant portion of that payment, and it's important for home buyers to understand this cost. What Is PMI? PMI stands for private mortgage insurance, or sometimes just mortgage insurance. However, it isn't intended to mitigate risk for the homeowner, but rather the bank. Statistics show that when a home buyer puts less than 20% down on a home, he/she is much more likely to default. So, requiring these buyers to carry PMI helps the bank hedge their … [Read more...]
3 Tips To Consider When Buying A Home With An FHA Mortgage
FHA loans are becoming increasingly popular these days as potential homeowners may not able to qualify as easily for conventional mortgages. The FHA insures some higher-risk loans, in turn allowing borrowers with low down payments and less than perfect credit to purchase homes and bolster the housing market. However, while getting through the loan process with an FHA mortgage loan is not necessarily more difficult than with a conventional or conforming loan, there are some issues that you will want to be aware of. Property Condition You can't buy just any property with a FHA loan, or any other … [Read more...]
Refinancing to Pay for Renovations? Consider the VA’s Energy Efficient Mortgage Program
Making renovations that are energy efficient is not just a great way to reduce energy output, but it's also an effective way of decreasing monthly utility costs. It serves as a one-time investment that will save money in the long run. However, renovations are costly and not everybody has the extra finances required to make energy efficient changes. This is where the VA's energy efficient mortgage (or EEM) program comes into play. The program is designed to allow veterans to apply for a new mortgage or refinance an existing one with extra funds to renovate the home to be up to energy efficient … [Read more...]
The FHA Mortgage Minimum Credit Score Has Been Reduced. Here’s What You Need to Know…
Credit is of considerable concern when it comes to buying a home, but if you're on the market for a new place in the next few months there may be some timely news that applies to you. If you haven't heard about the changes to the Federal Housing Administration's (FHA) credit score minimum, here's some information on the recent reduction and how it may impact your home purchase. Information On The FHA Started in 1934, the FHA is the organization responsible for insuring the loans that are available to homebuyers in the United States. These loans are not provided directly by the FHA, rather the … [Read more...]