When you are going through the process of looking for a new home, you are probably focused on the sticker price of that home. Even though it is important to think about your down payment, your monthly mortgage payment, and the total amount of the loan, there are other expenses that you might need to cover as well. If you do not put down enough money, there is a chance that the lender could ask you to pay for something called private mortgage insurance. What is private mortgage insurance and how much do you have to pay? There are several important points that you should keep in mind. Why You … [Read more...]
How Everyone Can Reduce Their Monthly Mortgage Payment
For many people, their biggest monthly bill is their mortgage payment. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that there are a lot of people who are looking for ways to reduce their monthly mortgage payment. The positive news is that there are several ways to do so. By putting some of these tips to use, everyone can find a way to pay less every month on their mortgage, helping them save money for other expenses such as a new car, college expenses, or that next vacation. Shop Around Before Getting A Mortgage For those who are still in the process of buying a home, it is a great idea to shop … [Read more...]
Pay Your Mortgage Off Faster With These Money-Smart Strategies
As with any loan or line of credit, there are benefits to getting your mortgage paid down. You'll pay less in interest, potentially saving thousands over the repayment period. Moreover, you'll own your home outright that much quicker. Let's explore four money-smart strategies that will help you to pay your mortgage off faster. Start With The Obvious And Increase Your Payments It won't come as a surprise that one of the easiest ways to get your mortgage paid off is to increase the amount you put towards your monthly payments. Most lenders will allow you to place any extra funds directly against … [Read more...]
Finding Your Latte Factor: 3 Ways to Find the Money to Make Extra Mortgage Payments
It's not uncommon for a homeowner to want to pay more than the minimum monthly mortgage payment on their home. However, just because it can seem hard to come up with the funds on a monthly basis doesn't mean it's not possible to find the money for extra mortgage payments each year. If you're wondering how you can pay down your mortgage debt much sooner with extra money, here are some tricks you may want to try. Relinquish Your Refund Many people look forward to tax time because it's an opportunity to spend their refund on shopping, dining or a much-needed vacation. However, using your tax … [Read more...]
How to Give the Ultimate Christmas Gift: Paying Off a Family Member’s Mortgage
Christmas is just around the corner, and if you're in a position to do it, paying off a family member's mortgage is one of the biggest gifts you could give this holiday season. A mortgage can be a heavy burden on a young homeowner, which is why paying it off is the ultimate act of charity. But when it comes to paying for someone else's mortgage, the process isn't entirely straightforward. So how do you pay off a family member's mortgage? Here's what you need to know. Be Wary Of The Gift Tax Under US law, you can provide a cash gift to someone else - entirely tax-free - as long as it doesn't … [Read more...]