Posts

Expenses To Consider When Buying A HomeWhen you are in the process of buying a home, it can be intimidating to take a look at so many factors. A home has a big price tag, and you need to make sure that you budget accordingly. Fortunately, this is not a process that you have to go through on your own. There are several items that all experts will say that you have to consider as you budget for your next home purchase.

The Down Payment

Your biggest expense is probably going to be your down payment. In general, it is a smart idea to put 20 percent down on your house. That way, you can avoid having to purchase private mortgage insurance. If you are purchasing a house for the first time, you might be able to put less money down, but you might face a higher interest rate and private mortgage insurance (PMI) payments if you do so.

The Earnest Money Payment

You should also be prepared to put down some earnest money. The exact amount of earnest money, also called due diligence money, that you have to put down will vary depending on the market. You should have a trusted professional who will let you know how much earnest money you should include with your offer. This is money that you use to hold the house in your name as you decide whether you want to go through with the purchase. If you end up buying the house, your earnest money will be put toward your down payment. 

Closing Costs

You should also budget money for closing costs. Some of the items that will be included in your closing costs include a loan origination fee, a title examination, title insurance, an attorney’s fee, an escrow deposit, and a possible survey. In general, you should plan on budgeting approximately two percent of the loan’s value for closing expenses. 

Don’t Forget About Possible Home Repairs

After the inspection, you may have a few items that you need to repair. You may want to have some extra money on hand to cover some quick repair costs. If you budget accordingly, you can streamline the process of buying a home, helping you get to the closing table more quickly.

 

Renters Missed Out On Tens Of Thousands Of Dollars This Past YearRent has gone up significantly during the past year. Even though it is not unusual for rent to go up over time, the average rent across the country has increased significantly during the past year. This means that the average rent will probably be even higher next year than it is this year. Even though this is one of the biggest deterrents against renting, there are other reasons to get out of the rental market as well. 

Renters Stand To Lose More Money This Year

One of the biggest reasons why renters are losing so much money is that the average value of a house has gone up significantly. During the past year, the average value of a home in the United States increased by more than $50,000. This means that the average homeowner gained this amount of money in equity. Renters do not get the same benefit. Because renters are not investing any money in property, they are not seeing any return on the money they throw away in rent. This means that renters lost tens of thousands of dollars by renting this past year instead of owning. 

Renting Can Be Very Expensive

A lot of people do not want to purchase a house because they are scared of maintenance expenses, property taxes, and the size of the down payment. On the other hand, renting is like throwing money down the drain. The money is going directly into the pocket of the property owner, and the renter is not seeing any sort of return on that investment. Furthermore, even though the price of renting can go up over time, many people who take out a mortgage lock in the rate for 30 years. This means the monthly payment will be the same at the end of the loan as it is at the beginning of the loan. If someone has a steady job, their income is likely to go up during the course of the mortgage, meaning that they have more financial flexibility in the future. Renters need to think carefully about what they can do to get out of the rental market and purchase property before rent increases in the future.