Why rent when you CAN buy?
Why pay someone else's mortgage for them? When
you're a renter, you're doing just that--making your landlord a nice
little nest egg for his or her retirement!
Much ado is being made in the news today that the banks aren't lending
money and that no one is able to secure a mortgage. Well, let
me tell you--Not ONE of my clients turned down for a mortgage during
this last year! Banks ARE lending money and chances are you
can own your own home for the same amount that you're paying in rent.
With interest rates at a historical low right now, it's a
great time to secure that mortgage and purchase your OWN home!
This
is the first in a series of articles to get you started on your way to
taking pride in homeownership.
5 Reasons
to Own Your Own Home
1. Tax
breaks:
The U.S. government allows you deduct the interest
which
you pay on your mortgage, your property taxes, as
well as some of the costs involved in purchasing your home.
This
benefit continues each year of homeownership. As well,
currently
there is a $7,500. federal tax credit which will be applied to the
purchase of your home. Inquire with your Realtor® or
Lender.
2.
Appreciation: Despite the current economy, real
estate has
long-term, stable growth in value in general. While
year-to-year fluctuations are normal,
median existing-home sale prices generally increase and have
increased 88.5 percent over the last 10 years,
according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.
The number of U.S. households
is expected to rise 15 percent over the next decade, especially with
the purchase of a home at today's low prices. Yet another
benefit in the building of equity in your
home, is the ready-made savings plan; when you sell, you are
allowed take up
to $250,000 ($500,000 for a married couple) as gain without owing any
federal
income tax. Consult your CPA regarding any tax questions you
may have.
3. Equity:
Money paid for rent is
money that you’ll never see again, money used to pay your
landlord's mortgage! Conversely, mortgage payments allow you
build equity
ownership interest in your own home.
4.
Predictability: Unlike rent, your
fixed-mortgage payments don’t rise over the years so your
housing costs may
actually decline as you own the home longer. However, keep in mind that
property taxes and insurance costs will increase. Also,
remaining in one
neighborhood for several years gives you a chance to participate in
community
activities, lets you and your family establish lasting friendships, and
offers
your children the benefit of educational continuity.
5.
Freedom: The home is yours! You may
decorate any way you want, have pets, build a storage building on your
property (with permission from your HOA), landscape to your heart's
content and benefit from your investment for as long as
you own the home.
Calculate
whether buying IS the best financial option for
you by utilizing this “Buy vs. Rent” calculator.

Should you be ready to buy
before the series is complete, please don't hesitate to phone or email
me for the remainder of the information to get you well on your way to
homeownership!
Don't
know what your credit score is? Read this.

About
the author:
Debe
Maxwell is a Charlotte
Residential Real Estate
Broker, Certified Neighborhood & Relocation Specialist, ABR
&
e-PRO who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate
in the Charlotte NC
Metro Area.
If you're relocating to or from any other area of the
country,
Debe connects you with any member of her team of relocation
professionals in your destination or exit city of choice. The
destination service is of no cost to you! The
Maxwell House Group's
quality service guarantee puts this team far ahead of the competition;
providing unsurpassed customer service is their #1 priority!
Debe
Maxwell -- Helen Adams Realty -- 704.491.3310
Copyright©
2009 By Debe Maxwell, All Rights Reserved...**First Time Homebuyer
Handbook, Part I**
Disclaimer: All
information
provided by this author is strictly an opinion, is not guaranteed, may
be based on information collected from several sources, which may or
may not be deemed reliable at the time of researching this article and
may be time sensitive.