Home loan with tax benefits

Home Loans and their high rate of interest dig a hole in the pocket of homeowners. On top of that the monthly payouts have to be juggled with the regular home expenses which are equally essential if not more. Maintaining a comfortable finance graph without going into further debt is a concern that worries all prospective homeowners making them wary of Home Loans.

While there are many banks and firms offering multiple fiscal plans to these prospective buyers, there is a need for expert advice on Home Loans. It is imperative that you know what the laws of the state are and what the various options available are so as to make your loan journey smooth and easy. Home Loans also have multiple tax implications and benefits and with the help of expert guidance one can map out a monthly finance plan that will not hinder savings and benefit in the long run.

The specialists work closely with the homeowners to capitalize on Home Loans or liability on lines of credit. With the help of their professional understanding and guidance homeowners can save by lowering the tax liability. The homeowners can score brownie points every month by using the home loans for credit requirements. Banks allow an almost hundred percent deduction on their rate of interest on home loans. They bid comparatively lower rate of interest on the home loans than on credit and debit cards issued.

Moreover, the rate of interest on home loans is typically lower than that on the unsecured loans. Therefore, every time a homeowner borrows home loans on home mortgage or mortgage of any other self-owned property. The banks are assured to provide the homeowner with a lower rate of interest with higher resulting in tax deductibles.

Home loans present numerous points of tax benefits and savings. The tax advisors would help getting the tax deductible on property taxes, which is among the most highly applicable cases of tax benefits. However, the fees paid for title searches and appraisals are not deductible under the tax laws. Although the tax benefits can be regularly earned on the home loans on mortgage, the capital reclaimed on cash paid during purchase of the former home is only on the year of buying. The homeowners would get the sum of money based on the value of the property paid at the time of purchase.

The government allows homeowners to obtain tax deductibles due to the interest paid on home loans. If the homeowners have already cleared – off the payment on first mortgage to acquire the home or landed property, they are eligible for secured home loans on the next loans taken on mortgage of the same landed property. In all such cases, the banks and financing agencies provide higher amount of loans at a lower rate of interest to homeowners.

But, it can be valid only under certain conditions. The most important factor that is judged to be qualified for such tax benefits is personal ownership of the residence or property. It either has to be the main home or a second landed property of the borrower. The homeowners are eligible for tax deduction on only one second home or landed property, in case of multiple landed properties. The documents regarding rights of authority over homeownership for buying and selling have to be presented while applying for home loan.

It becomes important to provide the tax lawyers with a record of in depth information on deductions. If a homeowners wishes to avail the tax benefits on home loans, the record of deductions included in the schedule must not be missed while submitting the tax payment forms. They must note the date on which the bank or agency issued the home loans. The government keeps amending the tax and home loans law. It becomes necessary to categorize and identify the segment under which the home loans fall to be entitled for tax deduction.

Sunday, February 6th, 2011 Interest Rates No Comments

Mortgage rates are lower than last year and may help

Mortgage rates are lower than last year and may help you

Mortgage rates are expected to keep dropping in anticipation of the Federal Reserve meeting in the last week of April, as a result of extremely low builder and buyer confidence in the market, and extremely weak housing starts. Everyone is betting that rates will be cut- yet again. This could be good news for people being squeezed by large mortgage payments looking to refinance, or for families who want to reduce their long term interest burden by moving into a shorter term mortgage. However, financial professionals need to be contacted to determine if the benefits of refinancing will override the costs. Often times, lenders require that points, which translate into dollars, be paid, before a loan can be refinanced. Sometimes, this may make any subsequent interest savings negligible, depending on the length of time required to pay off the loan entirely.

Fifteen year fixed rate mortgages may begin to move below 5.4% , almost 50 basis points lower than where they were a year ago. Thirty year fixed rate mortgages are also lower than last year by just over 30 basis points. People looking to get into, or refinance, fixed rate obligations may benefit from more favorable interest rates depending on their lending institution and loan terms. Even though rates are more favorable than last year, individuals may not necessarily be able to benefit from them if their credit history has deteriorated since owning a home.

Often times, moving into a home creates an increase in credit card bills, due to the furnishing of the new home with credit. People put everything from new sofa sets to wallpaper on credit cards, after getting a home, and often don’t think about whether or not they will actually be able to service the debt. If this sounds like something you may have done, it is a good idea to examine your credit reports from all of the credit reporting agencies before you go into refinance a loan. Financial institutions are able to collect every ounce of data relating to your ability to pay of debts, and they will use everything legally possible to measure you as a borrowing risk. Make sure that you are able to offer them a low risk client with promising payback potential.

If you are interested in just getting your first home loan, some credit moves that you have made in anticipation of getting a new house may not have been a good idea. If you recently got new credit cards, to pay for new home supplies, that may hurt your credit score. Your credit score takes into account credit inquiries, and credit outstanding relative to credit limits. Depending on your debt load, taking out that new credit card, or maybe two new ones, may have been the worst thing you could have done when it comes to trying to obtain the most competitive mortgage rates.

Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011 Compound Interest No Comments

When to Sell Your Structured Settlement

A structured settlement often follows a life changing incident, whether it be positive or negative. Due to these circumstances, you may be faced with the need for a large lump sum payment rather than small monthly payments over a number of years. So, where do you turn? To a company that can buy your structured settlement from you and turn it into an immediate payment that you may use on whatever you see fit.

Each individual has different reasons for wanting to sell their structured settlement, however, first you must decide if it is the right decision for you.

The Benefits of Selling Your Structured Settlement

A large portion of those who receive a structured settlement can benefit from selling it for a lump sum payment. The situations listed in this section represent possible circumstances of individuals that may get the most rewards from selling their structured settlement.

If you cannot wait to receive small, spread-out payments over a long period of time due to a dire financial situation or hefty medical bills and/or lawyer fees. Many of the situations that can bring about a structured settlement can also stick the individual with such obligations.

If you and your family decide that this is the time to finally make that large purchase that you have had your eye on. For example, if you have previously been denied mortgages or loans and would like to take this opportunity to buy that dream home you have always wanted. Or if you have a child or children who are preparing to go off to college and you fear you may not have the financial means to support that dream otherwise.

If you have talked with a financial advisor and both of you feel that you could profit more by investing a lump sum payment, rather than waiting on monthly payments. If the money is invested properly, there is a chance that you could end up with more money in the end than your settlement was ever worth. However, this should not be a plan that is entered into lightly. You should work closely with a financial specialist and feel confident that you have found a great opportunity to invest in.

If you are of older age and feel that you may not be around long enough to receive a fair amount of your structured settlement. You may want to the chance to enjoy the benefits of your settlement or may want to secure part of it for your family after your passing. This way you can distribute the funds as you see fit instead of relying on lawyers or courts.

If you dont plan to use the money right away, but would rather put it into a savings or money market account to draw interest. This would be best suited for someone who has a very hefty settlement, can find an account with large payoff terms, and plans to keep the majority of the money in the account for many years.

No matter what your reason for wanting to sell your structured settlement, choosing this option puts you back in control of money that is rightly yours. The problem that many individuals have with their structured settlements is that the control over their money is left to lawyers, courts, and the company or persons paying out the settlement. You are now able to say where, how, and – most importantly – when you spend your money.

The Drawbacks of Selling Your Structured Settlement

For a few individuals, selling their structured settlement and receiving a lump sum payment may not be in their best interest. One must also evaluate these situations and determine if they outweigh the reasons you are considering selling your settlement.

First and foremost, selling you structured settlement means that you will receive less money than you would if you were to keep it. However, for many people considering this option, this seems like a win-win situation – they will get one large lump sum payment and the company they sold it to will make a profit in the end. The good news is that since you have several companies competing for your settlement, you can choose the one that will give you the a portion of the full settlement that you can live with.

Because you may lose out on a substantial portion of your settlement by selling it, if you are in a financial situation where regular monthly payments will only be a bonus on top of what you already make, waiting out your settlement may be in your best interest. However, if youre a senior, then you should also take your age and the length of your structured settlement into consideration. This would be the ideal situation for someone who is young enough that they have a great chance of living out the life of their settlement.

If you are a person who is poor at managing large sums of money, then selling your structured settlement may not be right for you. For example, if you are the kind of person who gets a large paycheck every two weeks and finds themselves running low on available cash at the end of those two weeks, then that may be an indication that needs to be closely looked at. In this type of circumstance, having your settlement portioned out to you on a monthly basis may keep you from spending it too quickly. Once your settlement is gone, you will be back at square one.

For those reasons, you should also not consider selling your structured settlement if you have an addiction to gambling, shopping, or drugs.

If your settlement was due to an accident that has put you out of work and the funds from it will replace your monthly income, then keeping the payments on a monthly basis may help your family keep your finances in order. However, even in this situation selling your settlement may be best for you if you would like to renegotiate your payments into a larger sum each month to shorten the life of the settlement.

Most individuals receiving a structured settlement can benefit from selling it to a company that can give them a large lump sum payment or shorten the life of the settlement, especially if they are older persons, an individual who has enormous expenses due to an accident or court case, someone in a critical financial position, or one who wishes to make a large purchase for themselves and their family. Finding the right company with terms that fit your needs is a key component of making your experience with selling your structured settlement a positive one.

Monday, January 31st, 2011 Compare ISA No Comments

Home Equity Popularity

These types of loans and credit have grown in popularity over the years and since the 80s have increased in value. There has been a marked increase in home equity lines of credit as well. There has been a soar in property values and many homeowners have now learned about the management of debt. This property value surge has been influenced mainly by factors such as attractive interest rates and tax deductibility.

The fact that home equity loans and lines of credit are secured by the property of the borrower this means that lenders will think of them as almost secure as primary mortgage. The fact remains that the home equity rates are higher than the typical primary mortgage but they are indeed lower than other means of borrowing. A credit card has a higher interest rate as well as some types of loans especially car loans. This makes them appealing to many persons also as they provide a means to attaining funding that will cost less overall than the typical loan.

Another factor that contributes to the popularity of home equity loans is the fact that they are tax deductible. There was a time that consumer debt was tax deductible but this is no longer so as the government was losing a lot. They needed to find a way to alleviate the budget deficits without raising taxes. Thus, they decided to yank the tax deduction for consumer interest. This was done with the exception of mortgage debt. This means that home equity still falls under this category and you are still able to claim on your taxes for this.

Another connected way to get cash is something called cash out refinancing. This is related to home equity but in order for this to be used there must be some points. These are that the mortgage rates should have dropped and the value of the property should have risen. In the early years this was the market and cash out refinancing was also popular in the early 21st century.

They were able to refinance their primary mortgages for a value greater than the outstanding balance. The process simply means that once the value of the property has increased you are able to refinance your present mortgage up to that amount and pay off the old mortgage. This means off course that you must be capable of paying a mortgage for the higher balance. These installments may be higher than your present installments and you will have to be prepared to meet this to qualify.

It is important even though these financing options are popular to consider carefully which the best option for you to opt for is. There are many that will advise that home equity is better and others that think home equity lines of credit are the way to go. When you are faced with these decisions look carefully at all the options and weigh which is best based on sound financial advice. You will never willing put your home at risk and therefore make sure you are capable of meeting the payments that are planned.

Sunday, January 30th, 2011 Interest Rates No Comments

Loyalty Cards Think Again!

Are credit card loyalty schemes worth the plastic theyre printed on? According to a recent study by moneysavingexpert .com the answer is a resounding NO. The study investigated 80 reward schemes and was especially unimpressed by Tescos Clubcard, Nectar and Airmiles. With the average value of each Tesco Clubcard point being worth from 1 to 4 pence, a Nectar point being worth 0.54 pence and an Airmile being valued at 7.9 pence, their reaction is hardly surprising.

In actual fact, an expenditure of 10,000 per annum will earn a reward of 50 with Marks & Spencer, John Lewis and Asda, for instance. There is an Egg scheme which would only reward you with 10 per 10.000, although internet banks Egg Money Card offers a better rate, at 100. With the Nat West Black card, there is an annual charge of 250 in order to earn 51 per 10,000 of spending! Can you afford to make the saving?

There have been some very big changes in the benefits available recently. Some of the larger stores have ditched their schemes totally, whilst others have radically reduced the rewards on offer. Barclaycard is no longer linked with the Nectar scheme and Tesco has reduced the value of its scheme to new customers. Consumers dont know where theyre up to with all the changes and this is causing a complete lack of interest in loyalty cards in general.

It appears that consumers are bewildered by the sheer number of different award schemes and its virtually impossible to make comparisons, due to clever marketing. The typical one per cent paid by the retailer to the credit card companies is not being returned to the customer and its felt that the vast majority of these reward schemes are a rip-off.

The basic idea of stores using the cards to encourage customers to remain loyal, not to mention to increase their spending power, seems sound. The points gained offer discounts on a range of goods, family days out and flights. In fact the rewards are so trivial that it is felt that its a far better idea to leave the reward card at home, or even better, bin it and instead use a card which offers rewards via cashback and if using it as a credit card, aim for one which gives a low interest rate.

American Express Platinum offer a 2 per cent cash back deal if you spend more than 7,500 per year, so for 10,000 spent you would be rewarded with 200.

The BAA Worldcard came out well. It pays an impressive 795 for 10,000 spent. They offer discount shopping vouchers which can be exchanged for goods, meals and drinks at BAA airports in the United Kingdom. The GM card offers car discounts. If you buy a new Vauxhall or Saab you will get a 300 discount.

The conclusion is that youd be better off switching to a cashback type of credit card. Theres a wide choice available and maybe now is the time to make the change.

Saturday, January 29th, 2011 Compound Interest No Comments

What You Should Know First, Before Buying Annuities

Americans hear a lot about the shaky outlook for Social Security. In the future, the federal program likely will play a smaller overall role in Americans’ retirement plans.

One way to fill in the gaps of a savings portfolio is to put money in annuities. With an annuity, you pay a premium in exchange for guaranteed income payments at regular intervals. It is most often used for retirement purposes.

The basic types of annuities are equity indexed, fixed rate and variable. The major advantage of annuities is that they all guarantee benefits such as tax-free growth, the ability to pass money directly to heirs or charities and an income stream for life.

Over the past few years, equity-indexed annuities have gained a great deal of popularity. They offer interest or benefits that are linked to an external equity reference – a stock index like the S&P 500, for example. But you get a guaranteed minimum return in exchange for a limited maximum return; that is, you get less upside, but also less downside, to your stock-market investing. Your principal is never at risk.

Fixed-rate annuities, on the other hand, guarantee an interest rate and a declared minimum. They have traditionally been the most popular annuities.

Variable annuities provide more options. They enable you to invest in stock, bonds, mutual funds and money-market instruments.

Reputable financial companies, like TrueYield Financial, want to make sure investors are comfortable when purchasing annuities. Here are some tips for the potential investor.

* Be sure the firm you work with is not limited to offering just one company’s annuities. There are many options available, so work with an agent that can get the one that best fits your needs.

* Understand what you are buying. Talk to your financial adviser or agent about which annuity may be right for your retirement portfolio. Fully understand the annuity contract you are considering.

* Define your goals. Annuities can be used to accomplish a number of financial goals. For example, they can supplement your monthly income or provide emergency funds. Decide which purpose your annuity will serve.

* Ask your agent if you have a “free look” period to review your annuity contract and make sure you have made the right decision.

* Investigate whether or not a bonus annuity is right for you. Bonus annuities credit premium bonuses to allow a retirement saver to make up for stock market loss or to provide an immediate boost to the account value.

Wednesday, January 26th, 2011 Compare ISA No Comments

Home Equity Loan Exposed

The home equity loan is a loan in which you, the owner of your home, use your home equity (the value of your interest in your property or your home’s fair market value and the unpaid balance of the outstanding home mortgage) as a collateral.
A home equity loan is sometimes useful to help finance or refinance major home repairs, medical bills or even college education, and for this reason a home equity loan, creating a secured loan against the borrower’s house, reduces the actual home equity, and eventually the home value.
Home equity loan is provided by several major banks, and usually these providers give better rates than unsecured loans by second tier providers. Your home equity loan must be evaluated carefully and the provider chosen only once you have done your due diligence. SixLoan.com provides a list of some of the best websites where you can find and evaluate a convenient home equity loan; however, we encourage you to visit as many websites as possible yourself, as the home equity loan websites featured, although they represent the best resources for home equity loan, are just the tip of the iceberg in the very broad sea of home equity loan. Gather a lot of information and study your home equity loan very carefully prior to chose any provider; this may seem obvious, but too many homeowners jump too quickly to the first home equity loan offer. Besides, it should not be forgotten that everything is negotiable: so do negotiate your home equity loan as even a small fraction of a percentage point may make a huge difference over the period of your home equity loan.
Finally, it should be kept in mind that a home equity loan is not the only possible alternative. Other forms of financing may be available to you, and most of these do not require you to secure the loan against your home equity. The downside could be that the interest you are going to pay will be higher for an unsecured loan. So if you need financing you may want to consider the so-called payday loans, or if you are trying to finance or refinance your college education you may want to think to the so-called student consolidation loan; these may be valid alternatives to a home equity loan. Besides, if you do not own a home (you are renting for example) you are not eligible for a home equity loan and need to explore alternative loan solutions.
In conclusion, if you were to visit just one website or resource for your home equity loan, we would suggest reference sites such as FreddieMac.com; however, do not stop there. A site like SixLoan.com may be of help too: in fact, the more information the better, but as a general advise stick with well-known names and home equity loan lenders and providers as they can offer you more options and guarantees. In addition, we believe it is also important to speak to some consultant in person, so do not forget to check local branches of national lender where you could meet face to face and talk about a suitable home equity loan.

Saturday, January 22nd, 2011 Interest Rates No Comments

Low Interest Credit Cards Are Considered by Many The Most

Low Interest Credit Cards Are Considered by Many The Most Popular Credit Cards

Knowledge can give you a real advantage. To make sure you’re fully informed about low Interest credit cards, keep reading. Imagine the next time you join a discussion about low Interest credit cards. Your friends will be amazed when you start to share your knowledge about low interest credit cards.

If you’re not using a low interest credit card, ask yourself why? This credit card have numerous advantages such as the 0% Intro APR (annual percentage rate) that enables the consumer to save on interest expense. Several factors should be considered in choosing the right credit card. Depending on your situation a fixed low APR interest rate might be a better choice than the 0% intro APR if you are planning to carry a credit card balance each month. If the 0% intro APR changes to a low fixed rate after the promotional period ends then this will be an ideal situation. If the interest rate jumps up to over 20% then this might not be the best deal. This is why customers need to know what the interest rate will be at the end of the introductory period. For customers deciding on the 0% intro credit card offer will save money on interest expense which can be used to pay off the loan much sooner.

Low interest credit cards main benefit is to save money on interest expense. These credit cards are very essential in saving money on interest expense when used to transfer balance from a high interest credit card to a low interest credit card. They may also be beneficial to cardholders who make large purchases and carry a balance forward every month. Banks charge a fee for balance transfers. Since this fee varies from bank to bank, customers should compare offers to find out which banks charge the lowest fees. Individuals with excellent credit can request to have the balance transfer fee waived.

Customers may be pleasantly surprised to find that low interest cards offer many features similar to standard credit cards. Features can be similar to a standard credit card such as cash back, rewards, no annual fees, bonus miles etc. Its important to compare features of low interest cards and to apply for the one that fulfils your needs and save you the most money. Individuals who are able to pay the balance off each billing cycle will save the most on interest expense. This is because credit card companies usually waive interest charges if the entire balance is paid on time each month. Unfortunately, many customers are unable to pay their credit card balance off each month because they are not making enough money or they may be having financial problems. However, using a low interest credit card could be the best alternative to save on interest expense if you are planning to make purchases and maintain a credit card balance from month to month.

Individuals with bad credit pay an astronomical amount of money for interest expense and fees to credit card companies. With this kind of financial problem it can be a daunting task to get out of debt. As you can see, having excellent credit is very important because it makes it possible to get approved for a low interest credit card which in turn will save you a vast amount of money on interest expense. Be aware that credit card companies are able to change the interest rate on your low interest credit card because of late payment or they can change the interest rate for no reason at all. Managing your credit wisely is extremely important for financial success. Make sure to report errors on your credit report to the three major credit bureaus which are: Equifax, Trans Union and Experian to correct the errors on your credit report promptly.

If you are overwhelmed with bills and credit card debts, why not consolidate your loans into one loan. This will save an enormous amount of money on interest expense. Consolidating your credit card debts into one loan can improve your financial situation by making your monthly payment more manageable. This is an excellent opportunity to start the process of improving your credit score. Consolidating simplifies your paperwork and saves time and energy by only keeping records for a single loan instead of several loans.

Card holders will need to know about grace period and the way it relates to their specific low interest credit card. The grace period is between 20 to 25 days. You have this free period to pay no interest if your payment is credited to your account during that time frame and your account carries no balance. Customers monthly payment must be received by the creditor during this time frame. Learning about grace period as it relates to your specific credit card is very important. Usually credit cards without a grace period are charged finance charges immediately on new purchases even if your previous month’s bill was paid in full. The internet is best place to do credit card research and submit online credit card application. The credit card types are organized into categories making it easy to find the credit card you are looking for. Just by clicking on the low interest credit card category will bring up a vast amount of information. The best thing about applying for a credit card on the internet is the speed and convenience of processing your online credit card application. No need to travel from banks to banks trying to find the right credit card then having to wait weeks for banks to process your application. Individuals with good credit can receive instant online approval. This means that the credit card applicant can receive an online approval within minutes of filling out their online credit card application.

Some card holders may believe that that they can use their low interest credit cards to make new purchases and take cash advance with the 0% introductory offer. They will be surprised when they found out that they are charged different interest rates for balance transfer, new purchases and cash advance. Protect yourself from identify theft by shredding credit card offers and reporting stolen or lost credit card to your credit card issuer as soon as possible. Also, it is very important to read the credit card agreement to avoid surprises and unnecessary financial problems. Reading the credit card agreement will give you the knowledge and confidence in choosing and using the card correctly.

Friday, January 21st, 2011 Compound Interest No Comments

What You Should Know About A 401k

A 401k is a good place to start in planning for your future retirement, no matter how far away you may be from the actual time. A 401k account is a special type of savings account that is funded directly through your paycheck each pay period. How it works is that you and your employer determine the amount that is to be deducted from each paycheck you receive, then the employer determines your pre-tax earnings and deducts your 401k funds from the paycheck prior to taxes.

Once deposited in the special savings account, the funds in the 401k are then invested into many different types of mutual funds, bonds, and stocks. The great thing about a 401k retirement plan is that all of these investments are completely free of taxes until the time comes for you to withdraw your money from the 401k account.

Beginning in the early part of the 1980s congress created the 401k retirement plan to allow people to begin saving money before they retire from their employment. It works as something of a financial net, ready for you when the time arrives.

There are several advantages with a 401k other than simply being a tax-exempt method of savings. Your employer may also have a match program. With this program, your employer would match part of your contribution into 401k. This means that whatever you contribute to your 401k, your employer will match a portion of it each pay period. Additionally, some employers raise the amount of their contribution when you have worked for them a certain number of years.

Another exciting aspect of 401k is that you have the option to determine where your funds will go when it is invested. To some, this is important and gives them the opportunity to maximize their retirement savings.

Furthermore, 401k has portability. If you should ever change jobs, you have many different options available in regard to your 401k. One of these options is to simply leave your 401k with your previous employer. This is the easiest option. However, you should be aware that the plan administrators could charge you for maintaining the account records. Another option is to roll the 401k over to the new employers plan. This will allow you to continue to deposit money into your 401k to add to the money you have already earned and saved.

You may also be able to rollover the 401k into an IRA. This is a great option, especially if employers only offer limited investments. You would have greater control over where your money is invested. Last, you could opt to completely cash the 401k out. This option has a few drawbacks. When you cash out your 401k plan, you must pay the taxes on that money and you could also be accessed a penalty for early withdrawal.

It is extremely important that you fully understand all of your options. Weigh the results of each one prior to making any decision about your 401k. Being educated, practical and informed before making your decision will help benefit your 401k and retirement in the long run.

Permission is granted to reprint this article as long as no changes are made, and the entire resource box is included.

Tuesday, January 18th, 2011 Compare ISA No Comments

Home Equity Benefits: Don’t Be Caught Saying I Wish I

Home Equity Benefits: Don’t Be Caught Saying I Wish I Would Of

The accelerating prices of homes in many parts of the U.S. have created substantial equity positions for homeowners. The available equity sitting in the home is a lure for financial advisors (who would like you to invest through them). The homeowner now has gained a large potential financial asset that he wants to protect.

What should be done with this equity, if anything? Many financial strategist advise that you should maximize your mortgage to gain the tax advantages; and place the money tied up in equity into a safe, liquid, investment with good return and tax benefits. This is best achieved when you borrow on a tax-deductible, simple-interest basis and invest the loan proceeds in investments that compound in a tax-favored environment.

To find out more information about your home equity position, check out this hot site,
You will find all the information you need to make a great decision.

Personally, I become wary of advice that encourages an increase of personal debt, but if you own a house free and clear, or owe on a mortgage, the property appreciates the same. The amount of equity has nothing to do with the appreciation. The concept that you can get rich by tapping into your home equity and investing the equity funds, needs to be weighed out with caution.

“A mortgage is leverage by which you can purchase a $300,000 asset — a house — with only $30,000, Without this leverage, home ownership would be unattainable for many people. If you had $300,000, you could purchase the home free and clear, or you could purchase it with the same $30,000 leverage and put $270,000 into a secure investment and earn interest. Your home will appreciate by exactly the same amount in either case.”

“Douglas R. Andrew uses an 8 percent, tax-free, safe, and liquid investment throughout his book to show how leveraging home equity can build wealth. Another way to look at is, if your home is paid for, you’ve eliminated the greatest monthly obligation of your budget – you have freedom. Instead of making interest payments to a mortgage company, you can use that money to put the kids through private college. The equity in your home is a psychological and financial safety net that you don’t put at risk with out doing significant research. Take a look at and gain some real knowledge on this animal called Home Equity. You will be glad you did.

Dave Hackbart

Thursday, January 13th, 2011 Interest Rates No Comments