Courtesy of The Chris Fritch Real Estate Team ~ Anoka County Residential Real Estate Specialists
Myth #1 - "It's Cheaper To Rent Instead Of Own"
If you buy a property that is within your budget and your mortgage terms allow you to make comfortable monthly payments, the cost of rent can often be higher than mortgage payments. Sure, there are other expenses associated with owning a property that you wouldn't be responsible for if you were renting, but one thing that many people forget is the fact that renting does not allow you to build equity. The ability to build equity into a property that you own is like paying into a savings account, if you buy a home for $200,000, and pay down your mortgage to $175,000 in 5 years, you'll have $25,000 in home equity that can be tapped into later if you need a lump sum of cash to pay for other large expenses.
Myth #2 - "The Perfect Home Is Out There - I Just Have To Wait For It"
Buyers have a tendency to focus too much on all the little things that may be wrong about a house rather than on the majority of the big things that are right. Homes are much like people - they aren't perfect. Even brand new homes might have a few minor flaws.The goal of a house hunt is to find the perfectly acceptable home - one that may have a couple of quirks that you can either live with or fix, but is otherwise ideal. An experienced buyer’s agent can help you identify issues that are deal-breakers, and help keep some perspective by separating irritating details from the big picture.
Myth #3 - "I Don't Need A Real Estate Agent To Buy A House"
Without the proper team behind you - especially if you're a first-time homebuyer - you could potentially find yourself in a compromised position. Many buyers don't take the time necessary to shop for an agent who can best represent them in their purchase and help them along the way.Think about it this way… Would you perform surgery on yourself? Do you feel comfortable filing your own income taxes, or do you opt to use the services of an accountant? Being represented by a licensed real estate agent will give you the benefit of professional skills and knowledge, including the ability to find financing and close the deal with your best interests put first. The answer to those questions is most likely, no.It’s always in your best interests to have an experienced, knowledgeable agent representing you in a home purchase. With such a major investment on the line, you want to have someone who can help you complete a purchase leaving no stone unturned, and ultimately saving you money - and a lot of headaches. A professional real estate agent will be able to sort the myths from the reality and make your first home-buying experience a positive one.
Thank you for reading The Chris Fritch Real Estate Team ~ Anoka County Residential Real Estate Specialists blog, "Myths BUSTED About Buying A Home".
Question . Our house is free and clear. We have a $100,000 home equity line of credit, and the interest rate is somewhere in the neighborhood of 7 percent. We itemize tax deductions and are in a high federal tax rate, and hoping that any new tax laws will reduce our taxes. My question concerns using the home equity loan for investment. We are considering using $50,000 of the home equity line of credit and investing it in a growth stock for the next five years. An accountant/tax advisor, however, is strongly in favor of having an unencumbered house especially as we are close to retirement. Answer . It is a strong belief that homeowners -- of any age -- should make use of the equity they have gained from their real estate investments. As this column has suggested in the past, there are too many retired persons who are "house rich and cash poor." Hopefully, your house will appreciate in the future, and this appreciation will continue whether you have equity or not in ...
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