Buyers

Using a Buyer’s Agent

If you choose to work with a Buyer’s Agent, that person must: promote your best interests; be loyal to you; follow your lawful instructions; provide you with all material facts that could influence your decisions; use reasonable skill, care and diligence; and account for all monies they handle for you. 

It’s important that you choose an experienced agent with whom you are comfortable. Your agent should be actively seeking potential homes for you, keep you informed of the entire process, negotiate on your behalf, answer your questions with competence and speed and guide you through the process as smoothly as possible. 

As your agent is loyal to you, you should also be loyal to her (or him). Contact your agent prior to seeing any For Sale by Owner (FSBO) properties, and allow the agent to represent you. There are many potential pitfalls that the agent can help you avoid.

 

Tax Benefits Of Home Ownership

The tax deductions you’re eligible to take for mortgage interest and property taxes greatly increase the financial benefits of homeownership. Here’s how it works. 

Assume: 

$9,877 = Mortgage interest paid (a loan of $150,000 for 30 years, at 7 percent, using year-five interest)
$2,700 = Property taxes (at 1.5 percent on $180,000 assessed value)
______

$12,577 = Total deduction

Then, multiply your total deduction by your tax rate. 

For example, at a 28 percent tax rate: 12,577 x 0.28 = $3,521.56

$3,521.56 = Amount you have lowered your federal income tax (at 28 percent tax rate)

Note: Mortgage interest may not be deductible on loans over $1.1 million. In addition, deductions are decreased when total income reaches a certain level. 

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