Showing posts with label Home Buying. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Home Buying. Show all posts

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Considering Refinancing? Here’s How to Know When You Should



Good financial management means more than just watching every penny. It also means taking an occasional step back and looking at the big picture in the context of the world around you. An area where many people find a way to save money is by refinancing their homes. 

Here are four ways to know that it’s time to look into refinancing.

Market Rates are Better


Interest rates are almost always in motion, headed either up or down most of the time. At the time of your last refinance or the initial purchase, you may have taken a rate that was pretty solid. Since then, though, rates may have dropped, and a refinance could save you thousands of dollars in interest.


Your Credit Has Improved


One of the most important factors in the interest rate you get is your credit score. Over time, you should be able to see that figure gets better and better. Once you’ve reached a significantly better credit score, you will probably qualify for a better rate, making it worth your while to refinance. 




A home buying loan service can review your situation and see if there may be options for you.

Your Situation Has Changed


Since you took out your current mortgage, you may have encountered many changes. You could have had a job change that resulted in a lower salary, making your mortgage a bit of a strain. You may have experienced marriage, divorce, or the arrival of children. Each of these events can change your financial needs and make it beneficial to investigate refinancing.


You Need Cash Out


Your home is not just your residence. It’s also an investment. The dollars you put into it can someday come out if needed, even if it’s for upgrading the house itself. During a refinance, you can cash out some of your equity to take care of other expenses, such as tuition for the kids, debt consolidation, or even just a great family vacation. Instead of racking up student loans or credit card debt, look into a refinance that will cover the expenses.

When you think about it, very few mortgages should ever go the full term without being refinanced at least once. Changing interest rates and personal needs are a given when you’re considering a time horizon of up to 30 years. Check your situation periodically and be prepared to refinance when the right circumstances develop. You could easily save yourself thousands of dollars in interest.


Saturday, November 30, 2013

An Over-50s Guide To Home Buying

If you are 50 years of age or older, then let me be the first to congratulate you - as this is probably one of the most awesome times of anyone’s life!

You will have already worked for most of your life and in the very near future you will be able to look forward to retirement and living out the rest of your life as comfortably and leisurely as possible!

During this stage of a person’s life, some important decisions have to be made about the future, and where you live is one of them.

Thinking of selling up? Read this first!


Sometimes it can be quite difficult to move on from the family home, a place where you have spent a large portion of your life in, and a place that holds so many dear memories to you.

But when the kids have all grown up and left home to start their own lives and their own families elsewhere, it can get a bit lonely at home, so many people in their 50s decide to sell up for pastures new.

Some people also decide to sell their homes and downsize to smaller properties so that they can build up their retirement fund, whereas others may not want to maintain a larger property, or it may even be impractical for them to live in should they have mobility issues.

Whatever the reason, if you are thinking of selling your home and moving some place else, then you should consider these important factors before you 100% decide to do so.

Live within your means


It might be tempting to sell your home in Ohio and move to Washington, for example, but the golden rule is to never live above your means. As you approach retirement age, you should not have to worry about owing lots of money to people!

This is probably going to be your last ever home purchase if you decide to sell up and buy another home some place else. Make sure that the proceeds of your current home’s sale will cover the purchase price of your new home.

Sometimes it might be necessary to take out a small mortgage to make up for any shortfall, so using the example above, if you are planning on moving to Washington, then enlisting the services of reputable mortgage brokers in the Washington DC area will ensure that you get the best mortgage deal possible for your requirements and circumstances.

Choosing the best location


As we get older, we are less likely to want to drive around as much as we used to, so it makes sense to move to an area with good transit links.

It is also worth considering moving to an area that is well-placed for access to various amenities, and can be easily accessed by visitors such as friends and family.

Get advice on what’s best for you


Finally, it is always a good idea to get professional advice on the best thing to do for your particular requirements and needs. The last thing you want to do is make a decision which may prove to be wrong and costly later on!


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