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Paying off your mortgage early and living mortgage-free so you can use the money for other things”such as travel and an early retirement”can sound like a pipe-dream thats impossible to get to, but it doesnt have to be.

If you have a 30-year mortgage, there are a few ways to cut that time in half, or at least come close to it:

Add a Monthly Payment Each Year
This easy step will cut about three years off a 30-year mortgage by spreading out one extra monthly mortgage payment over a year.

Start by dividing your monthly principal and interest by 12 and add that amount to your monthly payment. At the end of the year youll have made 13 payments in 12 months.

Doing that with a $200,000 mortgage will pay off a 30-year mortgage three years and three months earlier, saving you $18,000 in interest on a loan at 4.5 percent interest.

Refi
Lets say youre five years into a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, such as the one listed above at 4.5 percent interest for a $200,000 loan. Refinancing to a 15-year loan at 4 percent will pay off the mortgage 10 years earlier and save you more than $60,000.

Your monthly principal and interest will increase from $1,013 to $1,345, so youll need an extra $333 per month to be able to afford it.

Shorter-term mortgages often have lower interest rates, so only refi your loan if you can get a lower rate to make the refinancing costs worthwhile.

If you dont want to refinance but have the extra money each month to increase the payment, then you can pay off the loan in 15 years instead of 30 by making the extra payments. Just make sure to let your lender know that the extra money should go toward the principal.

Use a Windfall
If youve received an annual bonus at work, large tax refund or other financial windfall, putting it toward your mortgage can take a few years off the debt.

Making an extra $10,000 lump-sum payment toward the principal balance on our mortgage sample above would pay off the mortgage two years and four months earlier, saving you $19,000 in interest.

Downsize
Its a drastic move, but selling your home and downsizing to a smaller, less expensive home is another way to lower your mortgage debt.

The profits may allow you to buy a smaller home for all cash. At the very least, a smaller mortgage will allow you to pay it off quicker by making the same payments you did on your old house.

Qualifying for a Home Improvement Mortgage

Making improvements to your home can pay off in a few ways. Additions, upgrades and general property improvements can increase the value of a home, and make it more comfortable to live in.

Using your home loan as a home improvement mortgage to pay for repairs and improvements to a home can be an easy way to come up with the money without having to dig in your bank account.

Home equity loans and lines of credit are two of the most common ways to finance home improvement loans. Theyre secured by the equity in your home, have low interest rates, and the interest you pay is usually tax-deductible.

Home equity loans are a type of second mortgage. Theyre secondary to your primary mortgage, meaning if you dont pay your mortgage and face foreclosure, the secondary loan will only be paid after the primary mortgage is paid off.

The usual home equity loan provides a sum of cash you can spend as you want to, and is a fixed-rate loan repaid over 10 to 20 years.

A home equity line of credit, also called a HELOC, is a line of credit that can be drawn upon as you need it. HELOCs are typically adjustable-rate loans when youre borrowing money, but can be changed to fixed-rate when you pay them back.

To qualify for equity loan, you need home equity, credit and income. Youll need 25 to 30 percent equity in your home so that you can borrow from it and have enough money left for a financial cushion.

For example, if your home cost $400,000 and you owe $300,000 on it, you have $100,000 in equity, or 25 percent. You can borrow a portion of that $100,000 through a home equity loan.

Most home equity lenders will allow you to borrow up to 80 percent of the equity you have in your home. In the above example with $100,000 equity, youd be allowed to borrow $80,000.

A good credit score of 650 or higher is usually good enough to qualify. Youll also need enough income to cover your debt payments, which include your mortgage and new home equity loan. They shouldnt exceed 45 percent of your gross monthly income.

With those ideas in mind, remember to shop around for a home improvement loan. The loan doesnt have to be with your current mortgage lender, but can be with any lender.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

We are living in a technology-driven world, and your homes connection with the digital world can be an important part of its appeal when it comes time to sell.

It wasnt all that long ago that technology wasnt a big factor in selling a house. It didnt matter what cable company or internet provider you had; buyers werent going to make their final decision on that sort of thing. But these days, good internet and Wi-Fi service can be key for many buyers. As we rely on our devices and laptops more and more”for work, school and staying in touch with friends and relatives”connectivity is about a lot more than watching TV and playing video games.

Let house hunters know which service providers are in the area, and even keep the brochures handy during open houses. Most companies offer discounts to new customers; having that information available to buyers can be helpful in attracting interest.

Todays digital world is largely wireless, but your home may still have some unsightly wires showing that arent necessary. Give your TVs, computers and printers a check to make sure there arent unused wires and cables that are all tangled up and making the area look messy.

Show off the technology you have. If you have an Amazon Echo, or similar device, use it to set lighting, turn on TVs or to play music. Likewise, be sure to highlight features such as a smart thermostat if your home has one. Not that you should invest in these technologies if you dont have them, but they can be a plus.

Get rid of old technology. If you have old TVs or computers that arent being used, consider discarding them. Everyone likes TVs, but having one in every room is too much. And older technology can make a home seem dated.

On the other hand, a state-of-the-art television or theater room can be a big attraction. If you have a family room, or home theater space, stage the scene. Have the TV on (to a family-friendly movie) and set up snacks (nut-free) with the proper lighting. Create a scene that parents will want to experience with their kids, or that will make those without kids dream of the perfect movie night at home.

Investing in brand-new technology doesnt make a lot of economic sense when selling a home, but taking some simple steps, and showcasing what you do have, can show buyers that your home will suit their twenty-first century needs.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Those considering purchasing a new home may want to consider becoming a condo owner. Popular with every homeowner”from first-time buyers to retirees”condos offer many advantages over a traditional stand-alone property. Below are the top three.

Affordability: If you’re looking for a newly built home, a condo is likely to be less expensive than a stand-alone property. Why? Condos are often smaller in size than homes containing comparable numbers of bedrooms and baths. In addition, condos often share many building elements such as walls and roofing, so the cost of construction is often lower, resulting in lower pricing.

Low Maintenance: Condo life is a low maintenance life, as living in a condo means you’re likely paying Property Owners Association dues (POA), which cover many maintenance items such as landscaping, pest services, roofing, painting, and driveway repairs. Having so many services covered is appealing to busy professionals, parents of young children and retirees who may not feel up to mowing and raking. POA fees are typically relatively inexpensive, and for those too busy or tired to take on tasks alone, they are well worth the cost.

Amenities: Condos are all about top-notch amenities. From swimming pools and restaurants to golf courses and clubhouses with workout centers, many of today’s condo developments are filled with fantastic features. Expenses for building and maintaining these amenities are typically shared among condo owners, so you can enjoy these lux amenities at a very minimal cost.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Shopping for a mortgage can be overwhelming. Even if youve owned a few homes and have had a few home loans, chances are there are some mortgage options you dont know about.

Here are four to ask a mortgage expert about:

1. A 20 percent down payment isnt a must. The long-held view that at least a 20 percent down payment is needed to buy a home is outdated.

A loan approved by the Federal Housing Administration, or FHA, can have a minimum down payment of 3.5 percent. For a $300,000 home, instead of having to come up with $60,000 (20 percent) down, a 3.5 percent down payment requires $10,500 down.

2. Banks arent the only home lenders. Traditional lenders like banks and credit unions are just some of the places to get a home loan.

Savings and loan associations are one option, using the savings deposits of private investors to make mortgage loans. Theyre usually locally-owned and managed, and are chartered by the federal or state government.

Mutual savings banks are another option. Theyre like savings and loans and were created to help low-income consumers. Unlike commercial banks, they can borrow from the Federal Home Loan Bank System to make investments such as mortgages.

3. Youll likely get more money than you need. After determining your ability to repay a home loan and the cost of the home, the lender will tell you how much of a loan you qualify for. Chances are it will be a larger loan than you can afford.

New federal laws in 2014 are meant to hold lenders more responsible for the loans they underwrite, but the guidelines still allow larger loans for most people.

That doesnt mean you have to necessarily borrow that much money. But it could help pay your closing costs, or be used to buy a bigger home. But if youre getting a bigger loan only because you qualify for it and can buy a better or bigger home, you could be in trouble soon if you cant afford the payments. Only you know your day-to-day finances”not your lender”so sticking to a loan you can afford is wise.

4. A home loan can help cover repairs. If youre getting an FHA loan, its 203(k) program allows up to $35,000 from the loan to be used for home repairs and improvements.

Chances are the home youre buying will need (or youll just want to change) new carpet or paint, and this add-on loan product can pay for the improvements. The total loan amount is based on the projected home value after the fixes are made.

Interested in more real estate tips? Contact me today!

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Energy loss attributed to windows accounts for nearly 25 percent of the annual heating and cooling costs for the average American home, according to the Department of Energy. Do double-paned windows provide enough savings to justify their cost?

Experts say that even a clear glass, double-paned vinyl or wood-framed window can reduce energy usage by up to 24 percent in cold climates during the winter, and by up to 18 percent in hot climates during the summer, when compared to older, single-pane models. The savings may be even greater if you choose top-of-the-line models and/or triple-paned windows.

Double-paned windows are a boon to the environment as well, because when you burn less fossil fuel, you create fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

As an added bonus, double-paned windows significantly reduce traffic sounds and other outdoor noise, making them a smart buy in busy urban areas.

Apart from the cost, there’s no downside to installing double-paned windows, although experts say that quality matters. From failed seals to improperly spaced glass, poorly manufactured windows can negate energy savings and lead to other problems, such as condensation developing between the panes”so it’s wise to buy from a reputable dealer.

Also, replacing individual windows rather than upgrading entire homes or floors will not likely yield your intended energy savings. Old windows will still leak air even if you install one double-paned one, making it imperative to replace all the windows in your home at the same time.

Costs can vary considerably depending upon the number of windows to be replaced and the overall quality of materials used. On average, you may expect to pay between $300 and $500 per window, plus an installment fee. But competition is keen and sales do occur, so a thrifty homeowner should get several estimates before choosing a contractor.

Interested in more real estate information? Feel free to contact me directly.

Published with permission from RISMedia.