Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Is Your Home Still A Good Long Term Investment? Yes!


One of your primary reasons for owning a home is the investment – Money. You accumulate equity in your home; you save in taxes by owning a home and why pay more money to rent when you can pay less to own your property?

Equity is the value of your home. The amount of your loan minus the amount you have already paid toward the home is your equity. Now of course there are other determinations that go into this number like any upgrades to the home, the neighborhood, and any liens on your home.

“You accumulate equity in your home; you save in taxes by owning a home and why pay more money to rent when you can pay less to own your property”Your home is still the best long-term investment you will ever make. Over the years home prices have skyrocketed and plummeted and will continue to do so. But property is always valuable no matter what. The key to a home’s value is location, upkeep, upgrades, amenities and appeal; each of those items will play a part in your profits. Look at today’s economic mess; we’re sitting in a buyer’s market and even with plummeting prices and a sad stock market homes are still a value to someone.

People are enticed to buy new homes and not just new but bigger and better homes. Fifty years ago homes were less than 1000 square feet and the family all shared one bathroom. Today most homes have 2.5 bathrooms, more square footage, more closet space, more windows, upgraded landscaping, double garages, cathedral ceilings and gourmet kitchens with islands. No matter what, homes remain steadfast and there will always be buyers. But like everything with value, it all depends on what you’re offering. This is why upkeep and upgrades remain an important trend.

Your home will always be a good investment and think of the return on your investment in the long run; one of the best benefits to a homeowner is the tax deductions. Homeowners are allowed to deduct up to one million dollars on their primary and second home. And if you have a home equity loan you can deduct part of the interest payments on that mortgage.

Property taxes and interest payments on your mortgage are all deductible on your federal and state tax returns. For many people who do not have any itemized deductions, this provides some relief from paying all of their income to the government. Who doesn’t want to pay less in taxes? And to sweeten the deal the government now offers you other avenues to deduct some upgrades to your home. Become eco-friendly and purchase items that save on energy and wasted water use and you’ll become eligible for other tax incentives.

Home ownership was always looked at as accomplishment and achieving the American Dream; today it has become that and much more; an ideal way to make a sound investment with plenty of loopholes to decrease your tax obligations. Throughout the declines and painful uncertainty will come stability and home sweet home investment will gain ground once again.

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