808 Oahu Realtor (Ryan Riggins) License #RS-74740

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It’s Not Just the Tax Benefits

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When the standard deduction for married couples filing jointly was increased from $12,700 to $24,000 for 2018, there was some speculation that the bloom was off the rose of homeownership. The thought was that if the tax benefits from being able to deduct the property taxes and interest was less than the standard deduction, that maybe, the buyer would be better off continuing to rent.

With mortgage rates as low as they have been for the past eight years, payments have been lower and so has the amount interest that was paid. This and the fact that sales and local taxes, which include property taxes, are limited to $10,000 a year on the Itemized Deduction form have made it harder to reach the increased standard deduction.

The reality of the situation is tax benefits are only one of the components that make a home an excellent investment and it probably contributes the least of the top three benefits. Principal reduction and appreciation build an owner’s equity in an automatic way that is like a forced savings account.

In today’s market, it is common for the total house payment to be lower than the rent a first-time home buyer is currently paying. As a homeowner, the buyer would have additional expenses like maintenance and possibly, a HOA.

To illustrate the net effect, let’s look at a purchase price of $275,000 with 3.5% down payment on a 4.75% 30-year FHA loan. We’ll assume the home appreciates at 3% annually and the buyer is currently paying $2,000 a month rent.

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The total payment is $2,115 including principal, interest, property taxes, property and mortgage insurance. However, when you consider the monthly principal reduction, appreciation, maintenance and HOA, the net cost of housing is $1,181. It costs $819 more a month to rent than to own. In a year’s time, it would cost $9,831 more to rent than to own which is more than the down payment required to buy the home.

In seven-years, the $9,625 down payment would grow to over $58,000 in equity. The equity build-up far exceeds the tax benefits which some people would have as an additional incentive. Use this Rent vs. Own to see what the net cost of housing would be using a home in your price range or call me at and I’ll do it for you.

Author: Ryan Riggins (RA)

Born and Raised on Oahu my approach to the real estate business is different than most agents working in the industry today. The average agent sells fewer than 7 homes a year while attempting to manage every aspect of the business all by themselves. This approach allows them very little time working directly with buyers and sellers because they are so overwhelmed with all the busy work that is required behind the scenes. My system allows me to spend 90% of my time working directly with clients who want to buy and sell real estate today and in the very near future. Here at John Riggins Real Estate we have been helping families move since 1977. We specialize in the Aiea to Kapolei area but not limited to Ewa Beach area. To see all the great ways we help buyers and to view what differentiates us from the typical realtor in the area, visit http://tinyurl.com/clientsuccessstorys Because of Ryan's Military Relocation Expertise, Ryan's success revolves around that same simple principle his Mother and Father instilled in him; serving those who serve our country. His track record shows that he puts his clients first and in a high paced market, he is making VA loans work for our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. With previous clients ranging from E-5's to 04's, Ryan is ready and willing to make sure all those who have served our country, have every opportunity to own their piece of it. For the majority of people the purchase or sale of a home is their largest single investment. My goal is to guide you successfully and easily through the contractual, investment, and emotional decisions involved in the Real Estate process. I am committed to providing you, your family and your friends with superior service and expertise and to make it the most memorable purchase of your life.

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