Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Some Loans May Come With Big Tax Deductions

By John Miller

Many loans may give you a tax credit which lowers the income tax you owe and other types of loans may give you a tax deduction which reduces your gross income. Just about everyone wants to borrow cash from time to time and it makes sense to do your homework before jumping into a big loan commitment. Were you aware that when you borrow money you could also be shrinking the amount of federal taxes you have to pay to the government? It turns out that not all loans are the same when it comes times to look at your tax situation. Here's a simple guide to which loans may qualify you for a tax deduction, though obviously everyone's tax situation will vary.

Student Loans: Did you know that many loans you take out for education could give you a tax advantage? You can, in some cases, deduct the interest you paid on the loan from your income taxes. Not all student loans are eligible for this, but it's a good way to reduce the taxes you pay, especially if you're a cash-strapped student with a limited income. The interest you pay on most education loans can only be deducted if you make under a certain amount of money, based on how you file your taxes.

Home Mortgages: Most home mortgages are designed so that you can deduct the amount of interest you pay on the loan every year. For most people their home is the biggest purchase they ever make, and paying a mortgage can actually be a good way to reduce the amount of cash you owe on your federal taxes each year. Since most home loans are set up to be paid over thirty years, that means that buying a house can give you 30 years of potential tax benefits.

Home Equity Loans: You can use a home equity loan for a number of things, you may be able to get additional tax credits by using the money for home upgrades. If your home is more valuable now than when you bought it then you might be able to take out a home equity loan (sometimes called a HELOC) and deduct the interest you pay on that borrowed money. A home equity loan used to improve your home could eventually increase the value of your home and give you even more equity in the long run. There are some restrictions about how much of your loan's interest actually qualifies for a tax benefit. In some case you can even get tax deductions for using the money to upgrade your house's structure like replacing doors with more energy efficient types. For some people some of the cost of a home equity loan can be minimized with home repair tax deductions.

Sometimes applying for the right kind of loan can definitely save you thousands of dollars on your income taxes, so it's worth investing a little bit of time and energy to look into what sort of tax benefits you are eligible for. There are, of course, a lot of variables between these loans. Not everyone will be eligible for all the different tax deductions that these loans may offer. Sometimes your living situation, the amount of money you want to borrow and the purpose of the loan will limit the amount of money you can deduct from your taxes in any given year. Before you take out any of these loans you may want to talk with your tax professional to make sure the tax benefits apply to your individual situation. - 29904

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Monday, February 1, 2010

Employing Flexible Mortgages To Save On Loan Rates

By Chris Channing

A flexible mortgage is a type of mortgage prevalent in European countries. It is a bit more dynamic than the conventional mortgage found in the United States, in that it allows borrowers to pay what they can each billing cycle.

The minimum payment on a flexible mortgage is often just the interest owed for that time period. Since interest payments don't total to a substantial amount of money, even large financial disasters will not mean you lose your home in the wake of instability. This is ideal for the self employed business owners of the world, as well as contract workers who have temporary work.

Remember that only paying the minimum interest payment is not a good plan for you financially. It will only put away fears of a foreclosure- it won't allow you to make progress on paying off your mortgage. Months in which are paid as minimum will essentially add another month onto the mortgage term- if not more! Therefore, one should use the flexible mortgage responsibly if you wish to pay off your mortgage according to the original plan.

A variable rate on a flexible mortgage is the norm. Variable rates will fluctuate with the market, so you will always have a rate that is in check with inflation and economic conditions. Fixed rates are the better route if you think that the current market conditions are at the lowest point possible. In times where lenders are jumping over hurdles to get borrowers signed on, pushing for a fixed rate is easy.

If you have exceptional credit you might be able to apply for payment holidays as well. These "holidays" are simply payment periods in which you are able to skip. There are some limitations in how you can do such a thing, and how often, but it's a great "Plan B" when money becomes scarce. Payment holidays also extend the life of the loan and the total interest paid, so use them sparingly if at all.

The flexible mortgage might not be for you if you are not of good character. It takes motivation and sheer will power in order to pay off a flexible mortgage loan- and the lenders will verify you have both. If you have a history of being latent on payments, you probably shouldn't opt for the flexible mortgage loan for fear of relying on it too much to get lower mortgage payments.

Final Thoughts

There are an incredible amount of mortgages to choose from. Don't stop your search with flexible mortgages. Talk to a mortgage lender to see what other mortgages you could apply for instead. If flexible mortgages strike you as appealing, just remember to observe responsibility during the course of the loan. - 29904

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