Finance “experts” often tell you to cut down on expenses at home, but they rarely have any useful advice on how to do it. Rather than give you the usual advice, today I am giving you specific steps you can follow to save money in the home for a long-term, big win.
Couples preparing to move in together have many decisions to make, from which colors to paint the walls to how to divvy up the chores. But perhaps the most important thing couples can do before they move in together is create financial boundaries.
Last week, I did some digging on mortgage rates and had a talk with my mortgage banker, who happens to be a work friend of my Dad’s. After talking for a bit, she found me a rate that seemed almost too good to be true. 2.875% is a big improvement from my 4.25% mortgage. I did an analysis to figure out the best decision for me.
A year ago last month, I bought my condo. The biggest purchase of my life was one I could not have made on my own. I turned to trusted people to help me through the process. My parents provided guidance, having bought homes in the past. My mortgage banker, a work friend of my father, walked me through some of the steps in closing my first mortgage. Last, but certainly not least, my realtor, a family friend, helped me find my home and get the best price possible. Allegedly.
I wrote all about how I bought my first condo in September. Since that time, I have had a roommate living with me paying rent each month. After doing a little analysis, I found that I could easily rent out the entire condo for a big profit. It got me thinking about becoming a landlord on a larger scale.
We often assumed that buying a home is the logical thing to do in our 20s. You know the process: finish college, find a job, start a family, and buy a home. Is this really still the case?
