Author Archives: theloanman

The answer is “It depends.” Now that the standard deduction has been raised to $12,400 for individuals, $18,600 for heads of household, and $24,800 for married couples filing jointly, you may gain more by taking the standard deduction. However, it … Continue reading →

What? You’re not a farmer. Why and how could you get a home loan offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture? The idea that you have to be a farmer to be eligible for a USDA backed home loan is … Continue reading →

  2020 Mortgage Myths Life in 2020 is a time of confusion, especially for the real estate and mortgage industries. What are the rules this week? Will interest rates continue to fall or are they going up soon? How has … Continue reading →

  Homeowners refinancing today are often surprised to hear that they’ve been granted an appraisal waiver – saving them hundreds of dollars. But what is it, and why are banks offering it? Being granted an appraisal waiver means that you … Continue reading →

The pandemic has affected almost every other aspect of our lives. Of course it has affected mortgage lending. First, the good news: mortgage interest rates are at their lowest levels in decades. The bad news is that getting a mortgage … Continue reading →

  Of course. Most people do, at least until they learn the cost. If you’ve seen the ads for no-fee mortgages, you might think they’re just what you need. And for a few people, they are. However, nothing is really … Continue reading →

  While the term “mortgage forbearance” is the one most widely used when speaking of relief from monthly payments, it is NOT what most homeowners want. Both mortgage forbearance and mortgage deferment allow borrowers to forgo payments for a set … Continue reading →

  You probably know that mortgage rates have been falling. Economists are predicting that they may fall even more, should the yield on the 10-year Treasury continue to decline. We thought rates were at a historic low some years ago … Continue reading →

When many of us think about capital gains we think of investors, but you as a homeowner could also be subject to capital gains tax. It comes into play when you sell your home (or other assets) at a profit. … Continue reading →

  Does home ownership still offer tax benefits? Yes, depending upon several factors: The benefits aren’t as pronounced, however, since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act went into effect on Jan. 1, 2018. This raised the standard deduction to $24,400 … Continue reading →