So … how did tax season treat you this year?
If you’re currently renting your home, consider this: owning a home can often help you out at tax time.
Here are several items you can deduct when you file:
- Your mortgage interest, which may be a significant portion of your overall payment (at least when the mortgage is new)
- PMI (private mortgage insurance) premiums, which may be another portion of your monthly mortgage payment
- Property taxes, which are fully deductible
- Closing costs, in the form of “points” on your origination fee for your mortgage loan
In addition to these deductions, home ownership has other tax benefits:
- Use your IRA without penalty: You can withdraw up to $10,000 from your traditional IRA without the 10% penalty, if you are a first-time home buyer and you’re using the money toward your down payment.
- Deduct interest on your home equity loan: If you use a home equity loan or line of credit, not only will you enjoy a lower interest rate than that of a credit card, but you can deduct the interest at tax time too.
- Capital Gains: When you sell your home, you can keep profits without penalty for up to $500,000 for a married couple (half of that for a single homeowner). This works for homes that are primary residences and lived in for over 2 years.
- Energy Credits: If you have energy-saving features in your home (such as energy-efficient windows, insulation, or heating/cooling systems), you may qualify for a tax credit of up to $500.
Taxes aside, home ownership has a number of other financial and personal benefits.
If you’re looking towards next year and are hoping to take advantage of these benefits, give The Haro Group a call. We’d love to answer your questions and help you figure out the next steps!
Photo credit: Personal Income Taxes Ver3 via photopin (license)