"Qualified" for tax deductability.
Huh? A mortgage is just a loan. So why wouldn't any loan (now up to $500,000 max) be qualified as a mortgage? Like...couldn't you just borrow that dough from Rich Uncle Larry?
Well...no. In fact, mortgages carry all kinds of very specific lending language for a variety of reasons, such that in order to receive the mortgage interest credit or tax deduction by dint of paying that mortgage interest, takers of mortgages have to buy them through banks.
So...doesn't this seem like a scam? Like...the government is monopolizing the mortgage industry in forcing you, the home buyer, to essentially buy through them, or at least under their set of rubrics. Well, in fact, it's actually a pretty good idea when you think of all the things that could go wrong, were anyone able to lend anyone money for mortgages.
Those issues revolve around what happens when things go...awry. Like...it's 2009 and nephew Bobby lost his job at the enema clinic. Now he can't make his mortgage payments. And, well, Uncle Larry isn't so rich any more. He wants those payments. Needs them. So now Uncle Larry has to kick Bobby and his wife and their little enemates out of the home, with a sheriff dragging the bags and tubing behind them.
Painful social situation. Bad headlnes. Nobody wants this. So in forcing mortgages to be run through banks, there is a third neutral party doing the kicking-out if need be, and there is a higher level of scrutiny in granting mortgages in the first place. That is, banks can just say no to granting a mortgage in the first place. Supposing the buyer doesn't qualify because they dont have enough money down, or don't earn enough, or have bad credit or whatever...if the bank just says no, then the family doesn't upgrade homes...or they just keep living in the apartment or tool shed they've been living in. No sheriff involved, no tears. Well, some tears.
Related or Semi-related Video
Finance: What is Interest Only Mortgage?17 Views
Finance allah shmoop what is an interest only mortgage Well
simply put it's when you only pay the rent on
the dough you borrowed you don't pay down the principal
you owe like if you have a three hundred thousand
dollars mortgage at six percent interest you're paying eighteen grand
a year to rent that money in six percent times
three hundred rands eighteen grand a year But the principal
you borrowed is likely due in thirty years So in
theory anyway if it were a normal mortgage you'd want
to pay down the principal little bit a month as
you go along like averaging ten grand a year in
principle pay down over thirty years That's times ten grand
right three hundred grand their total owning your home at
the end yeah yeah priceless that's what holmes work So
why would you want an interest only mortgage Well for
one thing the monthly payments or less so maybe you
could afford morehouse If on a thirty year three hundred
thousand dollar loan at six percent you're paying interest only
while you're writing a check each month for eighteen thousand
divided by twelve or fifteen hundred bucks maybe that's all
You can afford well the extra five hundred bucks arm
or you'd right toe pay down your principles Just not
something you can really do right now Maybe after three
years of scrimping and saving well you'll be able to
start paying down that principal reducing risk and making life
easier all the way around But right now you can't
afford it so the only thing you can do is
do the interest only dance Well the other reason you
might want an interest only mortgages that interest costs are
tax deductible Principal pay down costs are not so if
in a given mortgage payment of say eighteen hundred bucks
a month where three hundred of it is principal pay
down and fifteen hundred of it is interest well on
ly the fifteen hundred is tax deductible That three hundred
of pay down is not And if you're a forty
percent taxpayer the government is essentially picking up the tax
savings on the fifteen hundred times a forty percent at
six hundred dollars in interest You're paying such that they
quote feel unquote like the fifteen hundred is really only
about nine hundred a month in cost to you the
three hundred bucks and principal paydown feels like a full
three hundred dollars So some people seeking tio optimize their
tax deductions live in the world of interest only mortgages
and let the government for a change You know work 00:02:26.24 --> [endTime] for them How's that feel same all Take it
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