Blog - Month: February 2020
Month: February 2020
First Snowstorm as a First Time Homebuyer
Welcome to Homeownership Moving from an apartment or condo to your own home comes with many changes. For homeowners in Northeast Ohio a major change is dealing with the aftermath of a snowstorm. This may seem like a straightforward topic but creating a plan and ensuring that you are prepared will ensure that you do not get stuck out in the snow. To help you get started, here’s a list of 3 snowstorm preparedness tips in Northeast Ohio! Snow Removal The largest change for first time homebuyers will be managing snow removal from sidewalks and driveways. Many people will opt to save a few dollars and clear snow and ice themselves. Whether it’s an old fashion snow shovel or a gas powered snowblower ensuring that your driveway and sidewalks are maintained will help ensure the safety of yourself and others. Throwing down salt will help melt ice and keep anyone from slipping. (Pet owners make sure to buy pet safe salt to now hurt your dog’s paws!) Another option would be to hire someone to handle snow removal. Whether it’s a large company or a neighbor, having someone handle snow removal can help ensure that you are always covered when a blizzard hit. Ensure that whoever you hire has insurance. Though they may just be shoveling your driveway, accidents happen, and you will need to be covered. Energy Efficiency Snowstorms bring along cold weather which causes electric bills to climb. An inexpensive way to insu
Moving on a Budget: Five Money-Saving Tips
Moving to a new home can be pretty exciting, but it also comes with a long list of expenses. Aside from the costs of purchasing a new house or condo, moving itself adds a pretty hefty expense to the homebuying process. But don’t worry, there are plenty of ways to save! The secret to keeping your costs down is planning. A little extra effort in the weeks and months before a move can save you a ton of money. Below are five planning strategies you can use to help you save on your big move! Move in an Off Season Spring and Summer are the most expensive times to move into a new home because of a hot real estate market between April and October. Delaying your move till the Fall or even Winter months can land you a huge discount on moving expenses. Purchasing a home off season also comes with its own unique benefits. You can learn more about them here. Move in the Middle of the Week Can’t schedule an off-season move? You can still save money during the warmer months. Scheduling a move on a Wednesday will always be less expensive than over the weekend. Rent a Moving Truck It pays to do the heavy lifting yourself! The biggest cost savings for a move comes from renting a truck and moving your own boxes and furniture. While this process is more time consuming and labor intensive, it should be an option, especially if you’re moving from an apartment where you may have fewer belongings. Move Les
Four Tax Tips for Homeowners in 2020
For most Americans, their home will be the biggest purchase of their lifetime. That big purchase comes with some big responsibilities like keeping the property in good repair and, of course, the long-term commitment of a mortgage. But there are some financial benefits, too. One of the biggest financial advantages of a home purchase hit during tax season in the form of tax credits and deductions. To make sure you’re taking advantage of these benefits, we’ve put together a list of four tax breaks you can still claim as a homeowner in 2020. Note: Ohio First Land Title is not a tax advisor! This list is a great place to start research on your tax benefits, but we recommend professional services for in-depth financial advice. Mortgage Interest Deduction If you purchased your home with a mortgage, the interest you pay on your loan is still tax deductible this year. What’s new for 2020? The 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act changed how much mortgage interest is tax deductible. If you purchased your home after December 15, 2017, mortgages up to $750,000 qualify for this benefit (down from $1 million prior to the end of 2017). Property Tax Deduction State and local property taxes can increase cost of living exponentially — especially if you live close to a big city. Luckily, you can claim a hefty portion of your annual property tax bill as a federal tax deduction. You can claim up to $10,000 of your total local and state proper