2025 Homebuying Made Easy: Market Trends and Preparation Strategies

Homeownership comes with plenty of financial benefits. Understanding these benefits and how to take full advantage of them can help you keep more of your money in your pockets. Among those benefits are tax advantages such as Home Mortgage Interest Deduction. This permits homeowners to deduct interest paid on loans secured by their primary or secondary residence. These loans include mortgages used to purchase, build, or substantially improve a home, as well as second mortgages & certain home equity loans. If you’re unsure whether you qualify, contact your UMortgage Loan Originator! They can either find the answer for you or connect you with a tax professional who can provide accurate guidance. What Types of Loans Qualify For The Home Mortgage Interest Deduction? There are strict guidelines regarding the types of loans that qualify for this tax deduction. More broadly, it can be split into two categories: home acquisition debt and home equity debt. Home Acquisition Debt: These are your most typical mortgages. Specifically, loans that fall into this bucket include loans that are used to buy, build, or substantially improve a home. Home Equity Debt: These include loans secured by your home. Not all home equity debt qualifies; the loan proceeds must be used to substantially improve the residence. So, if you used a HELOC or a cash-out refinance specifically to fund a home improvement project, you most likely qualify. If the funds are used for debt consolidation or other personal expenses, you may not qualify. While the type of loan determines qualification, that’s not the only box that must be checked before eligibility is confirmed. The type of home secured by the loan also plays a part. Primary Residences: If you reside in the home which you’d like to deduct interest paid from, you must reside in the property for at least 51% of the year. Second Homes: This is where it gets a little more complicated. Second homes can be considered something like a vacation home or potentially a rental property, if it passes certain specifications, which we’ll detail below: Second home not rented out: If you have a second home that you don’t hold out for rent or resale to others at any time of the year, you can treat it as a qualified home. You don’t have to use the home during the year. Second home rented out: If you have a second home and rent it out for part of the year, you must also use it as a home during the year for it to be a qualified home. You must use this home for more than 14 days or more than 10% of the number of days during the year that the home is rented, whichever is longer. If you don’t use the home long enough, it’s considered a rental property and not a second home and therefore does not qualify. How Much Mortgage Interest Can You Deduct? The amount of interest you can deduct depends on when the mortgage was taken out and its purpose: Mortgages Taken Out Before October 14, 1987: All interest paid is fully deductible, as these are considered "grandfathered" debts. Mortgages Taken Out Between October 14, 1987, and December 15, 2017: Interest is deductible on the first $1 million of mortgage debt ($500,000 if married filing separately). Mortgages Taken Out After December 15, 2017: Interest is deductible on the first $750,000 of mortgage debt ($375,000 if married filing separately). Suppose you entered into a binding contract before December 15, 2017, to close on the purchase of a principal residence before January 1, 2018, and purchased the residence before April 1, 2018. In that case, the higher limit of $1 million applies. How to Deduct Mortgage Points from Taxes Did you buy down your interest rate when you purchased your home or refinanced? Those points might be tax deductible. Points are upfront fees paid to the lender to secure a lower interest rate on your mortgage. So long as the loan qualifies based on the guidelines outlined above—such as the loan being for your primary residence and the points being a standard practice in your area—they can be deductible in the year paid. If these conditions aren't met, the points may still be deductible but spread out over the life of the loan. To claim the Home Mortgage Interest Deduction, follow the following steps: Itemize Deductions: Instead of taking the standard deduction, you must itemize your deductions on Schedule A of your tax return. Maintain Accurate Records: Keep detailed records of all mortgage interest payments. Your lender will typically provide a Form 1098, which reports the interest you've paid during the year. Complete Schedule A: Enter the deductible amount on the IRS’s Schedule A form, linked here, to reduce your taxable income. By properly utilizing your Home Mortgage Interest Deduction, you can save a substantial amount of money over the life of your loan. Want to know more ways to save as a homeowner this tax season? Check out our complete guide here. In all cases, confirm first that you meet the eligibility requirements before filing your taxes—consulting with your UMortgage Loan Originator or a tax professional if clarity is needed. The information in this blog was sourced from IRS publication 936. Refer to the publication at https://www.irs.gov/publications/p936#en_US_2024_publink1000229990 for more information.

Tax season comes with a few extra steps for homeowners. Between your escrow payments, property taxes, and forms specific to homeowners like Form 1098, there are a few things for homeowners to consider as they file taxes themselves or pass off necessary documents to a tax professional. Below is everything you need to know to properly file your taxes and maximize your possible deductions this year. Understanding Your Escrow Account If you’ve ever wondered why your monthly mortgage payment includes more than just your loan’s principal and interest, your escrow account is the answer. This account is set up by your lender to cover property taxes and homeowners’ insurance, ensuring these essential expenses are paid on time and in full. During tax season, your escrow account plays a crucial role. Here’s how: Property Tax Payments: Your lender uses the funds in your escrow account to pay your property taxes on your behalf. You’ll receive a statement from your lender detailing these payments, which can be helpful when filing your taxes. Record Keeping: Keep track of your escrow account’s annual statement to ensure your property taxes are paid correctly. If you notice any discrepancies, reach out to your lender immediately. What To Do With Your Property Tax Bill As you’re preparing to file your taxes, you’ll receive a property tax bill in the mail. You might be confused about whether you need to pay this bill yourself or if it’ll be handled by your escrow account. Here’s what you need to know: If You’re Escrowed: Your loan servicer will pay your property taxes using funds from your escrow account. The bill you receive in the mail is just for record-keeping purposes. If You’re Not Escrowed: Make sure you pay your bill as soon as possible to avoid late fees, penalties, or even a tax lien. If You’re Not Sure: Double check your January and December mortgage statements to confirm that your property taxes are covered by an escrow account. Escrow accounts simplify property tax payments by breaking the payments into smaller monthly increments to help you avoid large, unexpected bills. Deducting Interest Paid on Your Mortgage One of the most significant tax benefits of homeownership is the ability to deduct interest paid on your mortgage. This deduction can save you thousands of dollars, especially in the early years of your loan when interest payments are highest. Follow these steps to claim your mortgage interest deduction: Form 1098: Each year, your lender will send you IRS Form 1098, which details the total amount of mortgage interest you paid. This form is essential for claiming your deduction. Eligible Loans: The deduction applies to mortgages on your primary or secondary home, up to $750,000 in loan principal for loans originated after December 15, 2017. For older loans, the limit is $1 million. Itemize Deductions: To take advantage of this benefit, you’ll need to itemize deductions on your tax return instead of taking the standard deduction. Pro Tip: If you refinanced your mortgage using prepaid interest or points paid at closing, these may also be deductible. Tax season doesn’t have to be overwhelming for homeowners. By understanding how escrow accounts, property taxes, and mortgage interest deductions work, you can maximize your savings and approach tax filing with confidence. If you have any questions about escrow, property taxes, or tax season tips for homeowners, make sure to contact your UMortgage Loan Originator for some insider info!

If you're planning to buy a home in 2025, there are several important factors to consider and steps to take that will help ensure your success. Various trends will influence home affordability and your ability to purchase the home you want without stretching your budget. So, what can we expect regarding mortgage rates? Will there be an increase in available homes on the market next year? Additionally, there are specific actions every homebuyer should start taking now to prepare for 2025. Let’s break it down to help you navigate this market with confidence. Will Mortgage Rates Drop in 2025? The questions asked by homebuyer and real estate agent is where mortgage rates are heading in 2025. Although nobody has a crystal ball, many reliable experts predict them to drop over the course of the year. If you're planning to buy a home in 2025, there are several important factors to consider and steps to take that will help ensure your success. Various trends will influence home affordability and your ability to purchase the home you desire without stretching your budget. How much mortgage rates drop will depend on ever-shifting market factors such as inflation, unemployment, wage growth, economic growth, and the possibility of a recession. Sourcing data from reputable sources such as Fannie Mae, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), HousingWire, and MBS Highway, it’s expected that rates will drop slightly next year but remain in a range between 5.75% and 7.25%. These figures are dependent on the economic factors previously mentioned, and it could take until the second half of the year to see rates in the low end of that range. Mortgage rates can directly impact your overall budget; check out this home affordability calculator to learn more. If you want to buy in 2025, it’s important to connect with a UMortgage Loan Originator as early as possible to take advantage when market opportunities arise. More Homes and More Buyers on the Market in 2025 Housing inventory, specifically a lack thereof, has been one of the main drivers of the housing market these last 3 years. Throughout the year, we’ve seen inventory numbers steadily rise to highs not seen since the summer of 2020. As of the end of November, we have 27% higher single-family housing inventory than this time last year. This rise is expected to continue to increase in 2025, and it’s partly due to the forecast that rates will drop slightly across the year. According to Mike Fratatoni, Chief Economist and SVP for Research and Business Development at the MBA, “mortgage rates at this level should support homebuyer demand and gradually reduce the lock-in effect, thereby increasing the inventory of existing homes and supporting higher purchase origination volume in 2025.” More sustainable inventory is great news for homebuyers. Not only does this mean more options to shop from, but it also gives more negotiation power for many homebuyers to get an asking price that works for their financial picture. How to Prepare to Buy a Home in 2025 Buying a home is a big commitment, but there are plenty of things you can start doing now to put yourself in the driver’s seat when it comes time to buy in 2025. Below are a few strategies that will help you be one of the strongest buyers on the market next year. Start Saving for a Down Payment: A higher down payment will help you secure the lowest possible mortgage rate and can significantly lower your monthly mortgage payment. It’s possible to buy with as little as 3% down for conventional loans (and 0% down for a VA loan), but a higher down payment will open up more possibilities. Build and Maintain a High Credit Score: Like with a higher down payment, a higher credit score will be key to getting you the lowest possible mortgage rate. Building credit is easier than you might think: make sure you pay all of your monthly debts on time and, if possible, keep balances as close to $0 as possible. Read this guide for more credit-building tips. Get a Mortgage Pre-Approval: Your golden ticket in the homebuying process is a mortgage pre-approval. This will give you an accurate estimate of your buying power and will show sellers and listing agents that you’re a serious buyer. Fill out this form to start your free pre-approval today! The Importance of Working With a Local Expert It’s looking like the 2025 housing market will bring some balance that should make affordable homeownership more accessible. However, the best way to ensure a sensible home purchase in 2025 is to work with local mortgage and real estate experts who can help you navigate the ebbs and flows of the market. A knowledgeable real estate agent in your area will understand home prices by neighborhood and the areas where home prices appreciate the most. This expert guidance will help you spot deals, avoid overpaying for a property, and ensure that your home is an investment that grows your financial power over time. When you work with a UMortgage Loan Originator, you’ll gain a partner who will help you maximize the wealth-building benefits of homeownership. Throughout your homebuying process, your LO will learn more about you to make sure your mortgage matches your short- and long-term financial goals. Even after you’ve closed your loan, your LO will stay in touch to share refinance opportunities that will ensure you have the lowest possible mortgage payment and can use the equity you’ve earned to grow your financial portfolio. If you’re ready to start preparing to buy a home and unlock financial freedom through homeownership, follow this link to get connected with a UMortgage LO today!