A REALTORŪ since 1989, Jeanette brings experience, knowledge, and the love of helping clients buy and sell property to each transaction. She believes her responsibility is to "educate" her clients, so they can make informed decisions, "advise" them, based on her expertise in the market, and "assist" them in completing the purchase or sale of their home. Please Sign Up For The Latest Listings and the Latest Real Estate News
First Time Buyers >The Real Bottom Line
An important part of buying a house is sitting down with your real estate agent or a mortgage lender to get a clear idea of how much you can afford. They will add up all of your monthly expenses, the mortgage payment, insurance, real estate taxes, homeowners or condo association fees--and the grand total can throw you into shock!
The important thing to remember is that the grand total isn't really the bottom line. When you add your tax savings to the equation, you may be pleasantly surprised. During the early years of your loan, almost all of the mortgage can be deducted from your state and federal income tax. The same is true of your real estate taxes. If you use part of your house as a home office, you may be able to qualify for additional tax savings. In some areas, homes with ground floor apartments are popular for offsetting part of the mortgage and offering even more tax savings.
When you make calculations about the monthly costs that include the tax savings, you may find that owning your own home is less expensive than renting a house or apartment of comparable size.
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| Q |
What is encroachment, and how might it affect a property owner?
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| A |
Encroachment, refers to the unauthorized intrusion of a building or improvement onto another person's property; it often requires a surveyor's report to support the claim. |
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- NUMBER1EXPERT™ 
