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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The Sue Martin Team
Coldwell Banker Gundaker
516 Old Smizer Mill Road
Fenton, MO 63026
Cell: 636-795-3400
Office: 636-717-6000
Fax: 636-326-1000
Sue@SueMartinTeam.com

Sue Martin and her Home Selling Team is the Fenton area's #1 full-service Realtor whose business success is based on a results-oriented team approach. This dedication to service has resulted in The Sue Martin Team being ranked by St. Louis Business Journal and St. Louis Magazine as one of Metro St. Louis' top Realtors. Sue and her team of professional agents are focused on providing quality services to facilitate home buyers and sellers in achieving their real estate goals through exceptional customer service, track record and experience, and results-based systems. Referrals and recommendations from past clients and customers are a testimony to the team’s commitment, high performance standards and results. Call Sue Today ... and Start Packing!!