IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig told the Senate Finance Committee in June, that the IRS has processed more than 137 million individual income tax returns and issued more than 101.2 million refunds totaling $281.4 billion. Roughly 70% of taxpayers received money back in 2021 with an average refund of $2,800. If…continue reading
In an ideal scenario, the sale of your current home and purchase of a new one would occur simultaneously and both sets of documentation would be completed on the same day. However, this is an unusual occurrence. Most people must either buy first and sell second, risking having to pay…continue reading
You made an offer on your dream home and the seller has accepted. Congratulations! You are moving forward towards closing. However, one most important step before you close on the deal is getting an appraisal on the property. It tells you and the lender how much the property is worth…continue reading
When you apply for a mortgage you will probably receive titbits of advice about how you can improve your chances of getting approved such as getting a pre-approval or building up your credit history. However, the two other most important factors that can affect your eligibility are your employment and…continue reading
The sheer complexity of buying your first home from the mortgage lending process to tax ramifications can lead to potential stress. But there is a silver lining. Not many people are aware that if their income falls below certain guidelines they may be eligible for a mortgage credit certificate (MCC).…continue reading
Often when retirement is right around the corner, people decide to move to a new place. There are numerous motivations to relocate after retirement, including the desire to live closer to family or to simply explore and experience a section of the country one has always wanted to live in.…continue reading
Property taxes are one of the continuous costs of owning a home. They are generally real estate taxes that your local government calculates depending on the assessed value of your home and the municipality or county's property tax rate. However, these taxes come with the caveat that they will fluctuate…continue reading
Selling your home can be a challenging and stressful experience, especially if you have never handled it before. It doesn't have to be that way, though! While each individual’s selling experience presents its own set of problems, there are some typical blunders you can avoid to make the process smoother…continue reading
One of the most difficult challenges that homebuyers face when purchasing a home is making a down payment. Fortunately, if you are short on cash or have money set aside for other high-priority obligations, many lenders will allow you to pay for the home purchase with gift money. Therefore, if…continue reading
When shopping around for a mortgage most borrowers will gravitate to a lender that offers the lowest interest rate and the best terms. A low mortgage rate means increased purchasing power and a lower monthly payment. But, how is your mortgage interest rate determined? Most first-time homebuyers might acknowledge the…continue reading
Ratebeat is an independent mortgage lender based in California and originates a range of mortgage products in California, New Jersey, Texas and Connecticut.
