Montana mortgage tax savings

Everyone's favorite agency, the IRS, allows homeowners to deduct certain expenses related to property ownership and financing. These are:

Annual property taxes
Mortgage interest paid
Points paid
The basic rules for deducting property taxes and mortgage interest are similar: Both can be deducted in the year that they're paid. If you pay points on a purchase mortgage, these are also deductible in that first year. You cannot, however, deduct points paid on a refinance mortgage all at once. The IRS requires that you amortize the deduction over the life of the refinance mortgage. 4homeinsurance.com's Tax Savings Calculator can help you estimate the tax savings associated with mortgage interest and points paid.

Fixed-rate mortgages in Montana

Montana offers fixed-rate mortgages (FRMs) for the more conservative-minded borrower. Fixed-rate borrowers have the security of knowing that they'll have the same interest rate, and same monthly payment, until the loan is completely paid off. These mortgages can be amortized over 10-years, 15-years, 20-years, 30-years, and even 40- or 50-years. Most lenders will suggest the 30-year structure, unless you'd prefer a higher or lower payment. A shorter loan life generally gets you a lower interest rate, but the monthly payment will still be higher. A longer loan life is the opposite: higher rate and lower payment.

How to compare Montana mortgages

Here are two more tips to keep you focused in your search:

Be cautious about mortgages that have little principal reduction in the early years. The appeal of these will be a low payment, but there are disadvantages to consider. Slow debt pay-off leads to higher total interest expenses and slower growth of home equity.

Montana is known as Big Sky Country for its open landscapes and impressive mountain ranges. Your peaceful and scenic state is also a great place to secure home financing that perfectly suits your financial objectives.