How to Use Your Tax Refund to Buy a Home
December 13, 2022
The upfront costs of homebuying can be significant, but your tax refund from the IRS can be a useful supplement to your homebuying budget. Have you been saving up to buy a home this year? If so, you know there are a variety of expenses involved – from your down payment to closing costs. But there’s good news – your tax refund can help you achieve your goals by paying for some of these expenses.
Whether you are expecting a refund in the hundreds or thousands of dollars, there are several ways you can use those funds to bring yourself closer to homeownership.
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Save for a Down Payment
Saving for a down payment can be one of the largest barriers to homeownership, and the typical homebuyer makes a down payment between 3.5% and 20% of the purchase price. Using your tax return to help with a down payment may help you reach your goal more quickly than expected.
You can also explore low down payment mortgages, such as Freddie Mac's Home Possible® and HomeOne® mortgages, which require only a 3% down payment.
Down payment assistance programs can also help you bridge the cash gap. Contact Inga to discuss how to Pay for Closing Costs with the help of Down payment assistance program
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Paying for Closing Costs
Before you officially take ownership of your home, you are required to pay fees to your lender, real estate agent, and other third parties involved in the home-buying transaction. These are known as closing costs. This is another area where you could direct your tax return.
Typically, homebuyers will pay between 2% and 5% of the purchase price of their home in closing costs, or between $4,000 and $10,000 on a $200,000 home. Closing costs will vary depending on where you live, so be sure to review your situation to understand your costs fully.
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Lower Your Interest Rate with Discount Points
During the home-buying process, your lender may present you the option to pay discount points to buy down your mortgage interest rate. A "point" equals 1% of the loan. Discount points are essentially an upfront interest payment to lock in a lower interest rate on your fixed-rate mortgage, ultimately saving you money over the life of your loan.
Using your tax refund to pay discount points can help lower the amount of your monthly mortgage payments.