What Mortgages And Good Debt Can Do For You (2024)

What Mortgages And Good Debt Can Do For You (1)Every corner of the personal finance world stresses the same point: Debt is the wealth killer.
Debt is the single greatest threat to your retirement planning, college savings, and financial independence.

Except, as it turns out, there is one kind of debt that defies all of these rules: MORTGAGES.

The money you owe on a home can, in fact, be a bonus to your financial independence in a lot of ways. While we’ve seen the recent financial trouble that occurs when people finance their lifestyles using the value of their home, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t see mortgages as a reasonable and realistic financial tool to build your wealth.

Here are a few reasons why mortgages are different from other kinds of debt:


1. Having a mortgage can improve your credit score.

Mortgages are seen as “good debt” by creditors. Since the mortgage debt is secured by the value of your house, lenders see your ability to maintain mortgage payments as a sign of responsible credit use. They also see home ownership, even partial ownership, as a sign of financial stability.

Since 2009, credit scoring agencies have added points for consumers who are able to manage different kinds of debt. Even if you’ve bought your first home with a first time home buyer mortgage, having a mortgage that you pay each month makes you look like a responsible user of credit.

2. It’s one of the lowest interest rate loans you’ll ever get.

Mortgage loans are among the safest types of loans that lending institutions can issue because the property is a guarantee that the loaned money can be recovered if there is ever a problem. As a result, mortgage rates are offered at rates lower than many other types of debt. Mortgage rates generally track the “prime” rate – the interest rate the Federal Reserve charges institutions to borrow money from them.

3. Mortgages get preferential tax treatment.

The interest you pay on your mortgage is generally tax-deductible, which puts it in a class of debt by itself. The government wants to encourage home ownership, and is therefore willing to offer you a tax break for the financing costs of your mortgage. This tax treatment makes mortgages potentially even less expensive.

4. It’s protected from interest rate volatility.

If you’ve got a fixed-rate mortgage, you can make plans around the amount you pay each month. If inflation accelerates, your payment stays the same. If interest rates skyrocket, you’re protected from that, too. If interest rates drop, you can usually refinance to save money. Whatever happens, your mortgage is locked in to protect you from uncertain economic times.

5. It’s a safe emergency fund.

While you want to keep some money in a savings account to protect you from minor emergencies, you can use the equity in your home to protect you from major events. If the unexpected happens a home equity loan or home equity line of credit can get help you pay for what’s needed without causing a financial crisis.

So get comfortable knowing some types of debt are actually good. When you’re ready to look at purchasing a new home or refinancing an existing one, Genisys Credit Union can answer any questions you might have about how to get the most financial power out of your dream home. Contact us to learn more about our home loans!

© Genisys Credit Union and www.genisyscu.org, 2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Genisys Credit Union and www.genisyscu.org with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

SOURCES:
http://online.wsj.com/articles/nine-reasons-to-love-your-mortgage-1406420252?mod=Your_Money_newsreel_2
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/15/business/reverse-mortgages-costing-some-seniors-their-homes.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
http://blog.readyforzero.com/how-does-a-mortgage-affect-your-credit-score/

What Mortgages And Good Debt Can Do For You (2024)

FAQs

How can mortgage debt be beneficial? ›

Having a mortgage can improve your credit score.

Mortgages are seen as “good debt” by creditors. Since the mortgage debt is secured by the value of your house, lenders see your ability to maintain mortgage payments as a sign of responsible credit use.

What does good debt help improve? ›

Debt that helps put you in a better position may be considered "good debt." Borrowing to invest in a small business, education, or real estate is generally considered “good debt,” because you are investing the money you borrow in an asset that will improve your overall financial picture.

What are examples of good debt? ›

Examples of good debt are taking out a mortgage, buying things that save you time and money, buying essential items, investing in yourself by borrowing for more education or to consolidate debt. Each may put you in a hole initially, but you'll be better off in the long run for having borrowed the money.

Why was mortgage debt a good investment? ›

Mortgage bonds offer the investor protection because the principal is secured by a valuable asset. In the event of default, mortgage bondholders could sell off the underlying property to compensate for the default and secure payment of income.

Why is debt so important? ›

The national debt enables the federal government to pay for important programs and services even if it does not have funds immediately available, often due to a decrease in revenue.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using debt? ›

The advantages of debt financing include lower interest rates, tax deductibility, and flexible repayment terms. The disadvantages of debt financing include the potential for personal liability, higher interest rates, and the need to collateralize the loan.

What is the power of good debt? ›

Good Debt is the type that allows you to accumulate assets that will increase in value; the loan interest is often tax deductible, and you can use the income derived from the asset to repay the debt.

What is the best good debt? ›

You might carry good debt in the form of a student loan that helps you afford an education that will jumpstart a lucrative career, a mortgage that will eventually be paid off and leave you with the deed to your home or a business loan that will give you the capital you need to build a successful business.

Do millionaires pay off debt or invest? ›

Millionaires typically balance both paying off debt and investing, but with a strategic approach.

What does good debt mean? ›

Good debt is generally considered any debt that may help you increase your net worth or generate future income.

Why is debt good or bad? ›

Debt can be good or bad—and part of that depends on how it's used. Generally, debt used to help build wealth or improve a person's financial situation is considered good debt. Generally, financial obligations that are unaffordable or don't offer long-term benefits might be considered bad debt.

How can I make money from debt? ›

5 Ways You Can Use Personal Loan Debt To Build Wealth
  1. Home Improvements. Personal loans can provide you with financing to make home improvements. ...
  2. House Flipping. ...
  3. Start a Business. ...
  4. Cash-flow Management. ...
  5. Debt Consolidation.

Are mortgages good or bad? ›

Benefits of having a mortgage

Although your credit might take a temporary hit when you get your mortgage, over time, paying down the balance can help improve or maintain your credit score. A higher credit score translates to everything from better interest rates to more loan options.

What is mortgage debt to value? ›

A loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is a metric that measures the amount of debt used to buy a home and compares that amount to the value of the home being purchased. LTV is important because lenders use it when considering whether to approve a loan and/or what terms to offer a borrower.

How do millionaires live off interest? ›

Living off interest involves relying on what's known as passive income. This implies that your assets generate enough returns to cover your monthly income needs without the need for additional work or income sources. The ideal scenario is to use the interest and returns while preserving the core principal.

What are the advantages of bank debt? ›

Low Interest Rates: Generally, bank loans have the cheapest interest rates. The rates you pay will be cheaper than other types of high interest loans, such as venture capital. As Bizfluent says, bank loans offer significantly lower interest rates than you will find with credit cards or overdraft.

What are two reasons that a home mortgage would be a better type of debt than credit card debt? ›

Mortgage interest rates are typically lower than credit card interest rates, so consolidating this debt into your home loan could save you money. While there are downsides, such as losing some equity in your home, eliminating credit card debt can be your first step to more financial freedom.

Is mortgage debt better than credit card debt? ›

Although the principal on your new mortgage will be higher than your original loan, mortgages typically have far lower interest rates than credit cards do.

What are the advantages of debt to equity? ›

The major benefit of high debt-to-equity ratio is: A high-debt to equity ratio signifies that a firm can fulfil debt obligations through its cash flow and leverage it to increase equity returns and strategic growth.

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