By Brenda Long, Michigan State University Extension
One key to financial success is lowering your housing costs. Generally, about one third of money spent by the typical household goes toward housing. The less you spend each month on housing, including utilities and other fixed costs, the less financial stress you will feel. You’ll also have more money to save toward retirement or for discretionary “fun” spending.
Refinance your mortgage: Interest rates are still low, and worth taking another look. Use an online calculator to estimate how much you will save over the years. If your current mortgage payment is over 31 percent of your income, you might qualify for a loan modification to lower your payments.
Follow these links to determine if your mortgage qualifies:
- Cut your utility bills: Weatherproofing, thermostat settings, landscaping and water conservation can all make a difference. Check out No to Low Cost Actions to Save Home Energy and Money for specific information.
- Shrink your homeowner’s insurance costs: Look into paying a higher deductible to save yourself money. Ask about the many discount opportunities you might qualify to receive. Do a comparison shop of three companies. Insurance is necessary and it doesn’t have to be super expensive.
- Fight your property tax assessment: If you feel your property tax assessment is too high, or much higher than neighbors with similar homes, you can appeal to your local taxing authority and potentially save for years to come. Generally in Michigan, January or February is the time of the year to submit an appeal request and it is reviewed by a local review committee in March. Check for errors on your property record and prepare your case.
- Downsize to a smaller home: If your home is too large for your current needs, consider moving to a less costly residence to save money. A smaller home also could mean big savings on mortgage payments, utilities, maintenance and repairs.
Michigan State University Extension is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency and has many MSHDA-certified housing counselors at multiple county offices to assist you by phone or digitally. Find a staff person near you at mimoneyhealth.org. MSHDA-certified Housing counselors may be located as well.
This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).
