It’s no secret a big part of home ownership will include how to manage your mortgage. Unfortunately, it’s easy to get caught up in the desire to own a home and end up making poor mortgage decisions. As home prices rise, new homeowners need to be careful when selecting mortgage plans. Choosing the right mortgage and managing it can be straightforward and uncomplicated with just a little planning.
How to Manage your Mortgage Like a Boss
Pick the Right Mortgage
The first part of how to successfully manage your mortgage is getting one that works for your financial situation. If you don’t fully know what you are getting yourself into, or aren’t happy with your mortgage plan, it will be more difficult to manage payments. Know if you want an Adjustable Rate Mortgage or a Fixed Mortgage and what that will mean for your payment planning.
Adjustable Rate Mortgages are becoming more and more popular, due to the lower interest rates they offer at the outset. Generally, ARMs have a fixed period rate of about five years, however, this means that the interest rate can change after that. Experts consider ARMs to be riskier than the more classic 30-year fixed mortgage. While they may start low, there is always the possibility for an increase.
Fixed Mortgages are just that—fixed. The rates will not change, and while the rate perhaps starts a bit high, there will not be fluctuation.
It’s important to consider all your options and decide what is best for you before settling on a mortgage. This will help keep you in control while you manage your mortgage and payments.
Make a Budget for your Other Expenses
Owning a new home is exciting. You want to make it your own, but buying lots of new furniture and electronics and updating appliances will only set you behind in your payments. Know the essentials you need to get at the start and you will find that the rest will fall into place as time goes on. Managing your mortgage will be much easier if you manage all the rest of your money too. This may mean that you avoid taking out other loans as much as possible for other payments. Personal loans, car loans, and credit card loans will only add to your monthly payments.
Stay on Top of your Payments to Manage your Mortgage
It sounds almost too simple, but staying on top of mortgage payments month to month is essential to managing your mortgage and ultimately, your money. Setting a personal plan to make sure those payments get made on time will keep you in control of your finances. While there may be a grace period depending on the mortgage you choose, falling behind will expose you to the risk of foreclosure.
Take a look at all of the payments and bills that your new home will introduce into your budget and make sure that you’re able to comfortably make these payments before buying a home and setting up your mortgage. Eliminating any surprises at the outset will keep you from falling into financial uncertainty later on down the line, and help pay off that mortgage faster!
A good way to ensure that you can make all your payments on time is to set aside a few extra months’ worth of expenses. Budget your monthly expenses and set aside a reserve of no less than 3 months. Should you fall into any financial troubles, you’ll still be able to make your payments and carry on as normally as possible for a short period of time.
Managing your mortgage may take some planning, but with just a little work, you will find it paid off more quickly and easily than you ever thought possible!
