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Q&A: When to keep a mortgage into retirement years and reasons you might want to pay it off

October 15, 2018 By Liz Weston

Dear Liz: My husband and I have no debt other than the mortgage on our home. My husband will retire in three years while I will continue to work. (I will have to pay for healthcare at that time, as I currently receive my benefits through his employer.) My husband insists that we pay our mortgage off before he retires. The mortgage balance is $59,000 now. We are able to do this, however, I am concerned that we will have no tax deduction whatsoever if we do. Who is correct?

Answer: You may have received some tax benefit in the past for your mortgage. After last year’s tax reform, it’s unlikely you’ll get any tax break going forward.

You have to be able to itemize your deductions to write off your mortgage interest. Now that Congress has nearly doubled the standard deduction, few taxpayers will have enough deductions to make itemizing worthwhile.

Even before tax reform, though, many homeowners got little or no tax benefit from their mortgages. They didn’t pay enough mortgage interest to make itemizing worthwhile, or their itemized deductions barely exceeded the standard deduction. The homeowners who got the biggest benefit were the ones with the largest mortgages. Even people with big mortgages tend to pay less interest over time as they pay down their loans.

Keeping a mortgage just for the tax break is kind of shortsighted, in any case, since you’re only getting back a fraction of what you pay out. For example, if you were in the 25% tax bracket, each dollar you paid in interest reduced your taxes by just 25 cents.

The best arguments for keeping a mortgage have to do with liquidity and investment returns. You shouldn’t pay off a mortgage if it means most of your money is tied up in your home, and if you don’t have enough other assets to cover emergencies and to generate future income. Also, some wealthier people opt to keep a mortgage because the loan is cheap, and they can make better returns on their money elsewhere.

Most people are better off without debts in retirement, though, so if you can pay off your home loan without compromising the rest of your financial life, you probably should.

Filed Under: Q&A, Real Estate, Retirement Tagged With: mortgage, q&a, Retirement

Friday’s need-to-know money news

October 12, 2018 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: How to keep investing when the stock market trembles. Also in the news: What to buy (and skip) on Black Friday, financial companies are hiding complaints, and how age affects your credit score.

When the Stock Market Trembles, Fight Your Fear and Keep Investing
Keep calm and invest on.

What to Buy (and Skip) on Black Friday 2018
Putting your Black Friday gameplan together.

Financial Companies Rack Up Complaints, but Good Luck Finding Them
Companies are hiding their complaints.

What does age have to do with credit scores? Plenty
A lot more than you’d think.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: age, Black Friday, consumer complaints, Credit Score, Investments, stock market

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

October 11, 2018 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: How to pay for college when you haven’t saved enough. Also in the news: Credit card payments evolve beyond mobile wallets, how one woman paid off $50,00 in credit card debt in six years, and taxes are due on Monday if you filed an extension.

How to Pay for College When You Haven’t Saved Enough
Time to play catch up.

Credit Card Payments Evolve Beyond Mobile Wallets
Pay with your watch.

How I Ditched Debt: Conquering College Credit Card Balances
How one woman paid off $50,000 in six years.

Your Taxes Are Due Monday If You Filed an Extension
Friendly reminder.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

October 10, 2018 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: How to know if paying for money advice is paying off. Also in the news: 5 inconvenient truths about real estate agents, the 10 fastest-growing metro areas, and Millennials are loading up on personal loans.

How to Know If Paying for Money Advice Is Paying Off
Calculating your return on investment.

5 Inconvenient Truths About Real Estate Agents
What to know before hiring one.

Home Affordability Watch: The 10 Fastest-Growing Metro Areas
The 10 fastest-growing metro areas, ranked from most to least affordable.

Not just student loans: Millennials are also loading up on this kind of debt
Personal loans are a favorite of this generation.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: financial advice, financial advisors, metro area, millennials, payday loans, real estate agents

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

October 9, 2018 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: 5 questions to ask before buying life insurance at work. Also in the news: Why credit cards should get another chance after you pay off debt, how not to get spooked by your credit card bill this Halloween, and setting up your financial accounts like you’re going to be hacked.

Answer 5 Questions Before Buying Life Insurance at Work
What to ask yourself before signing up.

Why Credit Cards Should Get Another Chance After You Pay Off Debt
The rewards are worth it.

This Halloween, Don’t Get Spooked by Your Credit Card Bill
How to avoid sticker shock.

Set Up Your Financial Accounts Like You’re Going to Be Hacked
Beat hackers to the punch.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: Credit Cards, debt, hackers, halloween, Identity Theft, life insurance, online accounts

How to fund college if you didn’t save enough

October 9, 2018 By Liz Weston

If college tuition bills are looming and you don’t have nearly enough saved, you have plenty of company. But you also have options for making it more affordable.

Four out of 10 families who hope to send kids to college aren’t saving for that goal, according to student loan company Sallie Mae. Among those who are, parents of children aged 13 to 17 have saved an average of $22,985.

That’s not enough to pay for the typical college education out of pocket. The net average cost for a year of college, after scholarships and grants were deducted, was $15,367 in 2017, according to Sallie Mae. That means a four-year degree is likely to cost over $60,000. The expense can, of course, be much higher since many elite schools now charge $70,000 a year or more.

In my latest for the Associated Press, steps to take now to secure an affordable education — and avoid crushing debt.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: College Savings, q&a

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