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The Front Porch Blog

Education on all things homeownership

Tax Incentives for Homeowners*

February 06, 2020 Industry News

The dream of homeownership comes with many financial incentives. These financial perks extend beyond the more obvious such as building equity and investing in your future, to the size of your tax return each year. Tax season is fast-approaching, so we thought it was a good time to cover the plethora of tax benefits related to owning a home!

Home Mortgage Interest Deduction

Homeowners who itemize deductions may reduce their taxable income by deducting the interest paid on their home mortgage. Homeowners are eligible to deduct interest paid on "qualified residence," defined as a taxpayer's main home or second home by the IRS. This interest can be deducted on loans up to $750,000. ($350,000 for a married homeowner filing a separate return)

Property Taxes Deduction

Deducting state and local property taxes is a major benefit to owning a home. Your state and local governments assess property taxes annually, based on the value of a property.  Property taxes paid at the state and local level are eligible for a $10,000 deduction, or $5,000 for married taxpayers filing separately. 

Mortgage Interest Credit

Lower-income homeowners who meet certain qualifications may qualify for a mortgage interest credit. This means by obtaining a mortgage credit certificate from your local government, you might be eligible to claim a portion of the mortgage interest you pay as a credit. This benefit only applies to new mortgages used for a taxpayer’s primary residence and the government entity must be contacted about obtaining an MCC prior to a borrower taking out a mortgage.

Mortgage Insurance Deduction

Should you secure a conventional loan and have a down payment that is less than 20% of the home’s purchase price, you may be required to pay for private mortgage insurance. 

The good news? PMI will be tax deductible through the end of the year. While this bill expired in 2017, an extension was placed through December 31st, 2020, meaning you can benefit if you already own a home. You may even qualify for filing an amended 2018 tax return!

There is a plethora of benefits to owning a home, but the above are some you may consider when filing your taxes for the April deadline. Get prequalified for a loan now to start taking advantage of these tax breaks for homeowners!