Many of us dream of being homeowners, and buying our own house is often the ultimate dream. But how do we plan to pay for such a big capital purchase?  Are you considering paying with mortgage or cash?  Here are some thoughts on the benefits and practicalities of both to help you consider your options.

Buying a house: Paying with mortgage or cash?

When it comes to buying a house, there are two main options: pay for it in cash or take out a mortgage. Both have their pros and cons, but which one is the best option for you? Here’s a look at the benefits and drawbacks of each option:

1) Paying for a house with cash:

a) You’ll need to save up a lot of money first

One of the biggest drawbacks of paying for a house in cash is that you’ll need to save up a large sum of money first. This can take years, especially if you’re not making a lot of money. For example, if you’re buying a $200,000 house, you’ll need to have $200,000 saved up before you can purchase it.

Similarly, if you’re buying a house with cash, you won’t be able to take out a mortgage. This means that if you run into financial trouble, you won’t be able to use your house as collateral.

b) You won’t have to worry about making monthly payments

Another advantage of paying for a house in cash is that you won’t have to worry about making monthly mortgage payments. This can be a big relief, especially if you’re on a tight budget.

For example, let’s say you have a mortgage payment of $1,000 per month. If you can’t make your payment for one month, you’ll be charged a late fee. If you can’t make your payments for several months, you could even lose your house.

Additionally, if you’re paying for a house in cash, you won’t have to worry about the interest rates on your mortgage. This can save you a lot of money over the long term.

c) You may be able to get a discount

If you’re paying for a house in cash, the seller may be willing to give you a discount. This is because they won’t have to pay any real estate commissions or fees.

For example, let’s say you’re buying a $200,000 house. If the seller is willing to give you a 2% discount, you’ll only have to pay $196,000 for the house.

d) You’ll save on interest

When you take out a mortgage, you have to pay interest on the loan. This can add up to a lot of money over the life of the loan. For example, if you have a $200,000 mortgage with an interest rate of 4%, you’ll have to pay $8,000 in interest each year.

2) Taking out a mortgage:

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a) You have different options

When you take out a mortgage, you have different options. You can choose a fixed-rate mortgage or an adjustable-rate mortgage. You can even browse to find one that suits you best. You can research online on sites similar to this resource, or you can ask a financial advisor. Basically, with a mortgage, you have more options than if you were to pay for a house in cash.

For example, let’s say you have a fixed-rate mortgage. This means that your interest rate will stay the same for the life of the loan. This can be beneficial if interest rates go up. Similarly, if you have an adjustable-rate mortgage, your interest rate could go down.

b) You won’t need to save up as much money

One of the biggest advantages of taking out a mortgage is that you won’t need to save up as much money. For example, if you’re buying a $200,000 house, you’ll only need to have a down payment of $20,000.

Similarly, if you’re taking out a mortgage, you can use your house as collateral. This means that if you run into financial trouble, you can use your house to get a loan.

c) You’ll have to make monthly payments

One of the disadvantages of taking out a mortgage is that you’ll have to make monthly payments. This can be a burden if you’re on a tight budget.

For example, let’s say you have a mortgage payment of $1,000 per month.

If you can’t make your payment for one month, you’ll be charged a late fee.

If you can’t make your payments for several months, you could even lose your house.

The important thing is to make sure you can afford the monthly payments before you take out a mortgage.

d) You may have to pay mortgage insurance

If you’re taking out a mortgage, you may have to pay mortgage insurance.

This is an insurance policy provided by a mortgage title company that protects the lender if you default on your loan.

Mortgage insurance can be expensive, so you’ll need to factor this into your budget.

Final thoughts on buying a house – Mortgage or cash

So, what’s the best option? It depends on your individual circumstances. If you have the cash, paying for a house in cash can be a good option.

You won’t have to make monthly payments, and you may even be able to get a discount from the seller.

However, if you don’t have the cash, taking out a mortgage can be a good option. 

FURTHER READING FOR A NEW HOMEOWNER

At Housesitmatch.com we like to offer useful and practical articles on topics for our readers. In this selection we offer you a number of suitable pieces from our own blog on buying and preparing new home.

New homeowner mortgage – Prepare your application

New home features you didn’t know you would want

Ideas to help you establish a new home quickly

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