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Today's Mortgage Rates in Alabama

Today’s mortgage and refinance rates plus current home buying and refinance advice for Alabama residents

Buying a home in Alabama

Buying a home in Alabama can be a very affordable proposition. According to Business Insider, it was the fifth least expensive state in the U.S. in which to buy a home. That's reason enough to start singing "Sweet Home Alabama" if you're a prospective home buyer. But there are things you need to be aware of if considering becoming a homeowner in the state. Alabama is a "caveat emptor state," which translates as "let the buyer beware." The onus is on the buyer to know what he or she is buying. The seller has no legal obligation to advise the buyer of any known issues. There are of course a couple of exceptions to this rule:
  • The seller must inform the buyer of safety or health risk. An example of this would be if a seller knows the property contains asbestos or has been decorated with lead paint. Under Alabama law, the buyer would still have to prove that the seller knew these items posed a direct threat to health or safety, which may be difficult
  • The seller must answer questions about defects. For instance, if the buyer asks about pest infestations and the seller does not disclose the termite infestation that was removed six months earlier, that would be against the law. The buyer could have a case against the seller in court, but it’s always easier to do your due diligence before you buy and avoid the situation entirely

Refinancing a home in Alabama

As in most other states, there's nothing in Alabama law that's likely to bother those wishing to refinance their mortgages. Many legislators in the state favor light-touch regulation, at least for financial products. If you want to be clever, you may be able to dodge some mortgage recording taxes when you refinance, according to Practical Law Real Estate. These cost 15 cents for every $100 of the loan amount (Ala. Code § 40-22-2). But you may be able to pay that only on the new money, if any, you borrow with a refinance, even if you're using a different lender. Unfortunately, there's a tricky condition on that tax relief: It only applies if the maturity date (the day on which your existing mortgage should be paid off) isn't extended. So if your existing 30-year mortgage has 25 years left, and you want to refinance to a new 30-year mortgage, you won't be able to escape the recording tax. But opt for a 15-, 20- or 25-year loan and you may be able to. This is all a bit complicated (and might, of course, change) so talk to a specialist attorney or other professional before you rely on that.

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