Buying a home in Vermont
When purchasing a home in Vermont (or elsewhere), your biggest monthly expense will usually be the mortgage payment. But all buyers should remember that there are certain one-off costs that must be taken into account. For instance, there will be closing costs on your new mortgage that need to be paid upfront. These include:- Credit report charges
- Appraisal costs
- Title charges
- Escrow services
- Loan origination fees
- Monthly mortgage payments (principal and interest)
- Property taxes
- Homeowners insurance
- Homeowners Association (HOA) or condo fees: Though only if you buy within an area or building where those are charged
- Mortgage insurance premiums: Though only if your down payment was less than 20% of the purchase price (and remember, VA loans don’t charge continuing mortgage insurance)
Refinancing a home in Vermont
Vermont has laws governing mortgage refinance companies, but no special regulations for mortgage refinance customers. In other words, it's just as easy to get approved for a refinance here as anywhere else. Given Vermont’s high property taxes (the most recent census data placed the state at fifth highest in the nation), your main job may be to shop around for the best rate in a very competitive market. Getting the best interest rate can potentially help you save hundreds each month when you refinance. If you’re on a low- or moderate-income and need money for home improvements, you may be eligible for a loan, deferred-payment loan, or grant. These kinds of aid for homeowners are at the city level, and from sources like Downstreet (formerly the Central Vermont Community Land Trust). Availability and eligibility change by time and location, so it may be worth calling the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) to see if you’re in line for help. The VHFA also provides loans for some who wish to refinance a mobile home, but that must be located on your own land. Of course, most Vermont homeowners will want to refinance for the same reasons most Americans, namely to:- Free up some equity in the form of a cash-out refinance. You can use the money for any purpose, including debt consolidation
- Get a lower mortgage rate or monthly payment
- Cut overall borrowing costs by reducing the length of your mortgage, perhaps to 20, 15 or 10 years. But expect higher monthly payments if you do that
- Switch from an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) to a fixed-rate one