All About Greenville SC Real Estate

Buy With Cash or Get a Mortgage?

If you're thinking about buying a home, it's essential to know the pros and cons of both options: cash or mortgage. Well, it all depends on what you want out of your investment and what works for your lifestyle. Let's take a closer look at the two different types of homeownership and how they work to help you make an informed decision when purchasing a property.

What Is a mortgage?

Buying a home is one of the most important financial decisions you'll make in your lifetime. It can also be fraught with pitfalls and perils if you don't understand how mortgage lending works. But it doesn't have to get complicated — we're going to show you how mortgages work so that when the time comes, you know exactly what questions to ask and which route is best for your circumstances. 

A mortgage loan is a type of loan used by people who want to purchase real estate property, such as a house or condominium unit. The lender provides money upfront at closing (known as "funding") based on the borrower's creditworthiness, current home value, and other factors determined during underwriting. Then over an agreed-upon period, the borrower pays interest on the loan for as long as they have it. The borrower then repays the lender some portion of the principal to repay all or part of what was initially advanced to buy that property.

When Should I Buy in Cash or Get a Mortgage?

Many factors contribute to whether you should finance your purchase of a home, such as the interest rates and how long it will take for you to pay off the loan. You also need to consider what your plans are for once the home gets paid off. If you plan on staying in one place for a long time, buying with cash may make more sense because you don't have any ongoing costs associated with the property. However, if there is no guarantee that you can afford where you live now or know what your needs will be in five to 10 years from now, then getting a mortgage and investing in your future may be the best option. 

Pros and Cons of Buying on Cash vs. Getting a Mortgage

One of the main advantages of buying in cash is that you don't have to pay any interest. However, this isn't necessarily true when considering closing costs, property taxes, and utility bills for the first month or two until your house payment begins. Most people count these things when shopping around for a house, but they don't get included in the house's price.

Another advantage to buying on cash is that a house purchase will have no impact on your credit score, unlike when you take out a mortgage and make payments each month. You can get similar benefits from renting a house instead of owning one. Monthly rent payments don't affect your credit score, either. Another factor often overlooked when buying a house on cash is the difference between selling your home and being stuck in a loan you can't afford.