FOUR WAYS to BUILD EQUITY in YOUR HOME FASTER!
For most Los Angeles homeowners, their home is their single biggest financial asset. Building equity faster means you'll have more flexibility when it's time to sell, refinance, or leverage your home's value for your next move. Here are four straightforward strategies that work — and that I regularly discuss with my clients across the Westside and greater LA area.
1 -Give a little more each month. Add 10% to your mortgage payment each month. Make sure that 10% is being applied to your principal. In the long run, you'll pay your debt off faster and reduce the amount of interest you pay on the loan.
2- Split your payment in two. Contact your lender about splitting your monthly mortgage payment and paying every two weeks rather than once a month. The result is an extra house payment per year.
3- Get rid of PMI. If you purchased your home with less than 20% down, you may be paying Private Mortgage Insurance. Your goal? Get to that 20% as quickly as possible, and then check with your lender about getting the PMI removed. Here's a trick once you've done that, KEEP making that extra payment, but ask your lender to apply it to the principal.
4- Make smart improvements to your home. Certain improvements add to the value of your home, although it varies depending on your area. Contact me today for some clever ideas on which improvements pay off in the long run.
Building equity isn't just about patience — it's about being intentional with your mortgage strategy and your home improvements. In a market like Los Angeles, where property values can appreciate meaningfully over time, even small moves today can add up to significant financial gains down the road.
If you're curious about how much equity you've already built, I offer free, no-obligation home valuations for homeowners anywhere in the LA area. Let's take a look at where you stand.
Linda Benaddi | Los Angeles Real Estate Agent (310) 691-9982 | lindarealestatela@gmail.com
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