The Brussels Post, 1978-04-19, Page 33property values increase,
renters don't profit from
rising home prices, and they,
cannot take advantage of
many tax deductions avail-
able to home owners.
The critical point is to buy
that first home as early as
possible, the experts empha-
size. It may be necessary for
a newlywed couple to ar-
range financing with a ten or
even five percent down pay-
ment, rather than the corn-.
mon twenty percent.
Yet, despite the extra
costs, higher interest rates
and additional service
charges of mortgages with
lower dovin payments, early
home purchase decisions
help newlyweds hedge
against inflation. It is the
first step in the youthful
pair's road to a strong finan-
cial position.
What other strategies
should a young married
couple consider? The real es-
tate experts offer the follow-
ing tips:
• DO look for modestly
priced homes in good
neighborhoods. These
houses may have only two
bedrooms and old-
fashioned kitchens and
-baths, but they can be im-
proved to increase resale
value. •
• DON'T get in over your.
head. Be sure you aren't
caught with a home that
needs a new plumbing sys-
tem, furnace, roof or elec-
trical wiring.
•DO keep good records
and receipts for all youf
home's costs. Virtually
any expense that increases
the value of your home
and is 'passed along to a
new owner can be deduct-
ed from your profits on
resale to . reduce taxes.
Shutters, drapes, carpets,
dishwashers and re-
modeled bathrooms are
all examples of items that
can be deducted if sup-
ported by records. t
Decide early on
home purchase
Wedding costs:
who pays them?
12 ARIDA% SECTION
With marriage just
around the corner, do you
find yourself dreaming of
clapboard sidings and
gabled roofs? Cape Cod win-
dows and brass door knock-
ers? But, are you jolted out
of such reveries with the
words, "How can we afford
it?"
Dreams of home owner-
ship can become a reality for
today's newlywed couple,
with a little financial plan-
ning and a lot of elbow
grease.
As inflation spirals up-
ward, newlyweds — and
everyone else — are rede-
signing their personal
finances and investments to
help guarantee a solid finan-
cial future. One way is by in-
vesting' during the first year
of marriage in a small,
modestly-priced older home
that needs fixing up, accord-
ing to real estate experts
from RELO, a not-for-
profit nationwide network of
relocation specialists.
They say that young
wcoupla should depart from
the tradition of renting until
they've saved enough for the
down payment on their
dream house. In these times,
inflation will increase the re-
quired down payment by 25
percent in the next five
.years.
Instead, newlyweds are
advised to look .for a `start-
er" home in a well-estab-
lished neighborhood; an in-
vestment which should ap-
preciate at least as quickly
as inflation.
Young home owners also
reduce taxes through inter-
est payments on home mort-
gages. The mortgage pay-
ments, at the top of any
fathily's budget, are in effect
a forced-savings plan as the
couple builds up equity in a
new home.
But, newlyweds who post-
pone buying their first home
collect rent receipts rather
than build equity. As
Tradition has it that wed-
ding expenses are shared,,
among the bride, the groom
and the bride's family. Who'
pays for what?
The groom's wedding ring
and wedding gift are the
bride's responsibility, in ad-
dition to the presents for her r,
attendants, accommoda-
tions for out-of-town' at-1
tendants, her personal sta-1
tionery and her medical
exam.
The groom pays for the
marriage . license, his medi-
cal. exam, the bride's wed-
ding and engagement bou-
quets and going-away dor- '
sage, wedding party bouton-
. nieres, flowers. for both
mothers, gloves, ascots or
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ties for the men in the wed--
ding, gifts and accommoda-
tions for the best man and
.ushers, the fee for the
clergyman and the wedding
trip.
The bride's family shoul
ders many of the costs, in-
cluding the bride's wedding
attire and trousseau, invita-
tions and announcements,
photographs, church rental
fee, the costs of the organik;
soloist and sexton, aisle car-
peting, flowers for the
church, the bridesmaids'
bouquets and luncheon, the
entire cost of the reception,
and transportation for the
bridal party from house to
church and reception.