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Estate Glossary
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Real Estate Success Tips
Why Buy A Home When You Can Rent?
Renting a home has its
advantages: you can move without selling a home first; you don’t have to make
the repairs, nor do you have to pay property taxes. But something is
missing. You lack a sense of security and ownership, or maybe it’s just the
simple fact that the money you work hard to make is thrown into the wind as rent
payments each month.
Whatever the case, you’re now in a spot where you want to take a step away from
renting. But, you also wonder if there really are advantages to owning a
home. Let’s explore the advantages.
Home Ownership Has Tax Advantages
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You may be able to exceed
the standard yearly deduction, since the U.S. government permits tax
incentives for homeowners. Check to see if your state offers that
benefit. |
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You receive a tax deduction
for the yearly interest on your primary and vacation home – equaling a large
amount of your total payments for the first several years. |
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You can deduct the total
amount of your yearly property tax bill. |
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If you choose to refinance
in order to consolidate other debts, your home equity loan interest is tax
deductible. |
Homeowner’s Cost of
Living Is More Stable
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If property taxes and
insurance go up, your monthly payments may as well, but the increases happen
gradually. |
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Renting fees can often be
more unpredictable. |
Your Investment
Appreciates
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Most real estate increases
value over time. If you carefully select your home and treat it well,
your home will be worth considerably more in just five years. |
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Your first investment in
the house may be small, even three percent or less, but as the home
appreciates in value, you are the one who benefits – not the bank, nor your
landlord. |
Each Month Your Equity
Grows
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Even if the first few years
of monthly house payments primarily cover interest, you are also paying more
towards the principal amount each month. |
You Have Control
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The house is yours. |
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You can paint and decorate
it as you wish. |
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You can put nails in the
walls and hang pictures and artwork wherever you desire. |
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You can have a pet without
consulting anyone else. |
Renting Has Some Benefits
Renting definitely has benefits that
cannot be overlooked. You can usually walk away from a rental at little to no
cost with a 30 days notice. Renting costs also appear to be less per month. And
you may not have to deal with the cost of utilities breaking or mess with mowing
the lawn and keeping up the flowerbeds.
However, renting has deficits.
In the end, you will have nothing but receipts to show for the money you poured
into renting. Rent payments also elevate with inflation, where mortgage payments
are fixed. Your redecorating and renovating options are limited when you rent,
and even if changes are made, the landlord is the one that benefits. Your fear
of not being able to pay the mortgage bill equally applies to renting because a
lack of money in either situation means no roof over your head. Either way you
have to pay someone for a space to occupy. And even if you have the money to pay
rent, your landlord may ask you to leave for any given reason; after all, he has
the ability to kick you out.
Even the thought of purchasing your first home can be
overwhelming for renters. But the old saying remains true, “When you’re renting,
you’re just throwing your money away.” The largest part of your paycheck will
either go toward your mortgage or to your landlord. Maybe the time has come for
you to start investing your hard earned dollar into a home. Think about it this
way, buying a home is like putting money into a savings account.
The three main factors that you need to take into
consideration when deciding to buy or rent are monthly expenses, rate of the
property’s appreciation, and length of term that you plan on staying in that
home.
First, realistically choose an option that you could rent and
an option that you could buy. Then, sit down and list the expenses you will have
for renting. Do the same for buying so that you can compare them objectively.
Next, find the appreciation rate of your desired home to try
and determine what the home’s value will be in the future. This will help you
see how your money is truly being invested. Check Case Schiller for the tables
that show changes of house prices in your region.
And the last major factor that only you can determine is how long you plan on
staying in that residence. Six months? Six years? 40 years? The longer you
desire to hold a home, the less appreciation you need in order to beat renting.
What are the Advantages of Buying a Home?
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On average, home prices
have gone up 7% over the last 30 years, making home buying a great
investment. |
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Your mortgage interest and
real estate taxes are tax-deductible. So before the government takes taxes
out of your paycheck, your house payment is subtracted, allowing them to
only tax what remains. This saves you a lot of money. |
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Your mortgage interest and
real estate taxes are tax-deductible. So before the government takes taxes
out of your paycheck, your house payment is subtracted, allowing them to
only tax what remains. This saves you a lot of money. |
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Your mortgage payment is
fixed, rather than following inflation like renting. |
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Interest rates are the
lowest they have been in thirty years, making now the ideal time to invest. |
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You will be able to enjoy
the sense of ownership. |
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You have the freedom to
renovate and decorate as you wish. |
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Over time your mortgage
balance decreases and equity builds. |
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You have stronger property
rights, which gives you more privacy and control over who enters your home. |
Don’t Have Money for the Down Payment?
There are programs available for first-time homebuyers that meet all sorts of
needs and offer incentives. Some programs offer down payment or closing cost grants.
Others give discounts on monthly house payments, which can save you thousands of
dollars. There are also programs that offer money for the down payment at zero
interest, allowing the homeowner to pay off the owed balance when they sell the
house.
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