When Deciding To Rent Or Own Your Own Home
November 21, 2024
While renting offers relocation flexibility and lower upfront costs, homeownership provides a wealth of financial and personal benefits.
Depending on circumstances, owning can be financially better over the long run than renting. What should renters know about owning their own home instead of renting?
- Potential Equity Growth: Every mortgage payment means more potential equity in your home. The longer you pay your mortgage, the more equity you build.
- Tax Advantages: Depending on current tax law, homeowners can often deduct mortgage interest and property taxes. Check with a tax professional to learn more.
- Inflation Hedge: Real estate is generally considered a good hedge against inflation.
- Ability to Refinance: Some will refinance for a lower interest rate, others may refinance to cash out their home equity. The choice is yours.
Personalization and Freedom: One of the greatest joys of homeownership is the ability to personalize your space. Want to paint the walls a vibrant color? Knock down a wall to create an open-concept living area? When you rent, these options are less open to you.
Stability and Roots: Owning a home provides stability and permanence. You're not subject to lease renewals or rent increases, and you can truly settle into your local community.
Privacy and Space: Enjoy the peace of your backyard, create a home office tailored to your needs, or relish the freedom to spread out without sharing walls with neighbors.
How To Decide?
The choice between renting and owning is a personal one. Factors like your financial situation, lifestyle, and financial goals are important to remember when making decisions about renting. Essential questions about renting versus owning include, “How long do I plan to stay?” and “Am I truly ready for the responsibilities of owning a home?”
Renting may offer some a more flexible lifestyle, but homeownership means adding potential financial and personal benefits to your financial position.
FHA Loan Articles
April 30, 2025 In a previous post, we discussed why FHA borrowers should carefully consider whether paying for discount points truly serves their best interests, focusing on factors like short-term homeownership, opportunity cost, FHA mortgage insurance, and the prevailing interest rate environment. Discount points are an option for borrowers willing to pay a fee to lower the interest rate by a set amount. This is not right for all borrowers, and you don't want to pay for points you won't benefit from during the loan term.
April 29, 2025Are you considering buying a home with an FHA loan? You'll likely talk to your participating lender about FHA loan "discount points" – fees you pay upfront for a lower interest rate on your mortgage. The idea behind discount points is a straightforward exchange: you spend money today to reduce your interest rate. Typically, one point equals one percent of your total FHA loan. In return, your interest rate might decrease by an amount you and the lender agree upon.
April 28, 2025Home loans have various expenses that aren't apparent to a new borrower until much later in the process. What do you need to consider when making your home loan budget? It might not be complete without addressing some of the issues we cover here.
April 23, 2025 While the prospect of lower interest rates or more favorable loan terms can be enticing, there are situations where waiting is the better option. Refinancing without carefully considering your current financial circumstances is never a good idea, but careful planning in the current financial environment is even more important.
April 22, 2025First-time home buyers worry about loan approval, but there are important steps to take to increase the likelihood that the lender will approve their application for the loan or pre-approval. What do you need to know before you choose a lender?
