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6 Advantages
of Renting Versus Buying
The decision to rent or to buy is a common dilemma for
most adults. But the current economic conditions place buyers in a more
advantageous position than renters because it’s now actually less expensive (38%
cheaper) to buy a home than it is to pay a landlord rent. If paying less for
the place you call home is not enough to lead you down the path to home
ownership, then we’re here to help you better understand with 6 advantages of buying vs renting.
#1 Equity Each payment you make towards the principal of your home
loan every month increases your equity; the percentage of your home that you
own. When you are renting you are actually paying off your landlord’s mortgage debt
and increasing their equity in the house.
#2 Rent Goes
Up No landlord reduced your rent,
right? As a renter you are at the mercy of your landlord. Rent typically goes up every year. However, mortgage
payments can remain the same with a fixed rate loan.
#3 Tax Break
When filing tax returns, you can
claim mortgage interest as a deduction. Rent payments are not deductible from income
taxes.
#4 Your
Personal Touch When you rent, you
live in a space not designed for you and without your personal touch. You don’t
have the opportunity to select paint colors, remove or add a wall or take any
sweat equity with you. When you own your own home you can make improvements to
your property based on what you want. You can paint walls any color you want, update
the kitchen, and add those special touches to your house to make it feel like
home. Renters don't have any long term benefit from investing time, money or
sweat equity into someone else's property.
#5 Appreciation As a homeowner you typically can gain from the
appreciation on your home. Repairs
and upgrades (those personal touches) to your home (especially kitchen and
bathroom renovations) tend to add value to your home. This is why homeownership
is considered the best long-term investment any individual can make.
#6 Pride of
Ownership There is a
great deal of pride, comfort and stability in owning your own home. Homeownership gives you a joy and happiness
that’s hard to describe. But some of the highlights of homeownership is having
privacy, entertaining friends and family, having pets without paying a deposit,
and the freedom start to your own garden, if you like. |