Renting vs. Buying Your Home - Benefits and Drawbacks
2:15 AM
If you've considered buying a home after renting an apartment or condo for several years, you will probably need to overcome several psychological barriers to become completely comfortable with the process.
Long time home renters might feel uneasy about the idea of buying their own home. This is because buying a home is much more complicated than the renting process. Homebuyers are obliged to apply for home insurance, pay for monthly home maintenance costs, and settle real estate taxes and fees. It might seem daunting at first, but anyone can be more comfortable with the home buying process by knowing more about it.
Ask your realtor for information regarding all payments involving homes you are interested in. Ask about maintenance costs, average fess and taxes and organize all information in a spreadsheet. Organizing these data will give you a bird's eye view of the total and monthly costs you have to pay for. It is highly recommended that you use a digital spreadsheet so that you can easily compare different homes side by side.
Buying a home also means you are buying into your local community, according to writer Ilyce Glink, author of '100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask'. Owning a home in a particular community may require you to pay for local taxes and other services that you do not have to pay if you are renting.
Owning a home usually offers a greater tax benefit compared to renting but this is dependent on your income level and your annual real estate property tax. You may need to research on the subject a bit to determine if you'll have a tax advantage by purchasing a home.
The idea here is to figure in all your deductions and current income level into the calculation of your tax benefits. You can ask an accountant or financial advisor for assistance in determining the exact tax benefit you'll get.
Finally, think about your future for the long-term. Are you intent on staying in a specific neighborhood for the next five years? For the next ten years? Where do you see yourself living 30 years from now? One of the biggest psychological benefits of renting is the 'temporary' mentality and ease of moving. Since you can choose to rent a place on a month-to-month basis, sign a short term lease or just renew from year to year, there is a sense of freedom involved with renting.
If you don't want to settle in a specific neighborhood, then buying a home might not be for you. If you are seriously considering to buy a home, then you need to decide where to settle in and, if ever, when and where you want to relocate in the future.
Long time home renters might feel uneasy about the idea of buying their own home. This is because buying a home is much more complicated than the renting process. Homebuyers are obliged to apply for home insurance, pay for monthly home maintenance costs, and settle real estate taxes and fees. It might seem daunting at first, but anyone can be more comfortable with the home buying process by knowing more about it.
Ask your realtor for information regarding all payments involving homes you are interested in. Ask about maintenance costs, average fess and taxes and organize all information in a spreadsheet. Organizing these data will give you a bird's eye view of the total and monthly costs you have to pay for. It is highly recommended that you use a digital spreadsheet so that you can easily compare different homes side by side.
Buying a home also means you are buying into your local community, according to writer Ilyce Glink, author of '100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask'. Owning a home in a particular community may require you to pay for local taxes and other services that you do not have to pay if you are renting.
Owning a home usually offers a greater tax benefit compared to renting but this is dependent on your income level and your annual real estate property tax. You may need to research on the subject a bit to determine if you'll have a tax advantage by purchasing a home.
The idea here is to figure in all your deductions and current income level into the calculation of your tax benefits. You can ask an accountant or financial advisor for assistance in determining the exact tax benefit you'll get.
Finally, think about your future for the long-term. Are you intent on staying in a specific neighborhood for the next five years? For the next ten years? Where do you see yourself living 30 years from now? One of the biggest psychological benefits of renting is the 'temporary' mentality and ease of moving. Since you can choose to rent a place on a month-to-month basis, sign a short term lease or just renew from year to year, there is a sense of freedom involved with renting.
If you don't want to settle in a specific neighborhood, then buying a home might not be for you. If you are seriously considering to buy a home, then you need to decide where to settle in and, if ever, when and where you want to relocate in the future.
About the Author:
Alexandria P. Anderson is a licensed MN Realtor that helps people to find and purchase Minnesota Condos as well as Condos for sale in Minnesota.
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