The Buyer's Guide to Real Estate

Making The Decision To Buy Rather Than Rent A House

Making the decision to buy a house requires careful consideration of the economy and housing trends. In certain situations, renting might be better than buying. However, owning real estate has always been one of the best ways to build wealth over the long term since homes tend to increase in value. Here are some pointers to consider when deciding if you should rent or buy.

How Long You Plan To Stay In The Home

If you plan to stay put for several years, buying a house could be a better option than renting. If you'll just be staying for a year or two to finish school or take a temporary job, then you may not want to be burdened with home ownership and you may not own the house long enough to make a profit. Still, it's certain you'll lose all the money you spend on rent, so you need to carefully weigh the cost of home ownership against the cost of renting if you want to base your decision on financial profit or loss.

You Want The Freedom Of Ownership

If you like to change paint colors and make other improvements frequently, you'd probably enjoy owning a home so you're free to do what you want with the property. If you like to work in the yard, plant new flowers, add features to the home, and make the house truly yours, then buying makes more sense because you don't have freedom to do those things when you rent. Even if your landlord allowed it, you'd be wasting your money. If your improvements increased the value of the house, your landlord is the only one who would benefit from it. 

You Want The American Dream

If you've always believed that home ownership was the American dream and a sign that you've become successful or that you're on the track to financial success, then buying real estate is important to you. Still, you need to make sure your finances are ready before you start looking at homes for sale. Buying a house is a big financial step that will have repercussions on your finances. Ideally, a home purchase helps you grow your wealth over the years, but if you buy before you're able to handle the mortgage payment, cost of repairs, insurance, and taxes, then the home could cause a financial crisis.

There are many advantages to owning a home, so if you're like many people, you'll want to buy a house as soon as you are financially stable. Watch the local market, follow real estate listings, and monitor the economy so you buy a house at the right time and find a home you love.