RENTING vs OWNING

Which do you think is better?

For the most part it is better to buy a home than to rent but not in all cases.

TAX BREAKS There are tax breaks that you can take advantage of when you purchase a home that you would not get when renting. All the interest that is paid during the year from buying a house can be claimed on your taxes which will give you money back. When renting a house or apartment, you can not claim this on your taxes.

If you plan on a short term stay like a year or so then renting may be the right choice for you. Renting may also give you a lower monthly payment versus a mortgage + taxes & insurance.

If you decide to rent instead of buy, always continue to save.

The primary reason that buying is better than renting is simply because in most cases you can lock in your monthly payments for 15 or 30 years. (If you kept renting you'd pay more each year.) The other benefit is that your house gets more valuable over time.

Freezing your monthly payments is where the real benefit is. If it were not for this, it would make more sense to rent. This is the gem that makes home buying worthwhile.

If renting is just for you, then make it really work for you by taking the money that you would have spent on a down payment or monthly mortgage payments and invest it into something like a socially responsible mutual fund.

Here is an overview of Renting vs Buying

Buy vs Rent Comparison Chart

Advantages Considerations
Buy

Property builds equity

Responsible for maintenance

Sense of community, stability, and security

Responsible for property taxes

Free to change decor and landscaping

Possibility of foreclosure and loss of equity

Not dependent on landlord to maintain property

Less mobility than renting

 
Rent

Little or no responsibility for maintenance

No tax benefits

Easier to move

No equity is built up

 

No control over rent increases

 

Possibility of eviction