There’s no clear-cut answer to the question: should I rent or buy a home? The decision completely depends on your situation as both have benefits. Let’s look at some of the factors you should consider before making this huge life decision.

Factors to Consider Before Renting or Buying

The main factor to consider is how long you plan to stay in the home. If you won’t be staying for more than a year or two, renting often makes more sense than buying. However, if you plan to stay for at least three years, buying probably makes more sense.

Another factor to consider is your financial situation. Do you have the credit score, down payment, and income necessary to buy? If not, maybe renting while you clean up your finances makes sense.

Are you looking for flexibility? Another factor to consider is how much flexibility you prefer. Usually, renting only requires a one-year commitment, while buying may require a 30-year mortgage. While you can always sell your home, it’s not as easy as it might sound.

Advantages of Buying

Once you’ve considered the factors above, you can look at the advantages of buying a home compared to renting. Some of the main advantages include:

• No more paying a landlord and you’ll have a house you own once you pay off the mortgage
• If the home goes up in value you benefit
• Tax-deductible interest
• Renovate or change the property how you want
• Pride in homeownership

Of course, with advantages come disadvantages, as well. If you buy a home, you will be responsible for all the repairs and it does make it harder to relocate. You should also consider the expenses of HOA dues, taxes and insurance.

Advantages of Renting

While buying is preferred by most, when possible, renting does make sense in some situations. Some of the advantages of renting include:

• Easier to relocate
• No HOA dues or taxes to pay
• Low upfront move-in cost
• Not responsible for repairs
• Sometimes the monthly cost is lower

There are also several disadvantages to renting. You won’t be able to many changes to the property and you won’t gain any return for your payments. Rent can go up from one lease to another and the landlord may use cheaper materials when work is done than you would in your own home.

Sometimes, it’s not a matter of which is cheaper between renting and buying. Your situation will dictate which is best for you. Use the factors at the beginning of this article and consider your overall situation before deciding if it’s time to become a first-time homeowner or if you need to be a renter for a little while longer.

I would love to be part of your journey when the time is right for you. If you ever have a real estate question or need, or know someone who does, trust that you can turn to me 704-650-5707 | annagrangerhomes@gmail.com.