The Advantages of Owning vs. Renting a Home

For many Americans, homeownership is a big part of the American dream. Of course, home ownership isn’t all sunshine and roses—it’s a big financial commitment and a whole lot of work. This makes purchasing a home one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make in your life. If you’re currently at a time in your life where you’re renting and are considering buying a home, it’s very important for you to weigh whether or not this is the right decision.

As part of your consideration, you should consider the many advantages that come with homeownership over renting a home. Here are just a few examples of these advantages, from a real estate attorney in Miami, FL:

• Investment considerations: Homeownership is more than just a practical decision for how you’ll live your everyday life. It’s also a major potential investment, as homes will generally increase in value over time. You’ll continue to build equity, providing the opportunity for gains and a nest egg for the future. The money you pay in rent is not at all a financial investment—you’re just writing a check to a landlord each month, and that money isn’t being put toward anything or growing in any way.
• Predictable costs: Your costs over a long period of time are going to be more predictable than renting, because you’ll be paying a set price based on a fixed-rate mortgage. When renting, your landlord could choose to raise the rent at any time in accordance with the terms of your lease, so you can’t plan for the future in quite the same way you can with a home you own.
• Tax deductions: The money you pay in interest and property taxes each month with your mortgage payment may be tax deductible. You do not have the same sort of deduction opportunities with a rental property that you have with a property you own.
• Greater privacy and individuality: Homeownership offers you greater privacy because you’re likely not sharing the property with other people. Compare this to an apartment complex, where there may be dozens or even hundreds of other people all living in the same building. You don’t have to share facilities, and you can do whatever you want with the property without having to get a landlord’s approval. This means you can go wild with all the crazy home improvement DIY projects that you’ve been dreaming up for years!
• Sense of pride: When you’re a homeowner, there’s a sense of pride that keeps you tied to your community. You’re part of a larger community of homeowners in your neighborhood, which will likely encourage you to care about your contributions to the community and how you keep up the appearance of your home and property.

For more information about the various benefits of homeownership over renting, we encourage you to contact a real estate attorney in Miami, FL at the office of Ruben J. Padron, PA. We’ll be happy to offer you any advice we can as you prepare to make this big decision!

Categorised in: Real Estate Attorney