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Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Renting vs Buying A Home - Things to Consider

By Alexandria P. Anderson

You may have doubts in the home buying process if you have rented a property for several years. We will explore the pros and cons of both buying and renting a home in this article to help you finally decide which path to take.

Many potential homeowners simply don't take the first step towards home ownership because of the responsibilities associated with buying and owning a home. When you buy a home, you'll be responsible for more than your mortgage payment each month; home ownership involves paying maintenance costs, applying for homeowner's insurance, and paying taxes and fees. If you're interested in buying a condo, the process may be even more complicated. However,you can overcome this initial barrier that may be leaving you feeling overwhelmed - by understanding some basic principles of home buying.

The first thing you need to do is to list all payments attached to your prospective home. You can usually ask your realtor for information regarding average fees, maintenance costs and taxes. Place all information on a digital spreadsheet so you can compare costs for different homes quickly. Arranging all information you gathered in this way will also give you a precise calculation of a home's total purchase price and the monthly costs you have to pay.

Ilyce Glink, author of the book '100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask' clarifies that buying a home also means you're investing in your local community because you have to pay local community taxes, and other services that you won't have to pay for if you are renting in the same locale.

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.

You can estimate your real estate tax benefit by taking into account all your other tax benefits, deductions and current income level. As always, it is better to consult with a financial advisor or an accountant to help you in doing this.

Owning a home is seen as a long-term action. Going through the whole home buying process is just not worth the time, effort and money if you only intend to settle in a particular location for a few months or a couple of years. If you're not yet decided on where to settle in for the long-term, it might be better for you to rent a home on a monthly or yearly basis.

Owning a home is suited for people who can commit to settle in a city or neighborhood over the long-term. If you are serious about buying your own home, it would be best to decide on where you want to live or re-locate first in the long run. - 23212

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