Homeownership has always been considered a huge part of the American Dream. However, as of late, many families have chosen to live their lives without paying a mortgage. But what they don’t know is that they might be missing some of the biggest benefits of homeownership.
If you’re sitting on the other side of the white picket fence debating whether to rent or buy your next home, read on for our list of 9 reasons why owning your own home is better than renting.
1.) Freedom
It’s a simple fact—when you own a home, it’s all yours. As a renter, it can be hard to customize your home exactly the way you want. But when you own your home you have more control over redecorating and remodeling. You can paint any room, install any cabinets and even knock down a few walls if you want. And if you’re an animal lover, your desire to have a furry companion won’t be thwarted by strict renting rules.
2.) It Can Be Cheaper
Although buying a home is more expensive at the get-go, it can actually be cheaper than renting in the long term. Depending on the low fixed-mortgage rate and how much you put towards a down payment, your monthly payment can be way less than how much you’re currently paying for rent. Plus, while landlords can raise your rent at lease renewal, your mortgage payment won’t go up—even if the market inflates.
3.) It’s More Stable
Buying a home is a big step towards putting down roots in a community. When you settle down in your own home, you’ll gain a sense of stability—especially since there’s no counting down until you have to renew your lease. And because you can’t be evicted, you’ll feel more relaxed knowing your home is yours until you decide to sell it.
4.) Appreciation Benefits
Unbeknownst to many, buying a home isn’t just a great investment in your future—it’s a great financial investment as well. As a home appreciates, it accrues faster than a stock might because you get the appreciation of the entire home’s value, not just the gain on your down payment cash investment. For example, if you purchase a $300,000 home with a $30,000 down payment and it appreciated three percent per year for three years, you would have gained $27,818 on top of the $30,000 you initially invested. That’s not too shabby if we do say so ourselves.
5.) Tax Benefits
In addition to appreciation benefits, there are also plenty of tax benefits that come along with buying a home. And it’s because homeowners are allowed to deduct mortgage interest and property taxes, up to $10,000, when they file tax returns each year. These tax deductions can actually save you hundreds of dollars a month, which makes owning the same as, or cheaper than, renting on a monthly basis.
6.) It’s More Energy Efficient
Yes, you read that correctly—owning a home can actually be better for the environment than renting. Because you can customize your home to your needs, you can add your own energy-efficient improvements like adding insulation, upgrading your air-conditioning unit or installing an energy-efficient roof. This means your eco-friendly lifestyle isn’t totally dependent on your landlord.
7.) It Can Help You Build Your Credit
Having a good credit score can make a lot of things in life a whole lot easier. And one way to help build up your score is by making a long-term investment—like purchasing a home. When you have a higher credit score, you’ll have more stability and, because of the equity built up in your home, you’ll also have a financial safety net.
8.) It Forces You to Save Money
Nothing helps you get better at saving money than hearing the words “20% Down Payment”. Anyone who has had to save money for a large purchase knows that it takes discipline to budget properly so that you can reach your goals faster. Studies show that homeowners are more financially responsible because they’ve made that huge effort to save money for a down payment on their dream home. In fact, this study from Canadian mortgage insurer Genworth shows that 65% of homeowners pay their credit card balances each month, 25% pay more than they are required to on their mortgage, and 44% prioritize saving money along with paying their monthly bills.
9.) It’s All Yours
When you own your home, there’s a feeling of pride and accomplishment that comes with it. You worked incredibly hard and the moment you hold those keys in your hand is well worth it. And while there are plenty of benefits to renting, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of owning the place you call home.
Welcome Home
Have you made the decision to buy a home? Let us help! Give us a call and we’ll connect you with one of our helpful agents. Or take a look at our Advanced Search Tool to narrow what you’re looking for in your dream home.