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Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Renting vs. Buying Your Home - Benefits and Drawbacks

By Alexandria P. Anderson

Buying and renting a home each has its own benefits and drawbacks. We will discuss the issues surrounding both home ownership and renting to aid you in deciding which path to follow.

Long time home renters might feel uneasy about the idea of buying their own home. This is because buying a home is much more complicated than the renting process. Homebuyers are obliged to apply for home insurance, pay for monthly home maintenance costs, and settle real estate taxes and fees. It might seem daunting at first, but anyone can be more comfortable with the home buying process by knowing more about it.

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.

Buying a home also means you are buying into your local community, according to writer Ilyce Glink, author of '100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask'. Owning a home in a particular community may require you to pay for local taxes and other services that you do not have to pay if you are renting.

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.

If you're not feeling settled in a particular city or neighborhood, buying a home may be causing a lot of anxiety. Make some solid decisions about where you want to settle and where you're willing to relocate to in the long-term so you can make the best decision about your new home. - 23199

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