Rent or Buy?
There are some people who have not purchased a home because they are uncomfortable with taking on the obligation of a mortgage. You should realize that, unless you are living rent-free (such as in your parents’ basement), you’re paying a mortgage. Regardless whether you Rent or Buy, you are paying someone’s mortgage – either yours or your landlord’s.
As Entrepreneur Magazine, a premier source for small business, R. L Adams explained in his article, “12 Practical Steps to Getting Rich,”
“While renting on a temporary basis isn’t terrible, you should most certainly own the roof over your head if you’re serious about your finances. It won’t make you rich overnight, but by renting, you’re paying someone else’s mortgage. In effect, you’re making someone else rich.”
Christina Boyle, Senior Vice President and head of the Single-Family Sales & Relationship Management organization at Freddie Mac, explains another benefit of securing a mortgage vs. paying rent:
“With a 30-year fixed rate mortgage, you’ll have the certainty & stability of knowing what your mortgage payment will be for the next 30 years – unlike rents which will continue to rise over the next three decades.”
Rent or Buy
As a home owner, your mortgage payment is a form of ‘forced savings’ which allows you to build equity in your home that you can tap into later in life. As a renter, you guarantee the landlord is the person with that equity.
Interest rates are still at historic lows, making it one of the best times to secure a mortgage and make a move into your dream home. Freddie Mac’s latest report shows that rates across the country were at 3.94% last week.
Bottom Line
Whether you are looking for a primary residence for the first time or are considering a vacation home on the shore, now may be the time to buy.
(from http://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/en/?a=331591-e956e3da05580ddb18884dc0329c1fa6)