Real Estate Companies

Should You Buy a Home or Just Keep Renting?

For a long time, conventional wisdom seemed to be that you grow up and buy a home because that’s just what you do. But lately, people are realizing that it isn’t always the smartest financial move. Obviously, the housing crisis has a lot to do with that—it’s made people question the standard assumption that homeownership equals financial stability.

Homeownership isn’t a good or bad idea on its own. It has everything to do with your own situation. Sometimes, buying a home is the smart thing to do; other times, it really isn’t. Whether or not it’s smart for you will depend on a few different factors. Here’s what you should keep in mind.

The biggest argument for owning a home is that it’s an “investment.” But a lot of people tend to overestimate the return on this investment.

People tend to believe that homes are appreciating assets, but this isn’t always true. Overall, the housing market doesn’t have a great long-term return. It barely outpaces inflation, in fact.

Displaying 1 - 23 of 23
Allegiance Real Estate Services, 128 John King Rd Ste 14, Crestview Fl 32539

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Apd Properties, 4820 Mosley Ln N, Crestview Fl 32539

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Assurance Realty Of Nwfl, 836 N Ferdon Blvd, Crestview Fl 32536

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Building America Realty Services, 103 S Wilson St, Crestview Fl 32536

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Dewise Realty, 4677 Palmetto Ct, Crestview Fl 32539

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Divine Realty Connections, 2108 3rd Ave, Crestview Fl 32536

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Eagle Realty Professionals, 125 Louise Dr, Crestview Fl 32536

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Gottier Group, 210 S Main St Ste 104, Crestview Fl 32536

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Gulf Coast Realty Of Nw Fl, 102 Brian Dr, Crestview Fl 32536

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House Agency, 301 S Ferdon Blvd, Crestview Fl 32536

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Hub City Properties, 5505 Kiowa Pass, Crestview Fl 32536

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J Watts Properties, 308 W James Lee Blvd, Crestview Fl 32536

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King Lake Realty, 43 Laird Rd, Crestview Fl 32539

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Mel Parker Realty, 4403 Lakeview Dr, Crestview Fl 32539

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Mildred C Heaton Realty, 750 Industrial Dr, Crestview Fl 32539

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Mossy Head Realty & Auction, 644 Deshazo Rd, Crestview Fl 32539

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Moulton Realty, 891 S Ferdon Blvd, Crestview Fl 32536

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Red Boat Realty, 204 N Main St, Crestview Fl 32536

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Re\max Agency One, 301 S Ferdon Blvd Ste A, Crestview Fl 32536

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Rick Epperson Realty, 419 Christopher Dr, Crestview Fl 32536

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Southern Key Properties, 521 E Cedar Ave, Crestview Fl 32539

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Spence Properties, Po Box 1925, Crestview Fl 32536

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Teel & Waters Real Estate Company, 499 N Ferdon Blvd, Crestview Fl 32536

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Over the past 100 years, home prices have only grown at a compound annual rate of 0.3%, adjusted for inflation. The S&P 500, on the other hand, has had an annual return of 6.5%. That’s a big difference.

While that single real estate asset might help protect you against inflation, a well-balanced stock and bond portfolio seems to be a better investment. But a lot of people’s portfolios are mostly made up of their home value. You wouldn’t put 80 percent of your portfolio in a bond simply to protect against inflation (unless maybe you were nearing retirement) so why would your home make up that same amount? That’s the argument against buying a home as investment.

When making the decision it is important to understand that buying a home might not be a great financial investment and to not forgo all of your investable assets in order to purchase a home because you are really purchasing a right to housing and not a long-term investment designed to generate income.

Most experts agree that while housing is an investment, it’s not a great investment. So if this is your only basis for buying a home, it’s probably not the best one.

Decide How Much You Can Afford: In deciding whether you can afford to buy, you’ll have to figure out how much home you’re planning on buying in the first place. One rule of thumb for figuring out this number: your home should cost no more than 2.5 times your salary. Of course, this just gives you a ballpark figure. It doesn’t consider your net worth.

Weigh the Opportunity Cost of Renting Versus Buying: While your home might not be the best investment, in the end, it’s still yours. Even if it barely outpaces inflation, at the end of the day, you own it, and that’s worth something. When you rent, you own nothing—the money is given to someone else. So lots of people argue that you should own a home because one day, you’ll pay that home off and it’ll be yours, rather than continuing to pay rent for the rest of your life.




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