Selecting a place to call home is one of the most important decisions people make throughout their lives. If you’re looking at a house to potentially live in, one question you may have is most likely: “Should I rent or buy?”. Here, we review several helpful pieces of information to help you decide what is the best choice for you and your family.
Renting a House
Renting a house can be cost-effective, save time, and provide tenants peace of mind. For example, depending on how your lease is structured, landlords are typically responsible for the following:
- General building and ground maintenance
- Lawn care
- Appliance repairs such as stoves, refrigerators, and all other major appliances
- Ensuring a quiet living environment
- Safety of the tenants by providing maintained locks, removing hazards, and screening all employees.
These things listed above alone save you money on having to hire repair services, and even if you’re someone who likes to do your own work you still save money on tools and equipment. In turn, it provides peace of mind for those living in the house and also saves a great deal of time not having to deal with as much upkeep as you would as an owner.
Buying a House
Most people believe that it is cheaper to rent a home, which is often not the case. Home Offer Solutions, an experienced home buyer in San Antonio, believes that purchasing a property at the right price should be your top priority. “If you buy a house too high, it doesn’t matter where the location is. You can still lose money!” When it comes to the financial aspect recent studies have shown that buying a property actually can save money in the long run.
A major factor is how long you plan to stay at the specific location. Say that you are staying in the house for 5 years vs. buying the house; you could save upwards of two thousand dollars a year! There are sources that you can go to online to help calculate the exact amount of savings in your specific area based on your income and location.
Read more about how much is my house worth?
Not only does buying a house save money over the years, but you can also rest easy knowing that your mortgage payment will not change if you lock in a fixed interest rate. Property rates tend to increase over time, so you can get a better deal if and when you decide it’s time to move.
Buying also allows you to make the house feel more “homey”. Renting can often prevent you from making changes to the living space. Here are some ways that buying a house can be beneficial:
- Ability to upgrade appliances
- Freedom with interior design
- Capability to change floors
However, if any of those fixtures or plumbing were to go out, the cost would fall upon you. That means more money and less time being able to spend time with the family.
The question still remains: should you rent or buy a house? They clearly both have their perks and downfalls. It comes down to what fits your and your family’s personal lifestyle and what you’re willing to spend the time and money on. Also, it can depend on if you’d like to plant your roots in a particular area. For people who are confident in that, buying may be your best option. If you’re a traveler who doesn’t want to stay in one place long or make a commitment, consider renting your next place.
