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What are the Advantages of Homeownership?

By
Real Estate Agent with Nesbitt Realty at Condo Alexandria 0225-089134
Of course as a homeowner you’ll be responsible for maintenance and repairs on the house. As a condo owner, many of these responsibilities are handled by the condo association. Either way, you’re the type of person who has taken charge of his or her life. You can paint your wall any color you want. You don’t need your landlord’s permission to get a pet.
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As a homeowner you’re more likely to be a part of the neighborhood watch and the garden club. According to some studies, home owners are more likely to vote, and more likely to participate in local government activities. As a condominium owner you have become one of America’s landed gentry. According to the Rossi and Weber National Survey of Families, home owners possess significantly higher levels of self-confidence than renters.

Tax advantages are one of the biggest financial benefits of home ownership. The typical home owner that pays a $1,000 house payment will realize tax savings of about $120 each month. (As a general rule, most homeowners can deduct most or all of their interest payments on their home loan, property taxes and loan points, but check with your tax advisor about your situation.) What this means is that next year your rent won’t go up, but your liability will go down. Generally if you can afford the cash flow, it’s cheaper to buy than to rent. Because you’re a homeowner, you know what this means.

This increase confidence and wealth will have an impact on your family life as well. According to Boehm & Schlottmann, University of Tennessee, “Children of home owners are 59% more likely to become homeowners. Their children are also 25% more likely to graduate from high school and 116% more likely to graduate from college.”

As an owner, you’ll stop paying rent and you’ll start building ownership equity. A survey of consumer finance by the Federal Reserve Board found that the median net worth of most modest-income owners is almost $60,000 compared to less than $10,000 for renters in the same income group.

In many cases, your home will provide you with more privacy than rental living. For some, this means a quieter living environment, for others it’s the ability to have a grow garden, have a backyard barbecue or a build a garage. You’ll have the freedom to make whatever changes or improvements you like. Now that you control your living environment, you can make adjustments as your family changes or just as your personal taste dictates.

 

Comments(5)

John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Good morning Will Nesbitt.  You always offer the very best real estate advice.  I tell my home-buyers that are weighing the pros and cons of buying that renting is like burning each month.  When it's all said and done you have nothing to show for it except a handful of recipes.

Mar 25, 2014 03:32 AM
Robert Bob Gilbert
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Anderson Properties - Katy, TX
Your Katy TX ( West of Houston) Real Estate Expert

Hi Will, 

I like your list of home onwnership advantages. I agree if you can afford the casg flow owning always wins against renting. 

Mar 25, 2014 08:13 AM
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

Hi, Will...I wasn't aware of some of these statistics. It's amazing how home ownership changes things. 

Mar 25, 2014 08:56 AM
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Will. Let me count the ways. Outstanding job with your post, strong argument for home ownership.

Mar 25, 2014 07:47 PM
Chandler Real Estate Liz Harris, MBA
Liz Harris Realty - Chandler, AZ
#ChandlerRealEstateAgent

Home ownership is a solid foundation that this article helps to build. Thanks!

Mar 26, 2014 12:06 AM