Buying vs. Renting Your Home Is now the right time for you to buy a home? You have many options to consider and choices to make. Buying a home is a big responsibility, financially and emotionally, but, most people want to own a home. Homeownership often is referred to as "the American dream." Why is it so special? Among the reasons: Real estate often is an excellent investment, perhaps the number one source of wealth-building for families. Owning a home has many benefits. When you make a mortgage payment, you are building equity - and that's an investment. Owning a home also qualifies you for tax benefits that may assist you in dealing with your new financial responsibilities - such as homeowners' insurance, real estate taxes, and upkeep - which can be substantial. But given the freedom, stability, and security of owning your own home, they are definitely worth it! Owning your own home also can be a great source of pride and stability. But homeownership may not be for everyone. It's a big financial commitment - starting with the initial shock of your purchase (including a "down payment" and fees paid to a real estate agent, the lender and others) followed by years of monthly mortgage payments, real estate taxes, property insurance and maintenance costs. When you decide to purchase a home, you accept responsibility for paying for these expenses. They are additional costs to your monthly mortgage payment and should be included in your budget estimates: Property Taxes and Special Assessments, Home/Hazard Insurance, Utilities, Maintenance, Home Owner Association (HOA) Fee if applicable. One of the advantages of renting is being generally free of most maintenance responsibilities and the flexibility of moving almost as soon as you decide. But by renting, you lose the chance to build equity, take advantage of tax benefits, and protect yourself against rent increases. Also, you may not be free to decorate without permission and may be at the mercy of the landlord for your housing needs. There are many considerations in choosing between renting and buying: Do you want to spend several years in a house and in a neighborhood? Do you enjoy lawn and garden work? Might you need to move suddenly to care for family? Do you want to keep your assets accessible in the bank, or do you want to invest long-term in a home? There are tax advantages to homeownership in both the short and long terms. The mortgage interest and real estate taxes are tax deductible, which allows you to subtract part of your housing-related expenses from your taxable income, which could reduce your tax bill. In many cases, the amount of money a renter spends on rent can be about the same as or less than the amount a homeowner spends on a mortgage. With the tax benefit for homeowners, the savings can be significant.

Buy vs. Rent: Pros and Cons . Advantages Considerations Buy Property builds equity Responsible for maintenance Sense of community, stability, and security Responsible for property taxes Free to change decor and landscaping Possibility of foreclosure and loss of equity Not dependent on landlord to maintain property Less mobility then renting Rent Little or no responsibility for maintenance No tax benefits Easier to move No equity is built up . No control over rent increases . Possibility of eviction

Buy vs. Rent: Cost Comparison The chart below shows a cost comparison for a renter and a homeowner over a seven year period. The renter starts out paying $800 per month with annual increases of 5%. The homeowner purchases a home for $110,000 and pays a monthly mortgage of $1,000. After 6 years, the homeowner's payment is lower than the renter's monthly payment. With the tax savings of homeownership, the homeowner's payment is less than the rental payment after 3 years. Yrs Rent Mortgage Payment Monthly Diff. After Tax Savings Yearly Diff. After Tax Savings 1 800 1000 -200 -50 -2400 -600 2 840 1000 -160 -10 -1920 -120 3 882 1000 -118 +32 -1416 +384 4 926 1000 -74 +76 -888 +912 5 972 1000 -28 +122 -336 +1464 6 1021 1000 +21 +171 +252 +2052 7 1072 1000 +72 +222 +864 +2664 8-30 . . Savings increase every year   The Market Insider                   The data on this page is consolidated from multiple sources and includes current listings, recent sales, and more. Whether you're a buyer or seller, the knowledge you gain will help put you in control of your real estate transactions. Call or email anytime to discuss how this information can benefit you!

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COMMUNITY INFORMATION

 Understand the difference between "listing prices" (what sellers are asking for) and "sold prices" (what buyers are willing to pay).

By comparing these price trends, you'll have a good idea of where the market is heading. The median listing and sold property prices are calculated based on the market activity each month.

Some sales are not immediately available from public records. As they become available, the data are updated.

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Information provided courtesy of Holli Washington-Keller Williams Realty

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