Buy or Rent – What’s Right for You?

A key reason many people choose to rent instead of buying their own home is their reluctance to sign their name to a long-term mortgage agreement. But when you come right down to it, very few of us can expect to go through life without paying the cost of a place of residence in one form or another. As a renter, you’ve probably already made a commitment to a fixed schedule of payments for housing – but instead of a mortgage, it’s a lease or rental agreement. In reality, rather than being a negative, one of the major advantages of a mortgage agreement is that payments can be locked in for an extended period—which can work in your favour. Since no one can guarantee what your rental payments may be three or even five years down the road, your mortgage agreement can actually protect you from the unexpected increases you may experience when you rent. 

Still, some people are intimidated by the large amount of debt that is represented by a mortgage agreement. Yet if you added up all the rental payments you could expect to pay over a space of many years, you may find that going the mortgage route is actually the more affordable of the two options. And at the end of the process, renters are left with nothing to show but a pile of receipts. With today’s low mortgage rates and some creative financing, the cost of buying a home may be lower than you think. I can show you how owning your own home may be more affordable than you ever imagined. 

While making mortgage payments may actually be more affordable than paying rent, let’s not lose sight of the biggest financial benefit of all. The simple fact is, when you rent, you’re building someone else’s ownership equity in the property where you live. On the other hand, when you buy a home, you’re making an investment in your future, while a portion of your mortgage payment builds personal equity for you. If you decide to sell sometime in the future, that equity is something you’ll take with you as you make your next move. 

Lastly, let’s not forget the creative freedom and pride of ownership that comes with owning your own property. When you buy, you decide about the home improvements and decor changes you want to make. You decide colour schemes and where to hang that favourite picture. And you’ll also earn the added equity that any such improvements may add to your home. Spending money to improve a rental property just puts value in someone else’s pocket. 

If you’re tired of paying off someone else’s mortgage for them, then why not call me for a no obligation consultation to help you find out how to make your dream of home ownership a reality.

Frank N. McCullough, M.Eng. REALTOR
MaxWell City Central
Phone: (403) 542-1799
Email: frankmc@creb.com