“A home is one of the most important assets that most people will ever buy. Homes are also where memories are made and you want to work with someone you trust.”
— Warren Buffett: Chairman and CEO, Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
Advantages To Home Ownership
Whether your are looking for more space to raise a family or the perfect place to make your own, there are many advantages to owning your own home, ranging from the purely personal to the very practical.
For many people, the motivation for home ownership is primarily financial. Owning your own home is a first-rate investment for a number fo reasons:
Scheduled Savings
When you buy a house, your monthly mortgage payments serve as type of scheduled savings plan. Over time you gradually accumulate what lenders call “equity,” an ownership interest in the property that you can often borrow against or convert into cash by selling the house. In contrast, renters must continue paying rent to a landlord for as long as they rent, without the opportunity to build equity.
Stable Housing Costs
Another advantage to home ownership is that while rent typically increases year after year, mortgage can remain unchanged throughout the entire repayment period. In fact, because of inflation, over the years you pay the same amount but with devalued dollars. So, what may seem like a substantial payment now will become very affordable after cost-of-living increases.
Increased Value
Houses typically increase in value, or “appreciate,” over time. It’s not unusual to find a house that sold for $250,000 15 years ago to be valued at much more than that today. This increased value is as good as money in the bank to the homeowners.
Tax Benefits
Homeowners also get significant tax breaks that are not available to renters. Most importantly, interest paid on a home mortgage is usually deductible. This factor alone can save you a substantial amount each year in federal income taxes.