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The prevailing theory of the American Dream is to purchase real estate. If you buy a home, you are building on a solid future for yourself and your family. If you rent, you are just throwing money away and not investing in your future. But is that really the case? 

Not necessarily. If you are still in school, unsure about your job situation or not planning on staying in the area long, renting will be the best option for you in the long run. Renting allows you the freedom to pick up and move quickly for a new job opportunity. Renters are also not responsible for the repairs on a home which can add up quickly depending on how old the home is. And, depending on where you live, taxes are also a major expense that you don’t have to worry about if you are renting. 

Also, are you still living paycheck to paycheck? Unless you have an emergency fund and money set aside for a down payment and closing costs, renting is still probably the best option for you. Despite the possibility of an annual rent increase, rent is a steady monthly expense that won’t fluctuate unlike the costs of owning a home with the potential for extra repair costs throughout the year. 

On the other hand, if you do have savings set aside and you are planning on staying in your home for the next five to seven years, buying a home can have many benefits. Some people think of buying a home more like a savings plan that you are forced to pay into and you will eventually see the benefits in the form of equity. Buyers are also protected from the rising cost of rent and since your home will hopefully appreciate you can build more value in your home beyond just equity. Many people use the appreciation of their home to help them retire later in life – this works as long as your home does, in fact, go up in value. 

Also, in some real estate markets, it is cheaper to buy a home than to rent. If there are few rental options, the rent that can be demanded in your area will be higher than what a mortgage payment would be. As long as your home appreciates, your home will become one of your assets. Studies have shown that when comparing renting to owning over 6 years, on average, homeowners have a benefit over renting in tax savings after just three years and, if the rental payment increases by 5% annually, their mortgage payment becomes less than renting in six years.

While you are deciding to rent or own, it’s also important to find the right moving company at the same time. You don’t want to be frantically searching for a mover on your moving day. The most important thing you should keep in mind when looking for a good moving company is finding a company with a good reputation that has been in business for a while and is licensed and insured. If you do find complaints about the moving company, it’s always good to see how they were resolved and if the company was able to make the customer happy in the end.

Also, a good moving company will be able to give you a quote in writing that is the same as the one they gave you over the phone as well as tell you all the little things your quote will include. They will also be able to give you time frames for moving, if there are additional costs for moving you into a high rise with an elevator and if they can pack up your belonging for you.

There is a lot to consider when you are moving. Renting versus owning can have major impacts on your future finances if you aren’t careful and take a thorough look at where you are in life and what your current financial health is. Once you do, it should be any obvious choice what the best decision is for you.