Is owning a home right for you? At one point or another, this question pops up in everyone’s mind, and it’s important to weigh your options carefully depending on your personal circumstances and finances. To help you decide if owning a home makes the most sense for you, here are some of the main reasons people choose home ownership!
Good Investment
While home prices are constantly cycling, buying and staying in your house for a long time could result in an increase in value which also means a good return on your investment. According to the National Association of Realtors, data indicates that the median price listing grew by 17% and higher when evaluating year-over-year price growth from 2019 to 2021. Price increases, however, can also be linked to inflation and not a real appreciation of the value of the house. The biggest determining factor on home appreciation, however, will always be location!
Home Equity
Simply defined, home equity is the percentage of your home’s value that you own. When you subtract the amount you owe on your home loan from the total value of your house, the amount left over is your home equity. Instead of losing your rent payments to a landlord, your monthly mortgage payments allow you to invest in yourself and tap into that home equity down the road if needed. Home equity can be used to make home improvements, pay for education, pay off or consolidate higher-interest debts, use as an emergency fund, or take advantage of a smart financial investment.
Credit History
When you buy a house and consistently make your monthly loan payments on time, it demonstrates to other lenders that your risk of you defaulting on a loan is very low. This strong credit history will be helpful down the road when you apply for other loans like buying a car or making home improvements.
Your Home Your Way
Home ownership offers tremendous freedom to create the living environment that you have always wanted. You can own pets, paint rooms whatever color you like, make changes to floors and carpeting and do all the things that make a house your home – all without having to get approval from a landlord.
