With the burst of the housing bubble, credit crisis, and millions of foreclosures across the country, you may wonder if buying a home is such a good idea after all. However, it’s important to consider all of the facts. The important message to take away from these events is not that buying a home is a bad idea, but that you must be smart about buying your home.
The housing market, like every type of market, unavoidably has its ups and downs. That doesn’t mean buying a home is a bad investment. As a long-term investment, homeownership is still one of the best investments for individual households. Historically, real estate has consistently increased in value, despite shorter periods of depreciation due to local markets and/or national economic conditions. The data shows that homes generally appreciate about 5% per year.
Five percent may not seem like a great return on investment, but you have to think about it in the context of the situation. For example, let’s say you put 10% down on a $200,000 house. That’s a $20,000 down payment, or initial investment. At a 5% annual appreciation rate, your $200,000 home would gain $10,000 in value during the first year. Earning $10,000 on an investment of $20,000 is a whopping 50% return.
For further perspective, let’s say instead of spending that $20,000 on a down payment, you invested it in the stock market. With a 5% return, you would gain only $1,000 in profit.
So now you’re saying that a home may have a higher return, but that’s before you consider all of the costs of home ownership, such as taxes, etc. Well, think of it this way: your property taxes as well as the interest on your mortgage are both tax deductible. You can deduct those costs from your income, thus reducing your overall taxable income. In other words, the government is subsidizing your home.
It’s easy to get carried away with all of the economic reasons for home ownership, but it’s important to remember that not every reason is financial. Have you ever wanted to paint the walls of your apartment? Well when you’re renting, you can’t. Has anything in your apartment ever needed updating, but the landlord refused to do it? When you own a home, you can make the space yours in almost any way you want. And you benefit when you do home improvements, both financially and psychologically. Homes generally have more space, for storage, living, etc. than other living arrangements. Not to mention that you have space outdoors for barbecuing, pets, and kids. Owning your home carries with it a sense of pride, accomplishment, and even an elevated social status.
So when you’re considering buying a home, consider the broad range of benefits that owning a home can have. And always make sure you have an experienced real estate agent and loan officer to help make sure you’re getting a home that is right for you, both financially and psychologically.
Back to Table of Contents
DON'T MISS A NEW LISTING AGAIN! Register Now FREE AUTOMATED EMAIL UPDATES |
Barbara Jenness
|
Barbara Jenness | 904-823-0027 | Contact Me
203 Porpoise Point Drive - Saint Augustine, FL 32084
Copyright © 2018, All Rights Reserved
Barbara Jenness, ABR, e-PRO, GRI, TRC is a proud member of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network, a free online community to help real estate professionals grow their business. |
My real estate in St. Augustine
Barbara B. Jenness, P.A.
Providing a superior level of informed, professional real estate services to buyers and sellers in the coastal areas of Northeast Florida including St. Johns County
(Ponte Vedra, St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach, Vilano Beach, Porpoise Point, Crescent Beach), Duval County (Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach), golf course & gated communities (Turtle Shores, Marsh Creek, Palencia & World Golf Village), the St. Johns River areas of Fruit Cove, Mandarin, Orangedale, & Palatka including foreclosures.
e-mail: Barbara@BarbaraJenness.com
Barbara B. Jenness, P.A., Licensed Real Estate Broker
Materials and images on this website MAY NOT BE COPIED without my permission.
©2024, Northeast Florida MLS. All rights reserved.
The data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange ("IDX") program of the Northeast Florida Multiple Listing Service, Inc. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Barbara B. Jenness, P.A. are marked with the listing brokers name and detailed information about such listings includes the name of the listing brokers. Data provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. Barbara B. Jenness, P.A. does not display the entire Northeast Florida Multiple Listing Service, Inc. data exchange program database on this web site. The listings of some real estate brokerage firms have been excluded.
Any use of search facilities of data on the site, other than by a consumer looking to buy, sell or lease real estate is prohibited. The Corporation does not guarantee and is not in any way responsible for, its accuracy. Data maintained by Northeast Florida Multiple Listing Service, Inc. does not reflect all real estate activity in the market.
Information last updated on 2024-03-28 17:30:06.