Rent Or Buy?

Do you remember the #1 of "Top Ten Signs That It's Time To Own Your Own Home"?

When you say you are "going home", you want to really mean it!

Call me an idealist, but I think that home ownership is at the very core of what makes us an integral part of this country.

So, if you are ready to buy and are a first time homebuyer, this is for you. You can check how you'll benefit using this "Rent Vs. Buy Calculator". Though these two do not compare at all, what do you think? Should you rent or buy? Let's start the countdown…

10. When you rent, you should be happy with landlord's choice for color of your kitchen, living room and bedroom, too.

9. When you own a home, your personal style will tell the world who you are. You are free to change the décor and landscaping of your home. You are free to decorate exterior for Christmas without permission.

8. When you rent, you may not be able to protect yourself against rent increase. Do you remember the day how you felt when you received the notice of rent increase from your landlord? Is it a 30-day notice or what?

7. When you own, mostly, your monthly payments are consistent. It's YOUR home!

6. When you rent, you are free of most maintenance responsibilities. Do you recollect the day it snowed, the snow-removal squad cleaned up the parking lot but you still could not take your car out because…

5. When you own, you have a pleasure of putting up a vegetable garden in your backyard or a tiled walkway to your main entrance. And yeah, snow removal from your driveway - if you have one.

4. When you rent and make a rent payment, that's it!

3. When you own a home and make a mortgage payment, you build equity in your property. And that's an investment. There is a possibility that the value of your home will go up over a period of time.

2. When you rent, the tax savings go to landlord.

1. Purchasing a home provides a homebuyer with valuable tax savings. Mortgage interest, property tax and other payments associated with financing a home can substantially reduce the tax obligation to federal government.