Rent versus buy
I’ve long believed the purchase of a home was more a lifestyle decision than an investment decision. When you read the headlines about real estate appreciation in various parts of the country, you don’t often hear about the hidden costs of home ownership, most prominently maintenance and property taxes.
Another fact to consider, If you’re selling a home in a high value market, chances are you’re buying a new home in the same market, which diminishes the financial gain. Sell high, buy high. Unless you’re downsizing or moving to a more affordable market, any gains from your current home will be nullified due to the high cost of your new home.
Having just completed my income tax return, I was vividly reminded of those hidden costs of property taxes and maintenance. In my case, property taxes were among my highest expenses last year, second only to private medical insurance premiums. Property maintenance was also near the top and those are not tax deductible.
We are in our third owned home. While twenty-somethings, we rented apartments when just starting out, and I look forward to becoming a renter again in retirement.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/should-you-buy-home-5-things-do-first-charles-schwab-b1kvc
Proverbial Living 