Seven Reasons to Buy a Home

Security

• A home has historically been a hedge against inflation. When you have a mortgage with a fixed rate, you know what your payments will be. When you rent, your budget can take a hit when the rent increases. A home can give your family stability and security because you can raise a family in the same neighborhood through the years.

Investment and Equity

• When you make payments toward your house, you are purchasing a major possession, whereas when you pay rent, you own nothing. If you are fortunate to buy a home that increases in value, which they historically do, you will have equity that you can tap into to make improvements, create a college fund or use for emergencies. Even in a down market, if you hang on to your home for the long run, it's a safe investment that is likely to grow.

Improvements

• You can make major improvements to your property and do with your home as you wish. If you move into a home with a pink tiled bathroom, you don't have to try to disguise it or work with what you have. Permanent improvements increase the value of your home and enhance the joy of living in something that's truly all your own.

Tax Shelter

• Owning a home provides numerous tax shelters that can significantly reduce your tax burden. You can use mortgage interest and property taxes as a write-off. If you use a portion of your home for business, your home office will also yield deductions, such as depreciation and some improvements. As a rule, the earlier you are into your mortgage, the more interest you may each month and the greater the tax break.

Low Interest Rates

• Compared to past decades, interest rates are at historic lows. The lower the interest rate, the more house you may be able to buy with a lower payment.

Garden

• When you own a home, you also own the property on which it sits. A garden or yard where you can relax, grill your dinner, plant roses or vegetables can be just as enjoyable as your abode.

Community Voice

• Neighborhood homeowners typically have a greater voice in policy-making than renters who tend to be more transient and not as firmly routed in the community. Issues concerning land development, local schools, zoning and traffic can be influenced by homeowners through neighborhood associations.