To Buy or Not To Buy? That Is The Question…
With property prices continuing to soar, more people are questioning the decision to buy, resorting to a life of renting instead. Both have their pros and cons. If you’ve been wondering whether or not to buy a home, this guide may be able to help.
Most people can’t afford the down payment
Most people aren’t in a position to buy because they don’t have the savings to make a down payments. Even the cheapest down payment on a property is likely to be more than most rental deposits. There are now help-to-buy schemes and other forms of savings but these require discipline and patience. If you’re lucky to already have the savings behind you, it could be easier to make the decision to buy. After all…
Buying can be an investment
A property in the right area may naturally rise in value over the years without even spending any money renovating it. For many people, this can be an extra pro to buying. However it does require a certain grasp of the property market, as well as knowing which areas are likely to be up-and-coming. Sites like Apartmentser can help to weigh up the risks of such an investment. The worst things that could happen is for the value of your property to decrease, in which case renting in such an area could be better.
Buying does come with responsibilities
In a rental property, it’s the landlord’s responsibility to make many repairs. In an owned property, you are in charge of this maintenance. That said, you do have more freedom to make renovations.
A landlord can sell a rental property at any point
In most cases, buying can be a more stable option. A landlord of a rented property is in their right to sell the building, so long as they give you a certain amount of warning first. In an owned property, you make the decision when to leave. You don’t have to wait until a tenancy is over and don’t have to be pushed out by a landlord looking to sell up.
Monthly mortgage payments can be less than rent
Many landlords charge enough rent to cover their monthly mortgage payments. Consequently, you’ll likely be paying much less each month on a mortgage than you would on a rented property. Interest may cause rates to gradually rise, but rental rates are always rising too to meet these interest payments. It’s worth using sites like Propillo to calculate how much you can borrow and the monthly payments so that you can weigh up the costs.
However, you do have to persuade lenders you earn enough
It can be much harder to obtain a mortgage than a rental agreement if you have a shaky credit history. Some lenders may outright refuse to offer you a mortgage. There are ways that you can convince lenders you’re trustworthy such as taking out credit building loans or buying with somebody else. You may also be able to get the help of a mortgage broker. Whatever the case, it’s usually more complex than finding a rental opportunity.
