Home buying is a big financial decision and the home acts as an asset. But new home buyers usually ask why a home is an asset. Should they look at it as a short-term or as a long-term benefit?
Covid-19 times have increased the value of a house in our lives and is now considered the safest place to keep our loved ones healthy & secure. This answer fits everyone’s circumstances – short-term or long-term benefits.
There is a constant debate happening between people. There are two sides to every coin and the same is the case with home buying. One side agrees that buying a home and giving it for rental purposes yield long-term benefits. While the other side has a fear of investing so much since they feel staying on rent is more beneficial. Here, we will clear your doubt about looking at a home as a short-term or a long-term benefit –
- Freedom –
Short-Term Benefit – Some people who think that staying on rent is freedom by not getting under a home loan situation, is not the right fact. The rentals usually increase on a yearly basis and in the end, you’ll end up paying more without even owning your own home. So don’t look at short-term benefits.
Long-Term Benefit – Owning a home is always better. You can modify your house as per your wish. If you take a decent home loan, the interest would be lesser than the rentals. You have the freedom to keep your pets with you and need not abide by any owner’s rules. The value of the property keeps on appreciating and will become a valuable physical asset for you if in the future you think of selling it.
- Taxation –
Short-Term Benefit – If you’re staying on rent, you may not get levied taxes when you’re paying money to the homeowner.
Long-Term Benefit – Owning a home carries a lot of advantages including taxes. At the same time, if you’re spending anything on your home as an investment, you will get tax incentives as long-term benefits.
- Raising a family –
Short-Term Benefit – A rented home is probably not the best option for raising a family with children. You might have to shift from one rented home to another due to numerous reasons which might disturb your family, children’s studies, and others.
Long-Term Benefit – Own home will provide a longer-term benefit. Your family won’t have to move from one home to another rental home. Your children can make their neighbors their friends for life. Your wife can design the interior and grow a mini-garden inside the house. Everything is much more stable and subtle if you simply own the place.
- Investment and Stability –
Short-Term Benefit – Staying in a rental home can never help you in looking at real estate as an asset for you. You will constantly be paying your monthly rentals. This will never bring stability to your income in the future.
Long-Term Benefit – Once you buy a home, it starts acting as an asset for you. While you pay the home loan EMI’s at buying cost, the value of your home will keep on increasing. Since home buying brings stability to one’s future by also adding up on your tangible assets.
- Future Options –
Short-Term Benefit – The rented property will never be considered your investment and this brings fear of not having any tangible assets. There is no fixed future of settling down for anything permanent.
Long-Term Benefit – Owning a home clears the future by having stability in your life. The foreseen future and emotion of coming back to one’s own home gives a feeling of security. And if one owns more than one house, they can put it on rental and get the rent every month while increasing the property value. This gives a clear future picture and benefits of owning a home as a long-term benefit.
