Buying vs Renting in Tampa, Florida? What Is Better for You?

Homeownership is the goal most Americans strive for. Real estate is a solid long-term investment and buying your home is synonymous with the American Dream. Owning your own home means you can do exactly what you want, from painting the walls purple to remodeling the kitchen to have a built-in espresso counter. While this sounds like the ideal situation, the reality is that there are pros and cons to buying a house, just as pros and cons to renting. Understanding both fully can help you make the best decision for your goals.

There are two key factors to consider when it comes to deciding between buying and renting: finances and lifestyle.  

Finances

When it comes to buying, as mentioned above, real estate is a positive long-term investment and can be crucial in wealth-building. It’s hard to imagine your home in the context of your financial portfolio, but a house is an asset that should appreciate over time.

Something to keep in mind though is that the cost of your house will extend past your mortgage. Upkeep of a home is crucial in maintaining its value, and if done correctly and consistently, it can lead to increased equity. Unexpected problems can become expensive if you are unprepared.

On the flipside with renting, your landlord is, typically, in charge of maintaining the property. Therefore, you won’t have to shell out money every time something comes up. That being said, you are up to the whims and timeline of the property owner if something like a dishwasher should break. With homeownership, your mortgage will stay consistent. Whereas with rentals, the owner can raise rent prices or even sell the place, thus leaving you without a home.

Lifestyle

There is a specific sense of pride one gets in owning a home. Controlling the design and function of your own living space has its own sense of satisfaction. When you decide to make changes, you get to choose every little thing that goes into your home making it 100% to your tastes. There is also a sense of pride in the place you live as a permanent member of the community. Regardless of whether you have children, there is a natural desire to be part of a community; to have a local coffee shop, dry cleaners, bar and to be an active member in your neighborhood. Homeownership gives you roots that you don’t necessarily get with renting.

If roots sound more restricting than comforting, renting might be for you. A renter can move from one city or state to another very easily which allows you to move when you need/want to. Especially if your career is currently in the works or you’re not quite sure where to settle down yet, renting might be your best bet.

Deciding between buying and renting ultimately comes down to what best fits your lifestyle. Before you decide that it’s time to buy, give some thought to your lifestyle and goals. If they are in line with the advantages of homeownership, then time to go house hunting. If not, look into rentals. No matter what you choose, HOMM Real Estate Services has got you covered. Our full-service real estate agency provides resources for both buying and renting. Even if you decide to rent for now, but have your eyes on buying in the future, we are happy to help you make the jump. If you think you’re interested in owning property to then rent out, we have full property management services too. We’re here for you every step of the way.  

For homes for rent or for sale check out our Featured Listings.

HOMM Real Estate Services, located in the Brandon, Florida area of Tampa-Bay focused to Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk Counties. As a full-service general real estate company, we specialize in general real estate, home buyers, home sellers, new home construction, rentals, tenants and landlords and property management.

Learn more about Marie Negron, her team and HOMM Real Estate Services. Call 813-684-5954 or email info.hommsales@gmail.com to get started.