Is It Better To Buy Or Rent Your Home?  You will be better off buying a home rather than renting, financially, and there are many buy vs. rent calculators here on the internet  such as realestate.yahoo.com/calculators, which proves this.  But many people choose to rent for some good reasons. The main one being you have almost no of up-keep or maintenance of the property.  The landlord is responsible for just about everything that may need repair on the premises including all outside and yard maintenance. Many seniors and others choose renting for this reason. On the other hand, home ownership requires that you  maintain your property and do all the repairs and maintenance out of your own pocket, including all yard work, mowing the lawn, snow shoveling, and the periodical repair and any renovations that may be needed to have the home in proper condition.  There are many who enjoy making repairs and all of the things needed as I stated, but unless you are handy and have the time, many  do not want the responsibility and hassle and would be better off renting. Unless there are personal circumstances or other reasons why you must rent instead of buy your home, such as you know you will be relocating soon or you want to rent in a new neighborhood before you buy first to see if you like the new area,  you will be better off in the long run if you buy.  On the other hand, if you know you will live in an area for a specific reason, say a job assignment for two years or so, and you come across a great real estate deal, it would be better to take advantage of the opportunity and buy. With home ownership, over time you will benefit from the effects of capital appreciation. The longer you stay in your home, the more equity you will build. It has been said that when you pay rent you are making your landlord rich. This is true to some extent because he will take your rent to pay his mortgage off on the property. It is therefore better off to pay off your own mortgage.  And your rent will increase usually every year or two for as long as you rent. Unless you are lucky enough to get a below market rent on a nice apartment which you know you will stay set at, buying would be the better way to go.  Renters do not get the benefits of income tax deductions that home ownership provides. You will get tax write offs on many payments you make such as mortgage interest, real estate taxes, depreciation allowances, and several other deductibles which your accountant will advise you of. So, in the long run it is much better to own than to rent, Just do your legwork and find the best deal you can in the neighborhood of your choice you can afford, and enjoy your better lifestyle. By Maury Jazzetti Send your comments to mailto:info@betterlifestyles.com Website: http://www.betterlifestyles.com