A lot of potential first-time home-buyers ask me this question:

“Should I buy a home or continue to rent?”

Such a simple question can have many varying answers. Personally, I would choose to buy since acquiring real estate can be a great investment, BUT, what I tell my customers is that they should evaluate their own personal situation, and not just from a financial viewpoint. To start, ask yourself some questions:

• How long do I plan to work in the area?
• What kind of life-style do I live now, and how would that change if I were to buy a home?
• How often and for how long at a time do I travel?
• Do see my current family size growing in the near future?

Of course there are many other questions you could ask yourself, but take it a step further and picture yourself as a homeowner. You may have a yard that needs to be maintained on a regular basis. There are several major appliances that need servicing on an annual basis, or may need repairing. You’re going to be responsible for paying for all your utilities, including trash removal.

Don’t get me wrong, as a real estate agent I would LOVE to help my customers find a home to buy, but I want to ensure that they know the in’s and out’s of home ownership, and who knows, maybe renting is the best way to go for their current situation.