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Is Home Ownership Right for You?
- Do you enjoy moving often?
- Do you prefer using your savings for such things
as vacations, retirement or starting your own business?
- Do you enjoy not having to worry about regular maintenance
and repairs?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may not
be ready to own a home yet. While you probably have a lot of
good reasons for wanting to buy a home, you also have to consider
your reasons for not wanting to.
Remember that buying a home is one of the biggest emotional
and financial decisions you'll ever make, so prepare yourself
to make a knowledgeable decision.
Although buying a home almost always seems like a great idea,
it is important to understand what homeownership involves. Of
course, being a homeowner is something to be proud of but it
also means having to invest money, time and energy and take
on added responsibilities. So, before you decide to buy a home,
make sure you're ready.
When most of us consider becoming homeowners, we immediately
think of how wonderful it will be. It is true that there are
a lot of good reasons for wanting to buy a home. Here are some
of the main advantages of owning a home:
- Financial Security. If housing prices
rise, your home can provide you with some financial security
due to capital appreciation.
- Flexibility. You can decorate or renovate
your home to meet your own family's personal tastes and needs.
- Stability. Having a place of your own.
Although it is nice to think about the positive aspects of
owning a home, it is important to consider the downsides as
well. Here are some of the main disadvantages of owning
a home:
- Financial Stress. Coming up with the down
payment, meeting regular mortgage payments and other ongoing
costs will tie up a lot of your cash, and can put considerable
stress on your finances.
- Maintenance. Keeping your home in good
shape requires time and money.
- Higher Costs. You may pay more each month
for housing than you did as a renter. There are also extra
costs for maintenance and property taxes.
- More Responsibility. You alone are responsible
for payments, repairs and maintenance.
Ottawa Home Buyers Guide
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