buy vs rent

House or Apartment? 

It’s a no-brainer!
 
Right now, you could have your own house for roughly the same
price as your apartment rent. 

Not possible you say? 

Let’s look at the numbers...

3 Bedroom, 2 ba, 1428 Sq. Ft. $1,229 per month to rent

As of 9/5/2012, the rent for an average unit in this local apartment complex is $1229 per month. You pay this money each month to have the grass mowed, the parking lot paved, and to ensure the landlord or management company earns a nice profit.

4 Bedroom, 2 bath, 1533 Sq. Ft $942.96 per month to own!

As of 9/5/2012, this like-new home in the same area/neighborhood/schools was listed at $134,900. The monthly payment ( 30 year mortgage with current intere...

Buying a home in most major markets will end up being cheaper than renting one.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- For people who are willing to stay put for a few years, buying a home has become a much better deal than renting in almost every major housing market in the nation.

In more than 75% of the 200 metro areas analyzed by real estate listing web site Zillow, homeowners would reach a "breakeven point" -- where owning the home makes better financial sense than renting it -- in three years or less. 

"Historic levels of affordability make buying a home a better decision than ever, especially considering rents have risen more than 5% over the past year," said Stan Humphries, chief economist for...

Real estate website Zillow has a provocative data point for every renter thinking about buying these days: That move pays off after just three years on average nationwide.