Anyone who argues for renting doesn’t know what they’re talking about.
Sure, you don’t pay $500 for repairs, but you’re also giving someone money to stay in their house. You’re missing out on the appreciation of property by giving all your money to someone who’s going to charge you more as the property increases in value. There are instances in Florida where peoples’ rents are being raised by 30%+. When you budget for rent, a lot of people don’t take into consideration they could be paying an extra $700 a month one year to the next.
If you had a mortgage on that same property with an adjusted rate, you’d only be building equity on the value of your home, even if you have to dip a little more into your salary to pay the mortgage and tighten the belt.
Again. It is not that easy and assumes the renter is just burning the money which the home owner would put into the downpayment and paying back the mortgage and the repairs. If the money would be put into the stock market over a broad index fund or a retirement scheme. Things look different.
Renting does have a few financial benefits:
1. No house price risk
Prices can fluctuate. This is not only a chance but also a risk. There are many examples of housing markets that did crash. It wouldn't be such an issue if a house would not be one of the biggest financial decision the average person does. It is putting a lot of your eggs into one basket. If you have irregular employment or income for example. A house might not be suitable for you.
The renter does not have this. He doesn't have the chance of rising house price either but he can put the money into other assets to take on a more diversified risk taking.
2. No transaction costs
You usually pay taxes, regulations and or fees for home purchases. Depending on where you buy and so on. Renting has no transaction costs, either when you move in or out
3. Mobility
Buying a house is a big commitment and the housing needs for most people change over time. Owning a home limits your flexibility to travel, change jobs, or move to other cities or countries. It ties you to the city or town where you’ve bought. It's also hard to adapt to changes. The best example is the typical family that builds a home has two children and then the children move out. Now they house is relatively big compared to what the two actually need.
When you rent, you’re mobile. When you buy, you’re tied down.
4. Simpler budgeting
If you rent you have one payment and the utilities with variations. That's it. If the roof leaks or the foundation breaks, a simple call to the landlord is all the renter has to do. When you own, these costs are on you. A roof can easily costs 10 grand. You have to build reserves for that.
These costs also do always occur to the worst time as well. When some other major expenses arrive.
5. Lower Costs
Just compare the monthly rate versus the monthly mortgage rate with little or no downpayment in any given market. By far the rent is cheaper and this excludes maintenance. And yes the renter can invest those savings.
6. No investment creep
A good investment has no personal bias, no emotion and is purely based on the investments prospect of generating returns. Housing doesn't meet that for the vast majority of people since you take pride in your house. Most people start looking at houses with a certain budget in mind. They look at a few houses and then that budget begins to grow. For money you get more things and it's okay to spend more since it's an investment. Here the investment creep turns in.
Just an anecdote but the boring 6.95 door handle was always bought by the craftsman in commercial construction (with additional discount), the fancy 39.95 door handle went to the people that were privately building.
7. Better locations (Less financial but worth mentioning)
Partly because renting is cheaper, you can afford to live in a better location when you rent. Better location usually means better access to transit be it buses, highways, subways, trains, bike paths. Access to more stores, restaurants and recreation and so on.
Less time spent on commuting and shopping means more time with family and friends, relaxing or doing whatever you like to do with your free time.
The one big advantage that house owners have is that they are enslaving themselves to a forced savings program. The rent increase is also worth keeping in mind. But here it's relatively unheard that the rents increase that much since the market is probably more regulated than the USA.
Another thing it. Everyone pays rent. Even people that own there houses. If you have 500 k worth of housing you could look at other income generating investments. Like stocks. If you would get an dividend rate of 3 % you would get 15.000 a year in income or 1.250 a month.
It is a bit more complicated as you might see and just going with the bitch basic "Anyone who isn't buying is a utter retard" angle is not practicable in the real world. People differ. They have different jobs, living situations and most of all: Different needs. People that have to move frequently are a good example though the transaction costs that they would occur. But enough of my blogpost.