Originally Posted by
DCAllAmerican
Originally Posted by ScarsOrScabs
So much misinformation in that article and in this thread.
Speak up. Don't just come in and make statements like that. Not really contributing to the thread. I am interested in hearing everyone's opinion on the topic.
I had finished reading through the Kobe Bryant/homophobia thread and was a little tired with the lack of critical thinking and inability to look beyond what you read or assume without knowledge that occurs on NT that I didn't feel like writing anymore than that. Sometimes it seems like so many NTers are so young and just speak up without any insight that it's easy to forget that some NTers are willing to learn.
Anyway, first:
Yes, in certain (you could even say many) instances, renting is a better idea than buying. If you don't have a substantial amount of money saved and a substantial amount in reserves to purchase a home, it is not a good idea. Thankfully most mortgage lenders and much stricter now and you it's more difficult to get a mortgage without being able to display a real financial ability to support a mortgage.
The idea that buying is not a good idea at all is shortsighted because of where the real estate market in general has been over the last 5 years or so. To whoever said something along the lines of if you bought 10 years ago, you're screwed. Not true, for the most part. If you bought 4 years ago, yes, it's going to be difficult if you need to sell your home, especially if you were one of those people who did not put much down.
The real estate market is better evaluated on a micro level. New York's market is different than Florida is different than Ohio is different than California. One county or city or town within these states is also affected on varying levels. Prices in one town could have come down 10% and in a neighboring town 15% which, in the grand scheme of things, is a substantial difference. Prices had artificially inflated and the mortgage market was out of control, there needed to be a correction and combined with everything else, it was pretty drastic.
Related to that, in many areas prices have dropped to a level that combined with low mortgage rates and tax benefits, it IS more affordable to own than it is to rent as long as you truly have the ability to do so.
In terms of renting, the idea that it is so simple, the work is done for you, low costs of getting out of a lease, etc. are largely untrue. For most NTers it is that simple because they're either too young to have gone that route on their own or parents have co-signed for them, which is fine.
Consider the idea of having a family, children who are in school. Some of you have probably been through it but the idea of potentially having to move your children around every year or even every few years can affect a childhood. Instability within a family even in that sense is not generally a positive thing. If you're renting a property and it fits your needs now, what happens if you have another child and you need more space? Someone has to own that property and what if they decide to sell it or raise the rent significantly? And on the off chance that it goes on every year or two or three? If you and your spouse have stable jobs in that area, children in the schools, you're likely going to want/need to keep them within that school district so you're limited in your options of what rentals will fit your needs. Many people find a new place but their furniture just doesn't fit in it at all, could be just a few years old and then you either buy new furniture or find something else. That's not cheap either. Yes, owning a home can be more expensive than it looks if you haven't done your due diligence but renting is not as simple as portrayed in the article.
Sure, not each of these situations will apply to everyone either but they're just as likely as the broadly painted brush of that article which is based on a lot of assumptions. Either way, renting isn't for everyone just likely owning a home isn't for everyone either. To dismiss something based on an article is ridiculous. At least with owning a home, you at least have the opportunity to rent it out if your situation does change in the future and you are unable to sell it or you at least have the opportunity to profit from your investment. If you're renting, you'll never see that money again without question.
I could go on and I don't claim to be an expert but I had read that article quite a while ago on the front page on Yahoo and knew that some people who automatically take it as gospel. There are articles one day that discuss how the market has stabilized in various areas then a doom and gloom article the next predicting prices will decline another 8% into 2012. Like with anything, there is risk involved and it needs to be a smart decision considering all factors. The author's claim that, "I think that, like all one-size fits all advice, is completely wrong" applies to just about everything he wrote as well. It sounds like he bought not long ago, it wasn't a good decision and he regrets it at the moment, what he wrote was probably applicable to his situation (admittedly many others as well) and may have been fueled by emotion. It is certainly valid in instances just as owning is in others.