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How Much Do You Save by Buying vs. Renting a Home in Houston?
Jul 26, 2019
Are you thinking about talking to a real estate agent in Houston? Here's what you should know about the Texas housing market.
Did you know that 96% of Millennial investors show interest in making real estate investments? Meanwhile, among Boomer investors, only 83% are interested in real estate.
If you’re debating between renting a place in the Houston area, or finding a real estate agent and buying a home, you’re probably trying to decide which is the most financially secure choice. Before you start calling real estate agents or landlords, read on to find out how your finances will turn out differently based on your decision to rent or buy a home Houston TX.
Rent vs. Buy in Houston: Price Differences for the Long Term
It’s an unfortunate fact that, for most people, it takes many years to save up enough money to make a down payment on a house, whether in Houston or anywhere else. However, taking the time to get that money together will equal more savings down the road -- even more than experts used to think.
According to a recent study, homeowners in Houston spend a total of 13.9% less than their renting counterparts, on average. These conditions in Houston represent one of the biggest gaps in the entire country, making it a really good idea to become a homeowner in the Houston area.
According to the same study, the average mortgage bill for Houston residents (not including insurance or taxes) is just $814.05. This means that, on average, homeowners in Houston only spend 14.8% of their total income on their home -- that’s 2% less than the amount recommended by most financial advisors. On the other hand, renters are likely to spend 28.7% of their income on their monthly rent bill alone. That’s a full 13.9% difference
While this is a great deal compared to the rest of the country, it's an even better idea for the state of Texas. For example:
- In San Antonio, renters spend 28% of their income on rent, while homeowners spend only 15.7%, resulting in a difference of 12.3%.
- In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, renters spend an even 28% of their income, while homeowners spend an average of 16.4%, resulting in a difference of 11.6%.
- Austin experiences the smallest gap among major Texas cities, with renters spending 26.6% of their income, and homeowners spending 19.2% -- a gap of 7.4%.
Across the entire country, the largest differences can be found in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area and New Orleans. These two locations tied with a gap of 16.4%. Around Miami, renters spend an average of 40.7% of their income on their rent, while homeowners spend just 23.8%. In the New Orleans area, renters pay 32.7%, and homeowners only pay 15.8% for their mortgage payment.
Interestingly, California cities San Francisco and San Jose experience opposite gaps -- with homeowners spending 3.3% and 11.6% more than renters, respectively.
Average Education Level for Homeowners in Texas Cities
The actual purpose of the study wasn’t to determine rent and ownership cost differences. In fact, it was conducted to discover what education level is usually required for people to afford their own homes in different housing markets. The news is good for Texans: in every Texas city mentioned above, only a high school diploma or GED is required for the average person to own their own home.
Hopefully this information will be helpful as you make your decision to call a qualified real estate agent
today. Don't hesitate to contact Kay Harris to start looking for your dream home today.
Buying a home for the first time can be stressful, overwhelming, and exhausting all at the same time! There’s so much to take in as a first time home buyer, so we’ve compiled some trade secrets for you to help you out in your journey. Keep Your Money Where It Is In the months before applying for a mortgage, you’ll want to keep your money right where it is. Lending companies want to make sure you have a reliable income, so moving your money around, applying for additional credit, and buying large ticket items can be red flags. You don’t want to take any chances when it comes to your credit profile! Go With the Flow There’s no perfect time to purchase a home, so try not to anticipate the real estate market to determine when to start looking. Real estate markets fluctuate constantly, and if you wait it out for the “perfect time,” you may never find the best home for you. Stalk the Neighborhood Sure, you can change things around your new home. But you’re unable to change your neighbors! If you find a property you really like, make an effort to visit the neighborhood morning, noon, and night to see what is going on. You’ll get a better picture of if the area is a busy neighborhood, if your neighbors are constantly out and about, or if you will be living in a relatively quiet place. Don’t Forget the Hidden Costs When creating your budget, don’t just focus on your monthly mortgage payment! Buying a home and maintaining it can be incredibly costly to those who are not prepared. Make sure to budget in closing costs, inspection fees, home insurance, regular maintenance such as mowing the lawn and cleaning out gutters, and utilities. As a general rule, it is always better to stay modest when creating a budget as you most likely will need some wiggle room with these unforeseen expenses. When it comes to Houston real estate, Kay Harris is the real estate professional you can turn to. If you are looking to buy a home in the Houston area, give us a call today and we’ll get the process started.
Three Ways to Get the House of Your Dreams in a Strong Seller’s Market
It is no secret that buying a home when relocating can be extremely stressful. It goes without saying that there are tons of things on your mind during this period in your life, so here are some tips that will help you buy a new home with ease.
If you are thinking about buying a home for the first time, chances are your mind is racing. There’s a ton of new information to comprehend, and it can surely be overwhelming. To make things a bit easier for you, here we answer some frequently asked questions for first-time homebuyers.
No matter if you are buying a home or selling your property, a real estate agent can do it all. It is their job to ensure that the entire buying and/or selling process runs smoothly, but what exactly does that entail? Here’s what you can expect your realtor to help out with along the way.
Now that you have decided on putting your home for sale, congratulations, the hard part is over. Now comes the fun of home selling; preparing your home to list on the real estate market.
It is no secret that buying a home is one of the biggest purchases you will make in your life. Chances are, you’ll be spending more of your time with your real estate agent than anyone in your life during the entire home buying and selling process. Your realtor is one of the best resources for any home buyer or seller, so it only makes sense that we have a few tricks up our sleeves to help the process go by as smoothly as possible for you. Here are some of our favorite real estate secrets for both buyers and sellers.
The real estate industry is full of special terminology and confusing acronyms. And if you’re preparing to buy or sell a home for the first time, this lingo can be overwhelming.
Buying a home is quite an exciting time for anyone, no matter if you are a first-time homebuyer or are looking to upgrade your current home.
It goes without saying that purchasing a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you will ever make. And with there being so much to know about your finances during this time, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. We want to make the financial process as easy as possible for you. So here’s everything to know about home mortgage interest rates.
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