[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f9fjfabcrx4jv":3,"$ffeh0925h8cuz":43,"$fbwk2pqjjqsc7":47},{"item":4,"previous":31,"next":37},{"id":5,"slug":6,"title":7,"description":8,"excerpt":9,"contentType":10,"featuredImage":11,"bannerImage":9,"body":12,"agentsBottomLine":13,"bodyImage":14,"isInfographic":15,"categories":16,"isVideo":15,"videoThumbnail":9,"videoSource":9,"publishedAt":29,"updatedAt":30},87134,"is-it-better-to-rent-or-buy-a-home","Is It Better To Rent or Buy a Home?","\u003Cp>You’ve probably asked yourself lately: \u003Cem>Is it even worth trying to buy a home right now?\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>","","blog","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20250522\u002F20250529-Blog-Header-Image-original.png","\u003Cp>You’ve probably asked yourself lately: \u003Cem>Is it even worth trying to buy a home right now?\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>With high home prices and stubborn mortgage rates, renting can seem like the safer choice right now. Or maybe your \u003Cem>only\u003C\u002Fem> choice. That’s a very real feeling. And perhaps buying today isn’t your best move; it’s not for everyone right away. You should only \u003Ca href=\"\u002F2025\u002F05\u002F14\u002Fdont-let-student-loans-hold-you-back-from-homeownership\u002F\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">buy a home\u003C\u002Fa> when you’re ready and able to do it, and if the timing is right for you.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>But here’s the thing you need to know about renting.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>While it may feel like a safer bet today – and in some areas might even be less expensive month-to-month than owning – it can really cost you more over time.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>In fact, a recent \u003Cem>Bank of America\u003C\u002Fem> survey found that \u003Cstrong>70% of aspiring homeowners worry about what long-term renting means for their future.\u003C\u002Fstrong> And they’re not wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Owning a home may seem way out of reach, but if you make a plan now and steadily work toward it, \u003Cstrong>homeownership comes with serious long-term financial benefits.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>Homeownership Builds Wealth Over Time\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh4>\u003Cp>Buying a home isn’t just about having a place to live – it’s a step toward building your future wealth.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Why? \u003Cstrong>Home prices typically rise over time\u003C\u002Fstrong>, which means the longer you wait, the more expensive it is to buy. And even in some markets where home prices are softening today, the overall long-term trend speaks for itself \u003Cem>(see \u003C\u002Fem>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffred.stlouisfed.org\u002Fseries\u002FASPUS\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">\u003Cem>graph\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cem> below):\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20250530\u002F20250529-Home-Price-Appreciation-Since-1988-1-original.png\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20250530\u002F20250529-Home-Price-Appreciation-Since-1988-1-original.png\" alt=\"a graph of a price of houses sold in the united states\">\u003C\u002Fa>And as home values rise, so does your equity when you’re a homeowner. That’s the difference between what your home is worth and what you owe. So, with every mortgage payment, that equity grows. Over time, that becomes part of your net worth.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Today, the \u003Cstrong>average homeowner’s net worth is nearly 40X greater than that of a renter.\u003C\u002Fstrong> That’s a shocking difference, and the dollars in the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.federalreserve.gov\u002Fpublications\u002Ffiles\u002Fscf23.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">visual\u003C\u002Fa> below don’t lie \u003Cem>(see graph below):\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20250522\u002F20250529-Homeowner-Net-Worth-Nearly-40X-Greater-original.png\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20250522\u002F20250529-Homeowner-Net-Worth-Nearly-40X-Greater-original.png\" alt=\"a green rectangle with white text\">\u003C\u002Fa>And it’s one of the big reasons why \u003Cem>Forbes\u003C\u002Fem> \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.forbes.com\u002Fsites\u002Fandrejeanpierre\u002F2024\u002F07\u002F31\u002Fowning-your-future-how-homeownership-is-stable-path-to-wealth\u002F\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">says\u003C\u002Fa>:\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cblockquote>\u003Cem>“While renting might seem like [the] less stressful option . . . owning a home is still a cornerstone of the American dream and a proven strategy for building long-term wealth.”\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>The Biggest Downside of Renting\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh4>\u003Cp>So, short-term, why does renting feel like a simpler choice? Lower monthly payments, less responsibility, no strings attached. But long-term? \u003Cstrong>It can sting.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>For decades, while home prices have been rising, \u003Cstrong>rent has gone up\u003C\u002Fstrong> \u003Cstrong>too.\u003C\u002Fstrong> And while \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.census.gov\u002Fhousing\u002Fhvs\u002Ffiles\u002Fcurrenthvspress.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">rent\u003C\u002Fa> has held rather steady more recently, history shows the overall trend is up and to the right. That makes saving for a home more complicated than ever \u003Cem>(see graph below):\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20250530\u002F20250529-Increase-in-Rents-Since-1988-1-original.png\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20250530\u002F20250529-Increase-in-Rents-Since-1988-1-original.png\" alt=\"a graph of a number of people\">\u003C\u002Fa>That kind of financial uncertainty has a real impact. In the same \u003Cem>Bank of America\u003C\u002Fem> survey, \u003Cstrong>72% of potential buyers said they worry rising rent could affect their current and long-term finances.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Because rent doesn’t build wealth. It doesn’t come back to you later. It pays your landlord’s mortgage – \u003Cem>not yours\u003C\u002Fem>.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>So, whether you rent or own, you’re paying a mortgage. The question is: \u003Cstrong>whose mortgage do you want to pay?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>Renting vs. Buying: What Really Matters\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh4>\u003Cp>Think of it this way. Renting means your money is gone once you pay it. Owning means your payment builds equity – \u003Cstrong>like a savings account you can live in.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Sure, \u003Ca href=\"\u002F2025\u002F05\u002F05\u002Fthe-20-down-payment-myth-debunked\u002F\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">buying\u003C\u002Fa> comes with responsibility. But it also comes with the kind of reward that grows over time. And that’s why you need a solid plan to get there.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>As Joel Berner, Senior Economist at \u003Cem>Realtor.com\u003C\u002Fem>, explains:\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cblockquote>\u003Cem>“Households working on their budget will find it much easier to continue to rent than to go through the expenses of homeownership. However,\u003C\u002Fem>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem> \u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cem>they need to consider the equity and generational wealth they can build up by owning a home that they can’t by renting it.\u003C\u002Fem>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem> In the long run, buying a home may be a better investment even if the short-run costs seem prohibitive\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cem>.”\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fblockquote>","\u003Cp>Renting may feel more do-able today. But over time, \u003Cstrong>it could cost you more\u003C\u002Fstrong> – without helping you build anything for your future.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>If homeownership feels out of reach today, you’re not alone. \u003Cstrong>And the first step toward getting out of the rental trap is to set a plan.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Let’s connect, set your specific goals, and explore your options – so you’re ready when the time is right.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20250530\u002F20250529-Home-Price-Appreciation-Since-1988-1-original.png",false,[17,21,25],{"id":18,"name":19,"slug":20},5,"For Buyers","buyers",{"id":22,"name":23,"slug":24},11,"First-Time Buyers","first-time-buyers",{"id":26,"name":27,"slug":28},53,"Rent vs. Buy","rent-vs-buy","2025-05-29T10:30:00Z","2025-05-30T15:37:43Z",{"id":32,"slug":33,"title":34,"featuredImage":35,"publishedAt":36,"contentType":10,"isVideo":15},87207,"the-secret-to-selling-your-house-in-todays-market","The Secret To Selling Your House in Today’s Market","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20250522\u002F20250528-Blog-Header-Image-original.png","2025-05-28T10:30:00Z",{"id":38,"slug":39,"title":40,"featuredImage":41,"publishedAt":42,"contentType":10,"isVideo":15},87387,"home-projects-that-add-the-most-value-infographic","Home Projects That Add the Most Value","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20250527\u002F20250530-KCM-Share-original.jpg","2025-05-30T10:30:00Z",{"cover":44,"open":45,"shareSpread":46},"https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260603\u002F2026-Summer-Buyers-Guide-Cover-original.png","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260603\u002F2026-Summer-Buyers-Guide-Spread-original.png","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260603\u002F2026-Summer-Buyers-Guide-Magazine-original.png",[48,52,53,57,61,65,69,70,74,78,82,86,90,94,98,99,103,107,111,115,119,123,127,131,135,139,143,147,151,155],{"id":49,"name":50,"slug":51},1,"Uncategorized","uncategorized",{"id":18,"name":19,"slug":20},{"id":54,"name":55,"slug":56},6,"For Sellers","sellers",{"id":58,"name":59,"slug":60},7,"Foreclosures","foreclosures",{"id":62,"name":63,"slug":64},8,"Infographics","infographics",{"id":66,"name":67,"slug":68},9,"Home Prices","home-prices",{"id":22,"name":23,"slug":24},{"id":71,"name":72,"slug":73},34,"Senior Market","senior-market",{"id":75,"name":76,"slug":77},35,"Mortgage Rates","mortgage-rates",{"id":79,"name":80,"slug":81},38,"Move-Up","move-up",{"id":83,"name":84,"slug":85},41,"For Sale by Owner","for-sale-by-owner",{"id":87,"name":88,"slug":89},42,"Featured","featured",{"id":91,"name":92,"slug":93},45,"New Construction","new-construction",{"id":95,"name":96,"slug":97},52,"Luxury \u002F Vacation","luxury--vacation",{"id":26,"name":27,"slug":28},{"id":100,"name":101,"slug":102},80,"Time-sensitive","time-sensitive",{"id":104,"name":105,"slug":106},81,"Outdated","outdated",{"id":108,"name":109,"slug":110},147,"Internal","internal",{"id":112,"name":113,"slug":114},148,"Do Not Autopost","do-not-autopost",{"id":116,"name":117,"slug":118},320,"Inventory","inventory",{"id":120,"name":121,"slug":122},321,"Agent Value","agent-value",{"id":124,"name":125,"slug":126},322,"Affordability","affordability",{"id":128,"name":129,"slug":130},323,"Buying Tips","buying-tips",{"id":132,"name":133,"slug":134},324,"Downsize","downsize",{"id":136,"name":137,"slug":138},325,"Economy","economy",{"id":140,"name":141,"slug":142},326,"Equity","equity",{"id":144,"name":145,"slug":146},327,"Forecasts","forecasts",{"id":148,"name":149,"slug":150},328,"Selling Tips","selling-tips",{"id":152,"name":153,"slug":154},339,"Expired\u002FWithdrawn\u002FCanceled","expiredwithdrawncanceled",{"id":156,"name":157,"slug":158},340,"Price It Right\u002FOverpricing","price-it-rightoverpricing"]