Rent vs. Buy

If you are a renter, you might be wondering how much mortgage you can afford.  Please use the Rent vs. Buy calculator on my website to figure out what you can afford.  I thought the following information was interesting, so I am sharing it with you.  It is reprinted with permission from the National Association of REALTORS and reprinted from REALTOR Magazine Online.

The following calculation assumes a 28% income tax bracket.  If your bracket is higher, your savings will be, too. 

Rent: _____________

Multiplier:  X 1.32

Mortgage Payment:  __________________

Because of tax deductions, you can make a mortgage payment – including taxes and insurance – that is approximately 1/3 larger than your current rent payment and end up wtih the same amount of income. 

Not only does owning a home give you a haven for yourself and your family, it makes great financial sense, too.  Right now, if you are a first time home buyer you can take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit available.  You must hurry, because it ends in April!  Call me today so we can get started.

"Rent vs. Buy" was originally posted as a blog post at Shannon Register, Realtor^® on March 4, 2010.

Shannon Register, Realtor^® named "Best Real Estate Blog in Texas by the Mays Business School Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University.

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