Buying your first house has been part of the “American Dream” for years. The pride of ownership has been a strong factor in motivating over 60% of all households to own their own homes. In addition, there can be true financial rewards of homeownership. But, not always.

Here are some financial issues to consider as you move toward that “American Dream” of owning your own home.

Home values rose substantially in most parts of the country several years ago. With a strong economy and low mortgage rates, the demand for housing pushed up the prices people were willing to pay. These rising values have enabled many to reap large profits when they sold their homes. However, home values do not always appreciate and certain areas can be hit hard when a slow down in demand occurs.  We are now seeing homes drop in value and in some cases drop substantially.

If you plan to stay in an area for only a short period, renting may be economically advantageous. The costs of buying a house (realtor’s commission and closing costs), moving (hiring a mover or renting a truck), and getting a mortgage (points and loan origination costs) can add up. If the value of the home has not risen by that total when you are ready to sell, you will end up losing money.

If you have a great apartment and a great deal on rent, it may be very difficult to own the home you want at anything close to your current costs.

Now some good news

If the value of the home you buy goes up, you can profit in a leveraged way. Let us assume you buy a home for $150,000 with a $25,000 down payment and then sell the home for $175,000 (after all costs). Your cash proceeds would be $50,000, or a doubling of your actual cash investment. In other words, the home appreciated about 17% and you made 100% on your money. Remember that leverage works in reverse if prices fall.

There are tax advantages to owning your home. Many homeowners are able to itemize deductions for mortgage interest and property taxes on their homes. This can result in savings when you file your tax return. The IRS also allows you to exclude any gain from selling your house up to $500,000 if you file a joint income tax return and meet certain requirements.  You may want to investigate these tax advantages further or talk to a tax accountant to completely understand the tax advantages.

You build up equity in your home as you make mortgage payments. Every mortgage payment you make includes interest and principal repayment. Over time, the principal repayment reduces the remaining amount you owe. In the first few years, most of your payments will be interest. It is in later years that your equity build-up really takes hold.

If you are like millions of others, owning your own home is a primary financial and lifestyle goal. The pride of ownership and the financial rewards are attractive. Just make sure you understand that there can be some downsides before you make the decision to own.

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