At some point in your adult life, you will have to make tough calls because no one else can make them for you. This can include decisions like what career path you’re taking, where you’re going to live, or who you’re going to end up with. These are decisions that you can’t rush, or else, you might have regrets later on.
Making big life decisions can be overwhelming if you try to do them all at once; rather than allowing the fear to consume you whole, you should try your best to strike first. For instance, because making a decision can be overwhelming, you can deconstruct the task part by part so you’ll have easy-to-digest pieces instead of one big picture.
This way, it will be easier to arrive at a well-informed decision because you tackled the minor aspects one step at a time. Choosing this route may take longer than usual, but it will get you to your destination all the same. So don’t be threatened to pick up your pace just because of external pressures.
The perfect example of this is when you’re deciding whether to buy a house or look for a property for rent. Both options will have their pros and cons, which can make the task of deciding that much harder. To help you arrive at the right conclusion, here are four factors for you to consider:
1. Length of Stay
The duration at which you will spend in the house you’re going to get is arguably the most important deciding factor for obvious reasons. If you’re not planning to stay in one place for too long, then it would be impractical for you to spend money on buying a house, especially because doing so will tie you down.
For example, if you’re only going to be in the new city for a few months, then it could be better for you to just rent a place in the vicinity. However, if you’re permanently relocating out of town because you got a new job, then it could be more practical for you to buy a house so you can plant your roots there.
2. Housing Budget
How you make your final decision can also be affected by the amount of money you’re willing to spend. If you were to buy a house, you will have to consider all the overhead costs such as the down payment, home insurance, inspection fees, and closing costs, not to mention the interest fees of your mortgage.
On the other hand, if you were to rent a place, then you won’t have to worry about all those homeowner fees and will only have to provide your monthly dues. Renting could be the more practical option if you don’t have enough money to cover all the costs that purchasing a house will come with, although you may need to get help from a realtor to find the best deals.
3. Personalization
It’s hard to get comfortable in a place that doesn’t feel like your own. That could be because you’re not used to having bare walls or empty spaces around the house that don’t have your personal touches. So even if it’s your home, it doesn’t feel homey at all.
If you don’t mind the lack of personal touches inside your home, then renting will be perfect for you. But if you prefer having the freedom to decorate and personalize your home to truly make it your own, then purchasing a house to become a homeowner will be better for you. With this latter option, you will be free to improve or renovate as you see fit, something that you can’t do if you’re only renting.
4. Spatial Capacity
Last, but not least, you have to consider the physical place of your soon-to-be new residence. This is because it would be incredibly uncomfortable to live in a place built for a single person if you were to share it with five other people. You need enough room in your house for you to breathe and live in the manner of your choosing.
So if you are going to live alone, it could be practical to rent a single bedroom house because then you would have enough space for yourself. But if you plan to live with your family in this new location, then it could be more practical to buy a house with enough room for all of you to live comfortably.
Hopefully, shedding light on these factors will help you make your final decision regarding whether to buy or rent your next home. Of course, there could be other factors that will come into play, but these four usually hold the most weight. So take your time and carefully weigh your options, you’ll make the right decision soon.
