It’s that time of year again. Med students are getting ready to graduate and young physicians are about to start their first doctor jobs or move up in the current ones. Some folks will have to move across the country and others may only be moving a few hours away. Regardless of which camp you are in, one question inevitably ensues: What should you do about housing?”
As most of us know, inflation has skyrocketed this year. Rent prices are higher than they’ve ever been. Homes are selling for more than they are worth. It’s a catch 22. Either you struggle to buy a home in this crazy market, or you resort to paying ever-increasing rent amounts on an apartment. Here are some things to consider before you make your decision:
1. How much can you afford to spend on housing?
This is the first question you should honestly ask yourself. As someone who has contemplated the rent vs buy question almost yearly, I’ve come to learn there is a difference between what you’d like to spend on housing and what you can comfortably afford. Don’t confuse the two. The general rule of thumb is to spend no more than 1/3 of your gross income on housing. This may be a bit more challenging in these current times of rapid inflation and rising housing costs. It may also be challenging for those of us living or planning to move to high-cost-of-living areas. Keep in mind that if you end up spending more than a third of your income on housing then you may have to cut back in other areas. It may even prevent you from meeting some of your savings goals, being able to take the vacations you desire, or buy the type of food you’d like. Take some time to write down all of your sources of income and use that number to determine what you can reasonably afford to spend on housing each month.
2. What is the average rent price in your area?
Once you figure out what you can afford to spend on housing each year, try to determine what you’d reasonably spend on different types of housing—the first being rent. Go to apartments.com or Zillow and get an idea for how much rent is in your area or the city you will be moving to. Does a one-bedroom cost $1,000/month, $2,000/month, or $3,000+? Look at newer places and at older styles. Consider different areas of the city. Although prices are subject to change, doing this type of research will help you determine what you can expect to spend for an apartment monthly. (It may also help you decide if you should consider getting a roommate or not).
3. What would it cost to buy a home in your area?
Once you get an idea for rent prices in the area, take a look at home prices as well. Many folks see the rising rent prices and automatically assume it is better to buy a home. That assumption is not true. Rent may be high, but home prices and estimated mortgage payments may be even higher. Even if the mortgage is affordable, there are other home buying costs to consider. You may need a down payment which can often be at least 3 to 5% of the total home cost. You also have to account for the transaction costs of buying a home (attorney fees, inspections, appraisals, etc), yearly property taxes (which can be up to 1% of the home value), homeowners insurance, homeowner’s association fees, and maintenance costs. These costs can add hundreds if not thousands of dollars to your monthly housing costs each month. Be sure you have a good idea for what your total housing costs would be if you were to purchase a home.
4. What are your future plans?
Another decision that could alter your decision to rent or buy is your future plans. Although no one has a crystal ball (or at least not a working one), take a few moments to contemplate what your life may look like in the next few years. Do you plan to stay in your current city or is there a good chance you could move? Renting gives you more flexibility and the transaction fees of buying a home may be hard to recoup if you live in it for less than 5 years. Do you foresee a change in your family size? Oftentimes, the type of house you may like or the area you may choose to live in as a single person is vastly different from what you would choose if you were married with had children. Lastly, is there a good chance you could have a change in your income? Are you fairly confident that you’ll get an income boost which will make things more affordable? Or, maybe you or your spouse will cut back on work to focus more on family which will result in an income drop or increased expenses? Although it is hard to predict what will happen, taking a few moments to contemplate your future plans could drastically change your decision to rent or buy in this market.
To summarize, the decision to rent or buy may not be as easy as you think. As stated above there are several things you should consider before making your decision. Being honest with yourself about what you can reasonably afford is key. Choose wisely.
Should you buy a home or keep renting? Part 2: Four Practical things to consider before you buy a home
If you are like most young professionals you may be wondering if you should buy a home or keep renting. Before you make a decision, you must first consider whether or not you can afford to purchase a home. As I mentioned in “Should you buy a home or keep renting? Part 1, you cannot simply compare the average mortgage price to the average rental price and make a decision.
There are many other expenses associated with becoming a homeowner that you must consider. However, if you do determine that buying a home is a financial possibility, your next task is to determine whether or not buying a home makes practical sense at this point in your life. Here are 4 additional questions you can ask yourself to help figure that out:
Are you going to stay in the same area for at least 5 years? As a general guideline, it takes about 5 years to break even on a home. If you live in a home for less than 5 years and decide to sell it afterwards, there is a good chance you will lose money overall, even if you sell the home for more than you purchased it. Why? Well, because the transaction fees you must pay to buy a home and the expenses associated with selling a home are really high.
By the time you pay your real estate agent 3% of the purchase price, pay the buyer’s real estate agent another 3% of the purchase price, AND consider all of the costs you had when you first bought the home, there is a good chance that your expenses will still outweigh your costs until the 5 year mark. If you know you are likely to move to another area in less than 5 years, it may be wise to wait to purchase a home.
Are you going to want to live in that same house (consider size and location) 5-7 years from now? The first home that many people purchase is usually a “starter” home. It typically has 3-4 bedrooms and is a decent sized space for 2-3 people. Although that type of home may be ideal for you now, you need to consider whether it will be ideal for you 5-7 years from now. You may get married, have a child or two, and even change jobs. Is the home you want to purchase now ideal for that kind of lifestyle as well?
For example, is it a place with good school districts for your [future] kids? Is it close to your job? Does it have enough space for you, your spouse, a kid or two and a pet? The answer most people come to is: no. As a result, they end up looking for a different home, or paying a large amount of money to upgrade their current home, a few years after they purchase the "starter" home. This process of buying one home, just to sell it a few years later, and purchase something bigger can be quite expensive.
I am not suggesting that you buy more house than you can afford to protect yourself against these life changes. However, I am stating that if there is a good chance you won’t want to stay in the home 5-7 years from now and it takes 5 years to break even on a home, it may not make practical sense to buy a house right now. Nevertheless, if you doubt you’ll experience drastic life changes in the next few years, or feel fairly confident that the type of home you want to purchase will still fit your lifestyle in a few years, then purchasing a home now might make sense.
Are homes affordable in your area? Let’s face it. Not all cities are created equal. Before you get set on the idea of buying a house, you must figure out if homes are actually affordable in your area. If you are not sure, go to a website like Zillow.com or Realtor.com, type in the size of your desired home in the the city of your choice, and check out the home prices. Once you see what homes are selling for, you can then go to your bank to see how much money they are willing to lend you.
For example, if you live in a low cost of living area like Orlando, FL the average house is probably around $240,000. Thus, there is a better chance a bank will loan you the money you need. However, if you live in a higher cost of living area like San Francisco, CA where the average house is $1.61 million then it may be difficult to find a bank willing to lend you that much money.
In addition to cost of living, you also have to look at the neighborhood in which you plan to live. Some of the nicer neighborhoods in better school districts often charge a “Homeowners Association (HoA) fee." This is a monthly expense you give to the neighborhood that covers the cost of private parks, neighborhood events, community pools, and general upkeep. Some areas don’t charge an HoA fee, other places may demand an extra $1200 a month in these fees. Before you decide to buy a home, examine the cost of living, average home prices, and HoA fees in your desired area to see if purchasing a home is feasible.
Is it a good time to buy houses in your area? Many people assume that houses appreciate in value from year to year. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Sometimes houses go down in value. You need to examine the housing market in your area and see what the latest trends have been. Along with looking at appreciation trends, you also need to consider home pricing trends. In the real estate world we use the phrases “seller’s’ market” and “buyer’s market.” A seller’s market means that the demand for homes exceeds the number of homes available. This is bad for people looking to purchase a home because it means that houses might be selling for more than they are worth.
In contrast, a buyers’ market means that there are more houses available than people who are looking to purchase. This is a good for people looking to buy a home because it means that houses might be selling for less than they are worth (which increases the chance that you can find a good deal). Before you decide to purchase a home, take a look at the housing market in your area. If it is a seller’s market, you may want to wait to buy a home. If it is a buyer’s market, then you may be able to find a great deal and should consider purchasing a home sooner rather than later.
My point? Even if buying a home is a viable financial option, you still need to consider if it is practical to purchase a home at this time. For starters, it usually takes about 5 years to break even on a home, even if you purchase a home and end up selling it for more than you bought it. In order to avoid losing money, you need to make sure you plan to stay in the same area for a significant amount of time. You also need to make sure that you would still want to live in a home of that size and in that location 5 years from now.
Once you determine those two things, you need to look at different housing websites and determine the average home price in your area. Are homes affordable in your desired city? Have houses been appreciating at a decent rate where you plan to buy? Is it a buyers market in which home prices are lower than normal or is it a sellers market in which home prices are higher than normal? After answering these questions, in addition to the financial questions listed in the previous post, you should be better able to decide if it makes more sense to buy a home or keep renting.
Tell me, was this post helpful? If so, what additional topics would like me to address?
Should you buy a home or keep renting? Part 1: Ten questions to ask before you decide to buy a home
The real answer to the rent-vs-buy question is “it depends.” There are several advantages and disadvantages associated with buying a home. Figuring out the right choice depends on a lot of factors that are unique to your situation.
Oftentimes, young professionals who have recently finished college choose to rent an apartment. Signing a single year lease with an apartment complex gives them more mobility in case they change jobs and allows them to better enjoy the perks “city life.” As their income improves and their job stabilizes, they may begin to wonder if it is time for a change. The high amount of taxes they pay and the need for more space in a less congested area makes them strongly consider moving on to bigger and better things. They realize other people in their late 20s or early 30s are starting to purchase real estate and all of a sudden buying a home becomes the next item on the young professional “List of Things To Do to Prove You’re Finally “Adulting.”
Although the idea of buying a home makes you feel like you are progressing in life, you need to truly evaluate whether buying a home makes financial sense for you at this point in your life. You cannot simply compare the average mortgage price to the average rental price and make a decision.
Here are 10 financial questions to ask yourself before you decide to purchase a home:
Do you have money for the down payment? Buying a home is expensive. The average house in my home state of Florida is nearly $200,000. I don’t know about you, but I haven’t stacked that many coins in my piggy bank just yet. While it is true that the vast majority of people don’t pay the full price of the home when they buy it, most banks like for you to have at least 20% of the money for a home before they agree to give you the mortgage. Before you make up your mind to buy a home, you need to check your savings and make sure you have enough money to cover the down payment on a house.
Fortunately, many banks will still allow you to purchase a home when you don’t quite have the 20% down payment. In order to do this, they make you pay something called “private mortgage insurance.” Private mortgage insurance is a small insurance policy banks make you pay in order to protect themselves. (In the event that you fail to keep up your monthly mortgage payments, the private mortgage insurance will refund the bank part of the money you owe.)
I should mention that medical doctors have access to physician loans which allows them to buy a home with no money down and without having to purchase private mortgage insurance. Many banks have realized that doctors finish medical school with high debt burdens but still have very high incomes and rarely default on loans. As a result, they give doctors preferential treatment. If you are a physician, or will be one soon, this a great deal. However, it does not make the decision to buy a home a “no-brainer.” There are many other factors to consider. Keep reading.
Have you saved enough money to cover the “transaction costs?” The process of buying a home is more than just giving the bank a down payment and securing a mortgage. There are several “transaction costs” (also known as “closing costs”) that can be quite expensive. Some examples of transaction costs are: the appraisal fee (to have a professional determine the actual value of the home), the processing fee (to have someone evaluate your loan application and prepare any other necessary documents), title insurance (to make sure that the home is actually in your name and ensure there are no problems when the seller transfers it to you), escrow fees (the third party that holds the money from the buyer and the home from the seller until all of the inspections and concessions have been completed), etc.
Typically, these transaction costs amount to about 3% of the total price of the home. So if you are buying a home for $200,000, then expect to spend an additional $6,000 in “transaction fees.” Occasionally, banks may offer a “no-cost-closing” to certain buyers who have great credit but do not have the cash to pay for the closing. A “no-cost-closing” simply means that instead of making you come of up with $6,000 in cash for transaction fees to buy that $200,000 home, they will instead charge you a higher interest rate on the mortgage and/or add those closing costs to the total cost of the mortgage (both options usually increase your monthly payment).
Is your credit score good enough to get a decent loan? Once you have money for the down payment (or opt for a physician loan) and figure out how to cover the transaction costs, you need to make sure you can actually secure a good loan from the bank. Unless you have $200,000 lying around, you are going to need to get a mortgage from the bank in order to purchase the home. Typically, the bank loans you the money and you agree to pay them back over the next 15-30 years. However, the bank isn’t going to loan you an unlimited amount of money and the money they do loan to you will not come free. Just like the government charged you interest to take out a student loan and set a limit on the total amount of money they would let you borrow, banks charge you interest to take out a home loan and set a limit on how much money they will give you as well.
The amount of money banks loan you and the percentage they charge you in interest for that loan is largely dependent on your credit score. I talked about credit scores in a previous post, but essentially anything over 760 is really good and you will be able to secure a mortgage with a decent interest rate. A credit score under 500 is pretty bad and you will have a hard time getting a bank to even consider your loan application. A score between 500 and 760 is on a sliding scale. The higher the credit score, the more money the bank will loan you and the lower your interest rate will be. Keep in mind, if you are married and your credit score is good but you spouse’s credit score is not (or vice versa) you may still be able to get a mortgage but the person with the better credit score may have to purchase the home is their name first (and add the spouse’s name on the title at a later date).
Can you afford the monthly mortgage payment? If you have decent credit score and show a genuine interest in wanting to purchase a home, your real estate agent is going to do everything in his (or her) power to help you in this endeavor. Oftentimes, they make the home seem more affordable by pitching you on the idea that you can secure a 30-year mortgage from a bank. The benefit of 30 year mortgages is that it reduces your monthly mortgage payment (since you are paying back the loan over 30 years). The bad part about 30 year mortgages is that you end up paying tens of thousands of dollars in added interest payments over the life of the loan.
The rule of thumb for most people seeking to become financially stable in a reasonable amount of time is to get a 15-20 year mortgage. While this saves you a ton of money in interest it increases your monthly mortgage payment. If you decide to opt for a 30 year mortgage in favor of the lower monthly payments, make sure the bank won’t charge you a “prepayment penalty” if you decide to pay off the loan sooner. Although the decision to pursue a 15, 20, 25, or even 30 year mortgage is a personal one, make sure you ask your bank what your monthly mortgage payment would be (when you factor in interest) so that you can determine if the monthly mortgage payment would be affordable.
Do you have a stable job with a steady income? Because of all of these added fees, in addition to your mortgage, lenders want proof that you can truly afford to purchase a home. Before they approve your mortgage loan, they will verify your income and work status. If you are employed, they will make you verify your income by submitting W-2s, pay stubs, proof of any bonuses, and reports of any additional cash flow. If you are self-employed or own a business, they will likely ask for even more documents. If you have a good credit score, but your income appears unstable, then you may not be approved to purchase a home.
How much debt do you have? Along with considering whether your income is steady, it is vital to also consider any other debt you have. For many young professionals this means taking a hard look at your existing credit card debt, car payments, and student loans. If you already have a significant amount of debt, many banks will be reluctant to lend you a couple hundred thousand more dollars for a house. The more debt you have, the bigger the chance you could have a problem paying it all back. The ideal debt to income ratio for most banks is about 35%.
Nevertheless, there are exceptions to every rule. For example, many physicians have a lot of debt after graduating from medical school but banks will overlook this debt because their income potential is so high. While this is a great perk for physicians, it may be a financial disaster. Having nearly $200,000 in student loans and adding another $250,000 for a mortgage (in addition to all of the other home-buying expenses), isn’t exactly a recipe for financial freedom. In fact, one of the biggest wealth killers for many physicians is buying a home before they are truly able afford to one. If you are a medical student or healthcare provider you can review my post on why buying a home may not be the wisest decision right out of training here.
Have you factored in the cost of property taxes and homeowners insurance? Many people assume that buying a house is much better than renting because they know friends or family members whose monthly mortgage is similar to their current rent price. They figure that if they are going to pay the same amount each month then they might as well put that money towards their own home. Although I can understand this thought process, it is flawed.
There are other monthly/annual costs on top of the mortgage that you must consider. Two of those costs are property taxes and homeowners insurance. Unlike renting, people who own a home must pay yearly property taxes. The amount they pay in property taxes varies by state and is listed here. It ranges from 0.27% of the home value in Hawaii to 2.44% of the home value in New Jersey, with the average being around 1%. For example, if you bought a home valued at $200,000 in my home state of Florida (where property taxes are 0.98%), then you would have to pay $1,960 annually (which is an extra $163 dollars per month) in property taxes.
Homeowners insurance (which insures your home against unforeseen damage or accidents) works in a similar way. It also varies by state and is listed here. Generally speaking, states with a high risk for natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, tornadoes and hurricanes charge the most. For example, in my home state of Florida, which has a high risk for hurricanes, homeowners insurance is the highest the country at about $3,500 a year (which is an extra $291 a month). Thus, when you factor in property taxes ($163/month) and homeowners insurance ($291/month), most people in my home state of Florida are paying an extra $454 a month IN ADDITION TO their monthly mortgage payment.
Do you have an emergency fund for inevitable maintenance repairs? In addition to paying a monthly mortgage, property taxes, and homeowners insurance, there are other expenses you may have to pay for as well. The biggest of these added expenses is repairs. As you continue to live in the home your air conditioner might need fixing, the plumbing pipes might get clogged, or some other appliance could stop working as smoothly. When you are renting, the owner of the apartment complex covers these costs. When you buy a home, you pay these costs yourself. Unfortunately, these repairs can be expensive and put a serious dent in your pocket. The best way to prepare for these expenses is to set aside money each month in a “repair fund” to reserve for for future repairs and maintenance. Along with paying for repairs, you must also cover the cost of landscaping and general upkeep. These repair and maintenance expenses are not inconsequential and must be factored into your decision to purchase a home.
Do you have money saved for furniture and initial expenses? As a general guideline, more space requires more furniture. Unless your parents have extra furniture lying around or franchises with Rooms-To-Go, there is a good chance you will need to purchase more furniture and other items when you first buy your home. Although you would have had to furnish an apartment if you had chosen to rent instead, homes are typically bigger and thus require more “things.” You will need bedroom and living room furniture, decor items, and costly appliances like a washer/dryer and refrigerator. Although you don’t have to purchase all of these items at once and many people host a “housewarming party” to get their friends and family to chip in, the cost of these initial items is rather large and as a homeowner you are responsible for buying most of them.
Will buying a home actually save you money in taxes? If you are like many young professionals, you may be searching for ways to lower your tax rate. In fact, someone may have mentioned the “mortgage interest deduction” you can get when you buy a home. Although it is true that the mortgage interest deduction can save people money in taxes, this benefit is often overestimated. It certainly does not equate to the amount of money you pay in transactions costs, yearly fees, and added expenses when you purchase a home. Plus, it usually only benefits people who purchase really expensive homes. Let me explain.
Whenever you pay your mortgage each month the payment includes the principal (the amount you borrowed from the bank) and interest (the fee the bank charged whey they loaned you the money). During the first few years you have a house, the portion of the mortgage that is “interest” is quite high and can often be around 75% of your entire monthly payment. The government allows you to deduct this interest from your taxable income. However, you can only take this deduction if you opt out of the standard deduction and choose to “itemize your taxes.” Most people don’t have an expensive enough house (or pay enough in mortgage interest each year) to make itemizing their taxes a good idea. Plus, even if you were able to take advantage of this tax benefit, it only saves you money at your marginal tax rate. I realize that this is starting to get a bit complicated so I will spare you the details. My point is that unless you are buying a really expensive home, the chance of you saving a lot of money in taxes each year by owning a home is low, especially with the recent changes in our tax code.
To summarize, the decision to purchase a home should not be taken lightly. There are a ton of factors and added costs associated with buying a house that people who rent rarely have to consider. You cannot simply compare the average mortgage price to the average rent price and think you are making a sound financial decision. You have to factor in several other costs such as the down payment (although medical doctors can usually get a pass on this) and high transaction/closing costs that are 3% of the purchase price. You also have to make sure your credit score is high enough, your income in steady enough, and your debt is small enough to get approved for a loan.
Once you’ve done this leg work, you need to factor in annual property taxes (another 1% of the home price), homeowners insurance (another few hundred dollars a month), and inevitable maintenance repairs. Lastly, you should run the numbers and see what purchasing a home really costs, keeping in mind that it may not save you as much in taxes as other people may lead you to believe. After considering all of these factors, you must be honest with yourself and ask: can I truly afford to buy a home. If the answer is yes, congratulations! If the answer is no, re-evaluate this process next year when you are in a better financial position.
My goal is not to discourage you. I just want to make sure you are aware of all of the financial costs associated with buying a home so that you can make an informed decision for you and your family.
Tell me, do you plan to buy a home or keep renting?