RENTING IS BETTER THAN BUYING A HOME USING MORTGAGE 2
Renting is Better than Buying a Home Using Mortgage
Living and working in urban cities compels individuals either to buy or rent a home.
The choice between renting a home and buying one is a key financial decision that people
residing in cities make. For the majority, renting is the initial step towards house ownership
and for others, it has turned into a comfy lifestyle. With the hefty initial investments
associated with buying a house, the majority of young people begin their lives in rental
apartments. Those who are opposed to the idea of renting a house and cannot raise the
upfront budget for buying a home are forced to consider mortgage financing. Both renting
and mortgage are marred by setbacks that limit their effectiveness. In a dynamic market
dominated by social-economic forces that dictate house ownership rates, renting is better than
a mortgage.
Renting ensures flexibility, especially among individuals with temporary jobs and
those who work on contract basis. In the current competitive labor market, permanent jobs
have reduced significantly resulting in an increase in the number of people working on
contracts limited to a period less than six months (Kivedal, 2013). In this perspective, the
majority of people shift from one firm to another in a bid to secure employment. For this
reason, taking a mortgage and buying a permanent home limits an individual from landing
job opportunities. For instance, if an individual takes mortgage financing and gets a better
paying job elsewhere, relocation will present a dilemma. Committing to a mortgage curtails
the freedom of an individual in regard to relocating.
Mortgages are associated with significant financial burdens due to high interest rates.
According to Sovilj and Tkalec (2014), the average mortgage interest rates in most countries
falls between 16 and 20 percent depending on the competition in real estate industry and the
value of property in the specific nation. In this light, taking up a mortgage limits the financial
freedom to invest in other revenue-generating ventures. Stafford, Chen, and Schoeni (2012)