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Home Ownership: Is the American Dream More Within Reach

by Tim Hart
"The most recent housing affordability data should be encouraging to many prospective home buyers, because it shows that home ownership remains within reach of median-income consumers even as most local markets appear to be on a recovery path," says NAHB Chairman Rick Judson.

Nearly 75% of homes sold between Oct 2012 and December 2012 were to families earning a median income of $65,000 at a median price of $188,000.

"It is noteworthy that affordability remains historically high thanks to favorable mortgage rates even as national home price indexes show some rise in values," says NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. 

The exterior limits of this trend are found in Utah, with 94% of home sales in the affordable range, and San Fran, California with only 28% of home sales in this same category.

Source: National Association of Home Builders

 ATHOMEINBOZEMAN
 

 

Understanding the Debate: Home Ownership v. Renting

by Tim Hart

Home Ownership Matters:


Renting versus buying—this is one of the classic debates today. Truth be told, each has their own advantages depending on the life of the person grappling with the debate. The following are the clear advantages to HOME OWNERSHIP:



AMERICAN JOBS. Home sales generate 2.5 private-sector jobs in an average year. Each sale is known to touch 80 occupations.

US ECONOMY. $60,000 is pushed into the economy for the purchase of furniture, home-improvement projects, and other related items. The housing market accounts for 15% of the GDP. Six out of eight recessions were ended largely due to home buying.

YOUR MONEY. The tax deduction savings that accompany home ownership are off-setting benefit that pushes owning a home beyond renting. Mortgage interest deductions, home equity loans, and many more options exist to assist buying a home.

“Home ownership has a significant impact on net worth, educational achievement, civic participation, health, and overall quality of life. And, home ownership helps create jobs—lots of them—right here at home.
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Source: http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/why-home-ownership-matters/home-ownership-matters/

Displaying blog entries 1-2 of 2