| It used to be that both men and women waited to | | | | pockets with nothing to show for it. They dislike not |
| become first-time homebuyers until they married. They | | | | being able to decorate as they wish or sharing space |
| rented or lived at home with parents until Mr. or Ms. | | | | with roommates. |
| Right was found. | | | | For some locations and personal situations, however, |
| Today, according to the National Association of | | | | renting may be the best and cheapest alternative. You |
| Realtors, one in every four home real estate | | | | do not pay for repairs, maintenance or property taxes. |
| purchases are made by singles, with single women | | | | You have more flexibility to move when you wish, |
| outnumbering the men by two-to-one. The cause is | | | | without being concerned with first selling your real |
| thought to be that many single men in their 20s or | | | | estate. So, if you are considering buying residential real |
| early 30s continue to live with their parents until | | | | estate, compare your options carefully before making |
| marriage, while single women are more apt to move | | | | a commitment. |
| into rental real estate with friends after college. | | | | Homeownership Benefits Are Many |
| Additionally, women are marrying later in life, attaining | | | | Owners of real estate attain many benefits. There are |
| higher educational degrees, and spending more time to | | | | numerous real estate deductions at tax time on both |
| establish their careers. This provides them more | | | | federal and state income taxes, especially if you |
| available financial resources to purchase their own real | | | | purchased your home real estate within the tax year. |
| estate and move into a place of their own. | | | | (See my article at this web site, titled Real Estate Tax |
| My daughter did this in her early 30s. A successful | | | | Breaks for Your Home for more benefits of |
| web designer in West Palm Beach, Florida, she | | | | homeownership.) Because it is your home, you can |
| decided that she was wasting her money renting and | | | | make more permanent changes through renovations |
| wanted something that was hers. As with most single | | | | and decorating. Additionally, your investment generally |
| renters, she purchased a condo (townhouses are | | | | increases in value and you accumulate equity that can |
| another good alternative for previous apartment | | | | be borrowed against in the future for necessities, such |
| dwellers). Though it was a big step and a huge | | | | as the purchase of a car or that vacation of which |
| commitment, she has a sense of security, satisfaction | | | | you always dreamed. |
| and accomplishment that cannot be found through | | | | Though buying real estate before marriage is a big |
| renting. | | | | commitment, more and more singles are doing just that |
| Some Benefits of Renting | | | | and finding the move much more rewarding than |
| After renting for several years, many singles become | | | | renting. |
| frustrated with their dollars going into someone elses | | | | |