Should you buy a house or rent a house? Best Financial Decision| Owing vs Renting cost in all metros

Life is full of decisions. There can be simple like what to eat for dinner and where to eat? Or complicated ones like buying a home or rent it. One has to sacrifice the forgone option in a decision. There is no decision that we can make that doesn’t come with some sort of balance or sacrifice. – Simon Sinek. So when it comes to the decision of rent vs buy, you have to let go of certain advantages that come with the unchosen decision. For example, if you are planning to buy a house, well then you are blocking the amount you pay for the down payment. You could’ve invested it and got a higher return. But the advantage is you have something that you can call it your own. There are many things to consider while deciding whether to rent a house or buy it. Here are a few things that one has to consider while taking this decision.

How long are you planning to stay in the house?

The duration of your stay plays a major role in your decision making. When you are planning to stay for long in the house it’s better you buy it. If your duration of the stay is anytime below 7 years then you are better off renting out a house or apartment. This way you can save yourself from debt.

How much savings do you have?

This is another important factor. How much money have you saved up or invested for the down payment? A minimum of 20% is usually the down payment for owning any house. A lot of money is committed towards the down payment. And one has to have that amount to be eligible for a loan. If you have enough saved then it’s up to you if you want to spend that for the down payment of a home or use it for other financial goals.

Can you afford it?

With excitement to own/rent a new house one always forgets the unplanned expenses that come their way due to the decision was taken. Renting a house in a prime location might be a big blow to you than owning a house in a place less happening. Owning a house can also come with a bunch of new expenses. Make sure you are aware of all the costs before you take a decision. Always chose an option that is pocket-friendly.

How much debt do you currently have?

Monthly EMIs, credit card payments and all other loans come under debt. You would not want to increase the debt payments as debt is always a burden. A good rule of thumb is that the debt should be 40% or less of your income. If you are willing to buy a house then make sure your debt is 40% or less than your income.

What’s your top financial priority?

Buying a home can slow down the progress of other financial goals. So I suggest one better write down the financial goals and list it in the order of priority. If buying a home tops them all then go ahead with that decision. If not then stick to renting.

How will rent vs buy decision affect your lifestyle?

Owning and renting both require lifestyle changes. And exiting values play an important role too. People who prefer freedom, privacy, and control over their life prefer owning. Others prefer flexibility, convenience and short-term commitment that usually comes with renting.

Make your decision wisely. Make sure you take into consideration your current income, debt, and lifestyle into consideration before you make a decision. Let home buying not just be an emotional decision. Keep your thinking rational and make the decision that best suits you and your lifestyle.

Owning vs Renting a House

For years now, owning a house is a measure of financial success. Even when it’s not one of the smart decisions they have taken, buying a house was more of a reputation issue than anything else. Even if the social standing is kept aside, buying a home is more of an emotional decision than a rational one. People get attached to the idea of their own house. Keeping the emotional aspects aside, this article weighs the owning vs renting decision against each other and also gives you a gist of the real estate market in the top cities.

When to buy a house?

1. Duration of stay

When you are planning to stay for long in the house its better you buy it. And by long-term, I mean 10-15 years or more. If your stay is anywhere less than this, then renting out will be a better option.

2. Tax benefits for taking House Loan

If a loan is availed to buy a home, a claim up to Rs 2 lakhs on home loan interest is available. Also, when an exemption of Rs 1,50,000 on principal repayment is available under section 80C. If you are the first-time homebuyer then you can claim an additional Rs 50,000 a year under section 80EE on the loan taken until the loan is repaid. You certainly have the tax benefits if you are planning to buy a home.

3. The opportunity cost of down payment

The down payment made to buy a house is certainly huge. What is the opportunity cost of this payment if the same money is invested elsewhere? Stock markets and mutual funds have given annualized returns of 15% in the past. The interest on the home loan you pay is lesser than the interest you earn on mutual funds. So instead of blocking out on the funds now, maybe your decision to buy a house now can be postponed. Instead invest in the market via mutual funds right now to earn the amount for the down payment. So you can buy your home a few years down the line.

4. Cost of similar houses in that area

It’s obvious that people choose to live close to their place of work. If renting a house in an area close to work is getting costly, then buying a house is better. You can buy a house when the interest on the home loan you pay is less than the rent you pay to stay in that locality.

5. Resale value of the second hand house

When you are buying a house to stay in it is certainly an expense. But that shouldn’t stop you from looking at the appreciation value in that area. You may never want to sell your home but the resale value of the house is surely important to know your net worth. Buy a home only if you know that the value of it will appreciate in the future.

When to rent a house?

1. Duration of stay

If your duration of the stay is anytime below 7 years then you are better off renting out a house or apartment. Well, it takes you a minimum of 10 years to pay off your home loan so you might as well save yourself from debt.

2. Tax benefits for House rent HRA

If you are a working employee then you must have been already aware of HRA that can be claimed while filing taxes. The least of the following amount is available for deduction:

1. Actual HRA received;
2. 50% of [basic salary + DA] for those living in metro cities (40% for non-metros); or
3. Actual rent paid less 10% of basic salary + DA

3. Affordability

If the pay you receive is not allowing you to take a home loan and pay interests then you are better off renting. You can instead start investing in smaller amounts in mutual funds and earn the amount needed for the down payment.

4. Changing financial situations

If you are a person whose income isn’t regular or you are about to quit a job to start a business of your own then you are better off renting as you are not sure of your income regularity.

5. Rents of similar houses in that area

If you are a person who likes to live in luxury houses and the cost of the down payment and the interests that follow are higher than the rent you pay, then renting out is a better decision for you.

Owning House vs Renting House

Now let’s look at the market. Clearly, it is owning vs renting in the major cities and you can see that in the research done below. After a research on the rents and prices in the different areas of the top cities for the affordable, budget and luxury home categories the following can be concluded.

Delhi

The rent and the EMI you would be paying for an affordable home (850 sft) in Delhi is the same. So it is recommended that you own an affordable house in Delhi. It is recommended to rent out a budget (2000sft) and a luxury home (4500 sft) in Delhi as the EMI is higher than the rent.

Mumbai

The rent and the EMI you would be paying for an affordable home (500 sft) in Mumbai is the same. So it is recommended that you own an affordable house in Mumbai. 10 years from now, you would be paying the same rent and EMI in Mumbai for a budget home (1000sft). 16 years from now, you would be paying the same rent and EMI in Mumbai for a luxury home (1500 sft).

Chennai

The rent and the EMI you would be paying for an affordable home (750 sft) in Chennai is the same. So it is recommended that you own an affordable house in Chennai than renting it out. Owning a budget home (1500 sft) and luxury home (2500 sft) can prove that you took a right decision 25 years down the line. But any time before that renting out can prove better for you.

Kolkata

Kolkata seems to be a better place for owning an affordable home (800 sft) than renting it out. Budget home (1800 sft) and luxury home (2400 sft) will take a little longer (25 years) to break even.

Bengaluru

The Silicon Valley of India is better for owning an affordable home (850 sft). Budget (1600 sft) and the luxury (2700 sft) category have a breakeven of 16 and 20 years respectively.

Hyderabad

If you were to own a home in the world capital of biryani then an affordable home (900 sft) will prove to be a better choice now than a budget (1650 sft) and luxury (2650 sft) with 17 and 18 years of breakeven respectively.

Ahmedabad

In Ahmedabad Affordable (800 sft) home can be owned now that renting it out. The budget (1550 sft) and luxury (2550 sft) home have a higher EMI than the rent of 21 years. So if you are deciding to buy a home in Ahmedabad, it will be beneficial in the long term.

Pune

Pune, even though being a younger city than any of the major metros, has a higher breakeven for the budget and luxury home categories than the others. A budget home (1600 sft) and luxury home (2400 sft) has 25 years each before one is paying an EMI similar to the rent. An affordable home (800sft) can be owned right away in Pune as the Emi you will be paying is less than the rent.

Check the EMI calculator to calculate your House EMI

Conclusion

Renting or owning a house can depend on many factors. One has to know and analyze each of these to know which decision suits them best. Remember to take your decisions rationally and not under the influence of social factors.