When choosing between living options, you’ll have to settle the age-old question debate living in an apartment or buying a house. While only 36% of households are rented in the US, it can still make a lot more sense for different financial situations.
Don’t believe us? Allow us to make our case. Let’s compare living in an apartment vs house and see which is right for you!
Steady Expenses
When it comes to maintaining steady costs, you can’t beat living in an apartment. Owning a home may have a consistent mortgage and insurance premiums, or even relatively stable property taxes. However, other costs can be quite unpredictable.
For example, repairing a roof, replacing a water heater, or any other unexpected expense can add up to thousands of dollars at any given moment. If you have disposable income that you can save up and keep on hand, this isn’t a major issue.
Conversely, if you live paycheck to paycheck, have a lot of debt, or struggle to keep up with your bills, an apartment is a much safer option.
Overall Costs
Generally speaking, owning a home is a better option for overall costs and as a long-term investment. The money you spend is going toward your equity, building your net worth with each payment.
Also, mortgages tend to be much cheaper than rent in most markets. However, as we mentioned, apartments will have more steady and predictable expenses.
Another factor to consider is apartment amenities, as you only get what you pay for in a home. Unless you want to buy and maintain a pool and home gym, you can’t beat an apartment!
Stress and Work
Apartments simply come with less stress and less work. Someone else will take care of maintenance and repairs for you, meaning that you won’t have to worry about managing the property. Instead, you wake up to a snow storm and your parking lot or driveway is already plowed for you.
Flexibility
When it comes to mobility and flexibility in your location, apartments are the best choice. If you’re considering a short-term living situation (under five years), then an apartment is a better choice.
Also, if you’re unsure about your future work or living situation, the same is true. Apartments typically require a one-year lease followed by month-to-month payments.
With a house, you’ll need at least five years just to pay off the interest and build a small amount of equity. If you sell before that, you’re either starting from square one or taking a loss. Of course, selling takes a lot longer than giving a landlord a 30-day notice, too!
Also, finding the right apartment for your needs is relatively easy, especially compared to a house. There are always places in the right location and with the right amenities, which you can learn more about here.
Apartment vs House: Which Is Better?
Now that we’ve settled the score on living in an apartment vs house, you can make an informed decision about which is right for you. There’s no right answer for everyone, as they both have their pros and cons.
Choose what’s right for your financial and lifestyle needs, and stay up to date with our latest tips!
