How much cheaper should the own vs. rent be, in order to buy?

[carlsbadworker]

Assume if you are buying 4B house, the formula that I uses is the local decent-shape 3B apartment rent (maybe with one garage rental as well). There should be plenty of data from the apartment ads. I figure that’s the bottom of the housing rental price. Sure, the apartment might be currently running or could be running promotion so it is not exactly the bottom price. But that’s what I use.

Then you calculate mortgage, HOA, MoloRoos, property tax and insurance. If those two prices are close, then I think it is time to buy. Sure, you will be out the downpayment, but you also get some tax benefits on the interest. I call it a wash.

If it is 5B house with 3000+ sqft, I will probably add another 10%. I’m buying 4B with 2700 sqft, so I don’t give extra rental price credit.

I don’t know if you might consider that a dream target. But I think I have achieved that with the house that I’m currently in escrow on. In the end, however, I think it is OK to overpay a little as long as you like the house. The difference in investment return is going to be small as long as you are paying attention to the buy/rent tradeoff.

[carlsbadworker]

By the way, I read somewhere that historically, at the housing bottom, buying is 10% cheaper than renting. I think 4B house rental usually is 10% more expensive than 3B apartment. That’s why I used the formula that I am using.

[carlsbadworker]

By the way, I read somewhere that historically, at the housing bottom, buying is 10% cheaper than renting. I think 4B house rental usually is 10% more expensive than 3B apartment. That’s why I used the formula that I am using.

[carlsbadworker]

By the way, I read somewhere that historically, at the housing bottom, buying is 10% cheaper than renting. I think 4B house rental usually is 10% more expensive than 3B apartment. That’s why I used the formula that I am using.

[carlsbadworker]

By the way, I read somewhere that historically, at the housing bottom, buying is 10% cheaper than renting. I think 4B house rental usually is 10% more expensive than 3B apartment. That’s why I used the formula that I am using.

[carlsbadworker]

By the way, I read somewhere that historically, at the housing bottom, buying is 10% cheaper than renting. I think 4B house rental usually is 10% more expensive than 3B apartment. That’s why I used the formula that I am using.

[Scarlett]

[quote=carlsbadworker]Assume if you are buying 4B house, the formula that I uses is the local decent-shape 3B apartment rent (maybe with one garage rental as well). There should be plenty of data from the apartment ads. I figure that’s the bottom of the housing rental price.
(…)
Then you calculate mortgage, HOA, MeloRoos, property tax and insurance. If those two prices are close, then I think it is time to buy. Sure, you will be out the downpayment, but you also get some tax benefits on the interest. I call it a wash.
(…)
In the end, however, I think it is OK to overpay a little as long as you like the house. The difference in investment return is going to be small as long as you are paying attention to the buy/rent tradeoff.
[/quote]

Thanks, Carlsbadworker! 3 BR apt rent – that’s a very good idea! Sure, the apartments rents are more reliable as a market indicator…. I am sure there are some 3 bdr in PQ area. Congrats for you, btw!

Owning a house has its benefits for your lifestyle – extra room/storage/garage, yard/patio, freedom of decorating/customizing, etc. For us it means also longer commute, but it’s not very bad.

[Scarlett]

[quote=carlsbadworker]Assume if you are buying 4B house, the formula that I uses is the local decent-shape 3B apartment rent (maybe with one garage rental as well). There should be plenty of data from the apartment ads. I figure that’s the bottom of the housing rental price.
(…)
Then you calculate mortgage, HOA, MeloRoos, property tax and insurance. If those two prices are close, then I think it is time to buy. Sure, you will be out the downpayment, but you also get some tax benefits on the interest. I call it a wash.
(…)
In the end, however, I think it is OK to overpay a little as long as you like the house. The difference in investment return is going to be small as long as you are paying attention to the buy/rent tradeoff.
[/quote]

Thanks, Carlsbadworker! 3 BR apt rent – that’s a very good idea! Sure, the apartments rents are more reliable as a market indicator…. I am sure there are some 3 bdr in PQ area. Congrats for you, btw!

Owning a house has its benefits for your lifestyle – extra room/storage/garage, yard/patio, freedom of decorating/customizing, etc. For us it means also longer commute, but it’s not very bad.

[Scarlett]

[quote=carlsbadworker]Assume if you are buying 4B house, the formula that I uses is the local decent-shape 3B apartment rent (maybe with one garage rental as well). There should be plenty of data from the apartment ads. I figure that’s the bottom of the housing rental price.
(…)
Then you calculate mortgage, HOA, MeloRoos, property tax and insurance. If those two prices are close, then I think it is time to buy. Sure, you will be out the downpayment, but you also get some tax benefits on the interest. I call it a wash.
(…)
In the end, however, I think it is OK to overpay a little as long as you like the house. The difference in investment return is going to be small as long as you are paying attention to the buy/rent tradeoff.
[/quote]

Thanks, Carlsbadworker! 3 BR apt rent – that’s a very good idea! Sure, the apartments rents are more reliable as a market indicator…. I am sure there are some 3 bdr in PQ area. Congrats for you, btw!

Owning a house has its benefits for your lifestyle – extra room/storage/garage, yard/patio, freedom of decorating/customizing, etc. For us it means also longer commute, but it’s not very bad.

[Scarlett]

[quote=carlsbadworker]Assume if you are buying 4B house, the formula that I uses is the local decent-shape 3B apartment rent (maybe with one garage rental as well). There should be plenty of data from the apartment ads. I figure that’s the bottom of the housing rental price.
(…)
Then you calculate mortgage, HOA, MeloRoos, property tax and insurance. If those two prices are close, then I think it is time to buy. Sure, you will be out the downpayment, but you also get some tax benefits on the interest. I call it a wash.
(…)
In the end, however, I think it is OK to overpay a little as long as you like the house. The difference in investment return is going to be small as long as you are paying attention to the buy/rent tradeoff.
[/quote]

Thanks, Carlsbadworker! 3 BR apt rent – that’s a very good idea! Sure, the apartments rents are more reliable as a market indicator…. I am sure there are some 3 bdr in PQ area. Congrats for you, btw!

Owning a house has its benefits for your lifestyle – extra room/storage/garage, yard/patio, freedom of decorating/customizing, etc. For us it means also longer commute, but it’s not very bad.

[Scarlett]

[quote=carlsbadworker]Assume if you are buying 4B house, the formula that I uses is the local decent-shape 3B apartment rent (maybe with one garage rental as well). There should be plenty of data from the apartment ads. I figure that’s the bottom of the housing rental price.
(…)
Then you calculate mortgage, HOA, MeloRoos, property tax and insurance. If those two prices are close, then I think it is time to buy. Sure, you will be out the downpayment, but you also get some tax benefits on the interest. I call it a wash.
(…)
In the end, however, I think it is OK to overpay a little as long as you like the house. The difference in investment return is going to be small as long as you are paying attention to the buy/rent tradeoff.
[/quote]

Thanks, Carlsbadworker! 3 BR apt rent – that’s a very good idea! Sure, the apartments rents are more reliable as a market indicator…. I am sure there are some 3 bdr in PQ area. Congrats for you, btw!

Owning a house has its benefits for your lifestyle – extra room/storage/garage, yard/patio, freedom of decorating/customizing, etc. For us it means also longer commute, but it’s not very bad.

[peterb]

Perhaps you could try running an ad on Craigslist saying what you’re looking for and how much you’re willing to spend? See what kind of responses you get. No reason to be passive here when the data is so important to your analysis. Search for other ways as well, like property management companies, etc….
I think you may discover an interesting trend as well as pick-up some data that’s not easily attainable. I’ve often wanted to see a correlation of rental prices for a given unemployment level. Or occupancy rates of residential units and homes correlated to rental price trends. A study well worth making these days since so many are utilizing the “rent vs. buy” calculation as their logic for purchasing right now.

[peterb]

Perhaps you could try running an ad on Craigslist saying what you’re looking for and how much you’re willing to spend? See what kind of responses you get. No reason to be passive here when the data is so important to your analysis. Search for other ways as well, like property management companies, etc….
I think you may discover an interesting trend as well as pick-up some data that’s not easily attainable. I’ve often wanted to see a correlation of rental prices for a given unemployment level. Or occupancy rates of residential units and homes correlated to rental price trends. A study well worth making these days since so many are utilizing the “rent vs. buy” calculation as their logic for purchasing right now.

[peterb]

Perhaps you could try running an ad on Craigslist saying what you’re looking for and how much you’re willing to spend? See what kind of responses you get. No reason to be passive here when the data is so important to your analysis. Search for other ways as well, like property management companies, etc….
I think you may discover an interesting trend as well as pick-up some data that’s not easily attainable. I’ve often wanted to see a correlation of rental prices for a given unemployment level. Or occupancy rates of residential units and homes correlated to rental price trends. A study well worth making these days since so many are utilizing the “rent vs. buy” calculation as their logic for purchasing right now.

[peterb]

Perhaps you could try running an ad on Craigslist saying what you’re looking for and how much you’re willing to spend? See what kind of responses you get. No reason to be passive here when the data is so important to your analysis. Search for other ways as well, like property management companies, etc….
I think you may discover an interesting trend as well as pick-up some data that’s not easily attainable. I’ve often wanted to see a correlation of rental prices for a given unemployment level. Or occupancy rates of residential units and homes correlated to rental price trends. A study well worth making these days since so many are utilizing the “rent vs. buy” calculation as their logic for purchasing right now.

[Author]

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