If you ask almost every American what their plans are for the future, they will probably tell you they would like to own a home someday. After all, having your own house is the American Dream. But is it really a financial reality for everyone? Probably not. In many cases, it can be much more economical to rent an apartment or a house instead of purchasing one.

One reason not to is the money. When you purchase a house, you will have to qualify for a loan and pay a down payment. The best interest rates are typically offered to those who can put down 20 percent of the cost of the house. Unless you come into a lot of money or save for many many years, you’re going to have to get a loan to buy your house. That means your credit will have to be in a good place. If it’s not, you’ll be facing very high-interest rates if a bank is even willing to loan to you.

Often, the cost of renting an apartment or home is much cheaper than paying a monthly mortgage payment. There are also tons of miscellaneous expenses that come with owning a home. This can include anything from yard grooming to unexpected repairs. If you rent, many of these extra costs are taken care of by the owner. When you’re living in an apartment, you can just call up maintenance to fix a broken faucet. If you own your home, that expense will have to come out of your own pocket.

Another factor to consider when buying a home is employment. Are you purchasing your house in a place with plenty of job options? To make buying worthwhile, you want to make sure you’ll be living there for at least five to ten years. If your current job is stable and probably won’t be going away anytime soon, then buying a home might make more financial sense for you. This could also work if your area has plenty of opportunities in your field. But if your career has you traveling a lot or moving around from state to state every couple of years, renting is probably a better option.

The worst reason to buy a house is because everyone else is doing it. Don’t use your friends or family as a barometer for your financial health. If you can’t afford to buy a house, don’t do it. Take stock of your financial situation and make a decision that is best for you.

string(2554) "
If you ask almost every American what their plans are for the future, they will probably tell you they would like to own a home someday. After all, having your own house is the American Dream. But is it really a financial reality for everyone? Probably not. In many cases, it can be much more economical to rent an apartment or a house instead of purchasing one.
One reason not to is the money. When you purchase a house, you will have to qualify for a loan and pay a down payment. The best interest rates are typically offered to those who can put down 20 percent of the cost of the house. Unless you come into a lot of money or save for many many years, you're going to have to get a loan to buy your house. That means your credit will have to be in a good place. If it's not, you'll be facing very high-interest rates if a bank is even willing to loan to you. 
Often, the cost of renting an apartment or home is much cheaper than paying a monthly mortgage payment. There are also tons of miscellaneous expenses that come with owning a home. This can include anything from yard grooming to unexpected repairs. If you rent, many of these extra costs are taken care of by the owner. When you're living in an apartment, you can just call up maintenance to fix a broken faucet. If you own your home, that expense will have to come out of your own pocket.
Another factor to consider when buying a home is employment. Are you purchasing your house in a place with plenty of job options? To make buying worthwhile, you want to make sure you'll be living there for at least five to ten years. If your current job is stable and probably won't be going away anytime soon, then buying a home might make more financial sense for you. This could also work if your area has plenty of opportunities in your field. But if your career has you traveling a lot or moving around from state to state every couple of years, renting is probably a better option.
The worst reason to buy a house is because everyone else is doing it. Don't use your friends or family as a barometer for your financial health. If you can't afford to buy a house, don't do it. Take stock of your financial situation and make a decision that is best for you.
"

Everyone says the economy’s healthier than ever, but some of us still find it necessary to make that paycheck stretch…and stretch…and stretch. The better we understand our spending habits, the better we can manage them. Living frugally can benefit you in many ways. You’ll grow more self-reliant, creative, and resourceful as you learn to make

If your business offers corporate credit cards or expense accounts to employees, there’s a good chance there is unethical spending going on. 33% of corporate credit card holders admit to blatantly defrauding the companies they work for, and twice that amount confess to making “risky purchases.” But a thread on AskReddit reveals some of the

You Lose $20K Each Year Just For Being a Mom You may not know this, but there was a time when smoking was considered “liberated” behavior for women. There was a cigarette company Virginia Slims that was created specifically to attract female smokers during the bad old 1970s. The slogan was “You’ve come a long

We’ve all heard it before. Takeaway is way more tempting than cooking at home night after night after night. But although ordering-in might save you precious time, at the end of the day I’ll bet your wallet takes the hit. Everyone on the planet resorts to takeout after a long day’s work — and I’m

Experts agree: it’s time to clean your workspace for your most creative era yet Spring cleaning is overrated. In the Spring, I want to go-go-go! Not get bogged down in the minutiae of tidying. But once I get started, I’m one of those people who can’t stop decluttering. So I carve out designated days for

Oh, how far we’ve come! Recently, it was revealed that — finally! — women CEOs at Fortune 500 companies outnumber male CEOs named John. A dubious milestone, but it’s something to celebrate. Though women have come pretty far in society, the progress we’ve made is far from enough. From the pay gap to daily microaggressions,

The Momager May Be Worth More Than You Think… Kris Jenner is a pop culture icon for many reasons. While you may have watched her meteoric rise to fame on Keeping Up with the Kardashians — which originally debuted on E! — she’s actually been a fascinating figure in the public eye for ages.  As

In the 1980s movie Little Shop of Horrors, the protagonist Audrey fantasizes about owning a house of her very own. She doesn’t ask for much: just a simple one-storey place with a washer, dryer, and bedding will do.  And while this moment in the film is intended to satirize the American Dream by underlining how

The Kar-Jenner family is loaded thanks to their business prowess (and fierce momager, Kris Jenner.) Kim Kardashian said it best when she lamented that it “seems like nobody wants to work these days,” but these sisters never have a day off. And that’s why the topic of Kylie Jenner’s net worth is so intriguing.  But

Taylor Swift is a megastar singer-songwriter known for her narrative songwriting, catchy pop tunes, and versatility across genres like country, pop, and indie folk. She breaks every music record with ease, partially thanks to her die-hard Swiftie fans who follow her with vigor and buy out every single show. And with Taylor Swift’s net worth