June is Homeownership Month and we celebrate Americans who are becoming homeowners.  Everyone’s journey to homeownership is unique and there are many people involved in the process of realizing the American Dream.  Homeownership strengthens communities and provides stability for families and owning a home is essential to building personal wealth.  

Equity Buildup

Owning a home many times is a great investment.  The average rate of return you should expect from owning a home grows the longer you live in the home.  Renting may be better in some situations, but homeowners tend to grow wealth faster than renters.  A home can be a smart investment, but, on average, its expected return is about equal to investing in stocks. Expected returns vary widely city-to-city, and are highly dependent on a city's home price-rent ratio.

Tax Incentives 

Mortgage interest deduction is designed to make homeownership more affordable by reducing your tax bill. There are limits on the deduction, depending on how much you borrowed and when you bought the home. 

Property tax deduction: Homeowners may deduct property tax payments as well as certain other expenses from their federal income tax if they itemize their deductions. 

Mortgage points: With the exception of very large loans, you may deduct the points you paid when you got your mortgage. In some cases, you may deduct the entire amount in one tax year; in other situations, you may deduct the points equally each year over the life of the loan.

Moving expenses: Tax breaks for moving expenses are limited. Only active-duty members of the armed forces are allowed to deduct moving expenses. The move must be because of a permanent change of station due to a military order.

Homeownership & Community Pride

Homeowners form the bedrock of successful communities.  Owning a home can give the homeowner a sense of pride and freedom not experienced as a renter. The homeowner has no landlord or rent payments which can increase every year. The buyer can maintain his home according to his/her wishes, enjoy pet ownership if desired, and relax in his/her own yard.  Homeownership strengthens communities and provides stability for families.