From Frugal Dad:

We are still in the midst of what most would consider a great time to buy a house. Benefits are plenty for first time home buyers and those looking to trade up alike, including sizable tax credits and low interest rates. I personally know a number of people currently renting a house that are finally considering buying a new home.

One argument used to convert renters to homeowners is a side-by-side comparison of mortgage payments to monthly rent. Realtors often like to tell potential buyers that renting is like "throwing money away." I happen to disagree with that logic, and think renting makes a lot of sense in certain scenarios.

Considering the lessons we've all learned from the 2008 real estate bubble, building equity is no longer a sure thing either.

Comparing rent to mortgages and declaring mortgages a cheaper option is to compare apples and oranges…

Read full article...

More Cruxallaneous:

The five best apartment search tools

The best cities to buy and rent a home

The BEST way to save tax dollars this month