Buy or Rent?

If you’re young and starting out, home ownership may seem like an impossible dream. However, you can increase your chances by reducing your debt. Answer the following questions to see where you stand.

How much credit card debt do I owe?

Cards from department stores and gas stations are revolving charge accounts, and they often carry interest rates of 20% and higher. If you have a balance on a revolving account, consider paying it off first. Look at tackling high-interest-rate credit cards next.

What about my student loans?

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit, Americans owe over $1.3 trillion for student loans. Typically, those loans, held by federal government agencies, have lower interest rates than other types of credit. So tackle debt with higher interest rates first.

So, buy or rent?

Work on your total-debt-to-gross-income ratio. Depending on the mortgage provider, your ratio should range anywhere from 28% to 40% or so. Next, check housing prices compared to paying rent. If rent rates are reasonable and home sale prices are high, money talks. Don’t forget to compare other ownership costs, including insurance, taxes, maintenance and travel to work.