Real Estate: To Rent Or Buy?

Things being equal it's almost always better to own your home rather than to rent. After all, you build equity and get to write off your mortgage interest. And if you play your cards right, when you sell you'll be eligible for one of the best tax breaks around. But that doesn't mean that everyone should be a homeowner. If your move is short-term or if interest rates are high and property values outrageous, it may be worthwhile to deal with a landlord for a while. This worksheet will help you determine which path is best.