If you live in St. Louis and your lease is expiring soon, you may be wondering if it’s time to buy a home. But the answer isn’t as simple as yes or no. There are a few different factors that come into play when deciding whether buying a home is the right move for you. In this article, we will discuss a couple of the pros and cons of buying versus leasing to help you make an informed decision about your next move.

Research Your Market

Before making any decisions about purchasing a home, it’s important to research the current market conditions in St. Louis and surrounding areas. This includes researching property values, average sale prices, and what kind of homes are available within your budget. You should also consider how long properties typically stay on the market before they sell so that you can gauge how competitive the market is at the moment. Being informed about the current state of the market will give you a better understanding of what kind of deal you might be able to get on a home purchase.

Look at Your Finances

Accurately assessing your financial situation is another important step when considering whether or not it’s time to buy a home in St. Louis. You should take into account all expenses associated with purchasing and maintaining a home, such as property taxes, insurance costs, renovations, etc. You’ll want to make sure that these costs won’t be too much for you to handle financially each month after taking into account other living expenses such as food, utilities, and transportation costs. Additionally, consider how much money you have saved for a down payment on a home, since most lenders require borrowers to put down at least 20% of the purchase price up front in order to qualify for financing.

Think About Your Future

Finally, it’s important to think about your future plans when deciding whether or not now is a good time for you to buy a house in St. Louis. Are you planning on staying in the area for many years? If so, then buying could be an excellent option since it allows you to build equity over time, while also providing stability since you don’t have to worry about renewing leases every year or two like with renting or leasing options. However, if there is any chance that your plans may change within the next few years, then renting may be more beneficial since it gives more flexibility when it comes time to move elsewhere, without having to worry about selling off property quickly or taking losses due to depreciation in market values over short periods of time (the longer-term horizon tends toward value appreciation).

Overall, there are many factors that need to be taken into consideration before deciding whether now is the right time for you to purchase a house in St. Louis or renew your lease instead. Researching local market conditions, accurately assessing your finances, and considering future plans are all critical components of making an informed decision regarding this matter. Taking all this into account can help ensure that whatever choice you make, you'll be happy with it in both short-term and long-term scenarios.

If you’d like to get pre-approved for a mortgage, so you know what you’re working with, please reach out to us. We’re always happy to help.