Jul. 23, 2012
My fiancé and I bought our first house exactly one month ago. And after moving in during the first days of a Texas summer, we’re settling in just fine.
Since then – in between spending too much time at home improvement stores and hanging the last of the pictures on the wall – I’ve come to appreciate a few advantages of homeownership.
Everyone has their own style, and owning a home is an opportunity to express yours with color, accessories, or landscaping choices. You may find that loved ones are forthcoming with suggestions for your first home, but at the end of the day, it’s yours to customize as your heart – and budget – desires.
It’s also nice that we’re the only ones who need to be involved in the planning. So far, we’ve talked about building a deck off the back porch and upgrading the front door, and it’s nice not to have to get a landlord or property manger’s approval.
One of my favorite things about owning a home is that I now have an even more vested interest in things like the neighborhood, the school district, and the city.
For instance, our city sponsors homeowner education events to learn about residential foundations and using native plants. And our property owners association has several committees that owners can volunteer to serve on for the betterment of the neighborhood.
Sure, things will need fixing or updating, but I’m talking about the long-term stability you can offer your family … and your wallet. No increasing rent or decision of whether to renew the lease annually or move.
Of course there are also financial benefits to owning a home that we’re looking forward to – a property tax exemption, deducting the interest from our income taxes. But for now, we’re just happy to have our own quarter-acre-sized piece of the world to come home to.
