4 Amazing Things About Homeownership

There really is nothing like the incredible pride, satisfaction, and joy that comes from owning your own home! Homeownership offers emotional and financial benefits that cannot be found anywhere else. As your trusted real estate agent at the Lake of the Ozarks, I am honoring National Homeownership Month by dedicating today's blog to some of the incredible things owning your own home has to offer. You might be surprised by some of them!

1. YOU (And Only You) Get To Call The Shots
As soon as you sign your name at the closing, you can officially wave goodbye to your days of having to check with your landlord before making any decisions about your living space. You and your family will get to be the ones who decide what color to paint the walls, what pets you wish to have, what upgrades you want to make, etc. Trust me - after months or years of renting, this will be a very welcome change!

2. You Build Equity
"Equity" is the dollar value of your home that you actually own. It can be determined by subtracting your outstanding loan balance from your home's current market value. Every time you lower your outstanding balance by making a mortgage payment or increase your home's value by performing upgrades, you build equity. This equity becomes a major financial asset - in fact, it is the sole reason that homeowners' net worth often far outweighs that of renters.

3. You Create A Better Environment For Your Children
If you have kids, ensuring that you provide a safe, nurturing environment for them to grow up in is probably at the top of your priorities list. Did you know that children of homeowners often perform better in school, have fewer instances of teenage pregnancies, and tend to grow up to be more financially successful adults than children of renters? Most people attribute these extra successes to the stable, consistent environment they get to grow up in. 

4. You Will Be More Engaged In Your Community
Studies show that people who stay actively involved in their communities tend to lead happier, longer, more fulfilled lives. Studies also show that people who own their homes tend to be more actively involved and invested in their communities than those who rent. By owning your home, you will probably increase your connection to your local community - and possibly extend your life in the process!

Celebrate National Homeownership Month:
Buy Your First Home At The Lake!
While these things certainly provide great examples of some of the benefits of homeownership, the list doesn't stop there. Owning your own home also provides an opportunity for a sort of "forced savings" - when you make your monthly mortgage payment every month, a portion of that comes back to you in the form of equity. Homeowners also get to enjoy the added social and emotional benefits that come from knowing their space is truly their own. 

If you have been thinking about buying a house at the Lake of the Ozarks, now is the perfect time to turn that dream into a reality. Contact me to schedule private showings of some of the homes for sale in Osage Beach, Sunrise Beach, Camdenton, Lake Ozark, Linn Creek, Eldon, or any of the surrounding areas. I would be thrilled to help you buy your first home at the Lake of the Ozarks!

Susan Spica
Professional REALTOR®

BerkShire Hathaway HomeServices
101 Crossings West, Ste. 202
Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Office: (573) 365-6868
Susan's Cell: (573) 280-0484