Is it ever better to rent than buy a home?

Frequently.

Depends on your plans for immediate and longterm future and your lifestyle preferences. Being tied down can be a negative, and having to sell. When you "buy" a home, if you don't put down a substantial deposit 20-50%, you are mostly renting money from the bank to pay for living in the home. If the markets are good, your home may rise in value, but it is unlikely you will actually recover much more than you have paid in, and very common to recoup much less. People tend to ignore the HUGE sums of interest paid when "buying" a home. Of course there are tax advantages to buying rather than renting.

Not at all illogical to become a renter after being an owner. Sounds like you would be happier in a condo or townhome or gated community where all exterior maintenance is done for you, if you decide to buy. That of course comes at a price, your monthly assessment.

If you are tired of doing all those things you listed, then, yes, go ahead and rent. Put the money you get from the sale of your place into something that will build equity or earn you money. Real estate isn't the only investment people make.

Just keep in mind, if you are going from owning a house to renting an apartment, you have to put up with living in close quarters with other people. You may be annoyed by upstairs neighbors making noise or downstairs neighbors making noise. It is a completely different lifestyle.

This is really a life style question. It sounds like you would be very happy in an apartment, but remember the rent normally goes up every year. The really smart thing to do would be to rent and invest the difference between what you would be paying to keep a house and the cost of the apartment. That way you would not be loosing out on much of the tax or investment benefit of owning a house. Good Luck.

I agree with you 100%. I went from being a married homeowner to a single apratment renter and the maintenance free bit is worth every penny I pay in rent.

You can always try a maintenance free facility like a condo or townhouse..that way you can still own and have the benefits of equity and property ownership. Thats what I plan to do when I get my finances in order enough to buy again. Good luck to ya!

The real estate market has adjusted greatly in the last 24 months. Homes are more affordable now and it is a great time to buy while the market is on it's knees. When the economy picks up again prices will rise. Buy low and get in on the lowest interest rates we have seen in 40 years! It's a buyer's market.

I am a California Lender.

relies upon how long you propose on staying there. coverage, maintenance, are different issues to evaluate alongside with taxes. income to buying inspite of the fact this is that the cost oftentimes continually rises, so in case you may elect to sell you are able to possibly make money. additionally ... you like a paid off abode once you retire (or quicker) if a threat. Makes a great distinction to not have lease money.