Or, perhaps just unsure about what to do at this point in your life: continue to rent or take the leap and purchase a home?

Here's some helpful information reflecting the 'break even horizon' when it comes to renting vs buying.

In other words, learn how many years it will take before owning a home becomes more financially advantageous than renting the same home.

This article takes into consideration some very important factors that should help determine your decisions:

1. Time horizon
2. Future prices and rents..financial trends
3. Tax deductibility 
4. Maintenance costs
5. Transaction costs

Learn how to compare 'apples to apples' not 'apples to oranges' so that you make the financial decisions that are truly in your best interest here.

For a quick summary on the subject, this version is simpler.

Whichever route is best for you...buying or renting...we're here to help every step of the way!

Space is limited! Please RSVP to info@preservationproperties.com by 5pm Thursday.

After eight years of renting, Kitsy Roberts and her husband, Janko Williams, are practically giddy about their new Seattle home. And like proud parents, they are eager to show it off, from its historic details to its fresh paint.

The living room of their 1920s bungalow in the city's Central District features a lovely Craftsman-style fireplace and high ceilings. But the house also came adorned with chartreuse carpeting and kitchen cabinets of faux pink marble.

Roberts and Williams moved in about a month ago; they've been feverishly fixing and renovating ever since. They're scraping away layers and layers of paint and wallpaper, filling in cracks and replastering. Pointing to the old and not very efficient windows, Roberts sighs and says, "We will probably need to replace these at some point."

People buy homes, especially first homes, for lots of reasons. They want more space, a backyard, a sense of privacy and security.

And until the housing bubble burst, homeownership was widely viewed as a good investment.

Today, buying a house may once again look like a sound financial option, at least in many parts of the country where markets have stabilized, mortgage interest rates are extremely low, and rents are moving sharply higher.

"If you are in a stable place and you have the financial ability ... it's kind of the perfect time to purchase a home," says Kim Colaprete, part of Team Diva real estate at Coldwell Banker Bain. She helped Roberts and Williams buy their house.

The couple — both of them are in their early 30s — had been thinking about taking the plunge into homeownership but hadn't gotten serious. Then they watched as a house in their favorite neighborhood sold in just a couple of days — and for substantially more than the asking price.

"I mean, that was sort of it — that one house," Roberts says.

"We're going to miss our chance," Williams recalls thinking. They set out to find a real estate agent, and a house of their own.

Their new home cost $350,000. Their monthly payment is $1,680, including taxes and insurance. That's about $250 more than their rent. But they'll get some of that back when they deduct the mortgage interest on their tax return.

"It beats paying rent," Roberts says. "You're paying for a roof over your head. But after that, you're paying into nothing."

Colaprete says she hears the same thing from most of her first-time buyers: They are sick of paying rent, especially since rents have been rising.

They say, " 'This is ridiculous, I can buy something with an interest rate of 3.35, or 3.5 [percent]. Why am I paying someone else to have an investment when I can have my own investment?' "

because you won't be able to make up for the transactional cost."

Those transaction costs — such as closing costs and commissions — can be thousands of dollars.

Historically, Humphries says, the so-called break-even point when buying becomes a better financial proposition than renting has been about four to five years in many markets. Today, he says, in lots of places it's less than three years.

Still, there are challenges for many would-be homebuyers. Obtaining a loan can be difficult. And in places like Seattle, there's a shortage of homes on the market — so there isn't much to choose from.

But Kitsy Roberts found what she was looking for: a cute house in the right neighborhood, for the right price.

"This is pretty neat," she says. "It's all ours."

Usable household items, sporting goods, electronics, bikes, books, appliances, non-upholstered furniture and more can be given away for use by others- and you are also welcome to take other’s stuff!  You may bring non-toxic, non-hazardous and clean items, such as doors, wood and plumbing/light fixtures, as well as clothing, fluorescent bulbs, paper, cardboard, glass and scrap metal for recycling.  Volunteers are needed to help on Oct 13th (Sat) - contact Miles at m_soundsmith@yahoo.com
 

Article from The Green Decade

Article provided by Boston.com

This Newton/Needham Chamber of Commerce EXPO showcases solutions you need to reduce your carbon footprint and over 60 exhibitors & workshops in one area. It will be held from 11-5pm in Newton Centre during the Newton Harvest Fair which also features continuous entertainment, food and games for the kids. Get tips on how to live a "green" life style. See exhibitors with green products, services and ideas. Find out how you can convert to solar electricity without paying thousands and reduce your electric bills. Have a green lawn all summer without watering and only cut once a month.

This article comes from Green Decade Newton

Saturday, September 29, 10am – 5pm & 6-10pm
Walnut Street, Newtonville

Please visit us at our booth on Saturday the 29th!  We will be giving out lots of information pertaining to sustainable building materials, local green companies and products that will help you live a more eco-friendly life.

April 21 (Sat) New England Mobile Book Fair - 11 am- 4 pm 82-84 Needham St. Newton – Green Decade and our “Magic Energy Bike” will be featured by the New England Mobile Book Fair!  

April 22 (Sun) Whole Foods Markets 916 Walnut St & 647 Washington St - Reduce your carbon footprint and help support Green Decade Newton with a purchase of a vegan product. Both Whole Foods Markets in Newton will donate $1 for each vegan bakery item sold in their Bakery departments. From 2-4 pm at the Walnut St. Store there will also be a garden workshop!

This article comes from Green Decade Newton

MBTA Proposing to Eliminate Several Newton Bus Routes.

The routes include bus 52 (Centre St.to Parker to Dedham); bus 170 (Waltham to W. Newton to Boston) and express buses 500, 554, and 555.  All Newton bus routes are under consideration for reduction or elimination.  These changes would put more cars on our roads, increasing traffic congestion, air pollution, and noise (road traffic is the most important single source of noise in urban environments).
 
Green Decade/Newton believes good public transit system is crucial to the livability of our villages and vital to the economic, social and environmental health of our region.  We urge the MBTA to look for other alternatives that will encourage and strengthen public transit.
 
You have until March 1 to tell the MBTA what you think by e-mail to fareproposal@mbta.com; by regular mail to MBTA attn:  Fare Proposal Com., 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116; by phone 617-222-3200/TTY 617-222-5146.

This article comes from Green Decade Newton