Rent or buy an apartment: Lifehacker and PSB tell us which is better

There is a large selection of apartments and mortgage programs on the market

In big cities, you can choose a five-room townhouse for a large family or an affordable studio for a student. The rental market tends to be tighter. It adapts to mass demand, so it is flooded with one-room and two-room apartments. Finding something non-standard at an affordable price is more difficult.

There is also no shortage of mortgage programs. You can choose a bank that will provide the most comfortable conditions and rates. In addition, there are preferential programs: family programs, for IT workers, or subsidized options from developers.

Your own apartment can be an investment

According to VTsIOM poll, almost half of Russians would like to invest their savings in purchasing housing. So no matter how much the real estate market is predicted to collapse, people still view apartments as investments. Not all objects rise in price at the same rate, and not every purchase will increase your investment. However, even a Khrushchev house in a good area will at least help protect savings from inflation.

The final cost of mortgage housing is always higher

Any loan carries interest. The overpayment on them is sometimes equal to the cost of the apartment, especially if the mortgage is issued for a long term. Early repayment helps reduce the total amount. For the first few years, most of the scheduled monthly payment goes toward interest payments. And everything you pay in excess of this goes towards the principal debt.

You can dispose of your apartment as you wish

When you buy real estate, you become the owner. This means you can do almost anything with it. Even register in the apartment a company or register there is a relative or partner. And the owner has the right participate in managing the house and deciding how much money to spend on repairing the entrance and whether a new playground is needed in the yard.

You will have to pay tax for the apartment

Base rate for apartments - 0.1% of the cadastral value. Municipalities and cities of federal significance have the right to reduce it to zero or increase it to a total of 0.3%. If the cadastral value exceeds 300 million rubles, then the rate increases to 2%. Tax deductions and benefits are provided, but everything here is very individual. The person for whom the property is registered in the Unified State Register must pay tax once a year. And no later than December 1st. Otherwise, a penalty will be charged for each day of delay.

Real estate gives a sense of stability

Buying an apartment is an investment in something “your own.” If the surrounding circumstances change dramatically, the owner still has a place where he can wait out the storm and restore the resource. Moreover, on his own territory, a person is free to follow only those rules that are comfortable for him. For example, cleaning when you want, and not when the landlord demands.

Long-term credit can be stressful

Only a few people can buy their dream apartment without a mortgage. Most have to borrow from the bank. Debt, especially one stretched over several decades, is usually accompanied by anxiety. It becomes more difficult to afford a new phone or travel, to decide on a sharp career change or an expensive hobby. And losing a job can generally be perceived as a disaster.

You can decorate your home the way you want

A new apartment is like a blank slate. It will allow you to realize your wildest ideas. And it doesn’t matter what type of housing it is - a new building with a rough finish or a secondary one. You can paint the walls any color, install a rain shower, lay parquet flooring and not regret that you will have to leave all this behind when you move.

Repairing from scratch is expensive

Even if we are talking about housing in a rough finish, the budget can be spent long before the pleasant stage of purchasing furniture and decor. In the case of a secondary building, the lion's share of the money will be spent on dismantling the old renovation and redevelopment.

Rent can be cheaper than mortgage payments

Loan terms vary. You can take out a loan for 30 years and pay 15,000 rubles every month, or you can regularly give 50,000 to the bank for five years. Costs for a premium apartment in a popular area will be even higher and are often comparable to the rental amount in the same area. But at the same time, renting leaves room for maneuver: you can always move to another place.

Inflation does not “eat up” the rent

To understand how inflation works, it is enough to compare how much a pack of cottage cheese cost in 2010 and today. The size of the mortgage payment does not change, so after 5 or 10 years you will owe the bank the same “pack of cottage cheese” as at the start. This won’t work with rent: rental prices will rise just like the rest.

The owner must deal with complex problems

The main financial responsibility of the tenant is to pay rent and not forget about utilities. Everything else is a headache for the property owner. If something seriously breaks down in a rented apartment, such as pipes or gas equipment, then the owner is usually responsible for repairs and visits to housing and communal services. Contributions for major repairs, property taxes and other expenses also most often fall on him.

There is a risk of ending up on the street

Especially if you rent a house without a contract. In this case, your interests are not protected by anything, and the owner can show the door at any time. It is difficult to engage in long-term planning in such conditions. The situation is better with the contract - reasons there are only a few for early eviction. These are problems with payment, destruction or damage to the apartment, the emergency condition of the premises.

Renting a home improves your independence...

In someone else's apartment, you have to figure out how to pay utilities, distribute the budget and manage the household. Therefore, renting is a good opportunity to move away from your parents and start an independent life when there is no money to buy or make a down payment on a mortgage.

...and allows you to change locations

You can live in a skyscraper or in a Stalinist building and understand which apartment is more comfortable. It’s also convenient when life circumstances change. The birth of a child, work in a new area or transfer to another city - you will be able to move quickly and without unnecessary expenses. As a rule, rented apartments already have the necessary things, such as a washing machine, kettle and iron.

A feeling of insecurity may arise in someone else's apartment

From eviction, an unscrupulous or overly controlling landlord. Thoughts about the future can also bother you. For example, where and how to live in retirement, when income decreases.

You will be able to find a stylish and cozy option

Landlords understand that an apartment with a shabby interior will not be in demand or will only be rented at a low price. Therefore, they also try to invest in design. So in a big city you can find an apartment with a fresh renovation and add inexpensive decor to the space.

Someone else's interior can be infuriating

The owners of some apartments are ready to sweat even over an old sideboard or curtains from the 70s. Some allow you to make repairs, but there is no guarantee that when you evict you will not be asked to return everything the way it was. This right is provided by law. Therefore, if the furnishings of the apartment do not suit the tenant, but he does not have money for housing to his liking, he will have to live among old crystal and sleep on a leaky sofa.