Posts tagged Housing

With mortgage rates at historic lows, the equation of rent versus buying housing has reached an inflection point.  It’s a multifactorial equation, hence not a simplistic answer, but worth revisiting.  The chart below illustrates median mortgage payments compared to rental prices:

Much has been written about the economics.  This five-part series by economics journalist, Barry Ritholtz, offers a good summary of the salient factors:

• Debunking the housing recovery story
• Home affordability reality check
• The problem with home prices
• Foreclosures
• The psychology of renting