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Buy a home or Rent a home, Which is cheaper in Madison wi?

s it cheaper to Rent or own a home and the Madison, Wi, area?

A great question that we often hear. RealEstateGuy team felt it worth consideration and a blog post.

This calculation does NOT consider the Tax implications of home ownership, and the appreciation aspects, both of which have traditionally made home ownership a no brainer. This exercise hangs on the NOW aspects, dollar in the pocket.


This exercise does take in the face that rental prices are rising, and interest rates are historically low.


I found an actual home listed for rent on Craigslist. Rent does not seem unrepresentative of the West Madison area/size at $2000 a month. see the CL listing below.



Now the home had been for sale on the market for 6 months at $350k, Let's calculate a mortgage with a 20% down, That would be $280,000 and the interest rate 4.25 on a 30 year.

payment $1377, plus taxes and insurance $600. that is $1977. Cheaper? yes! significant? No!


However, let's look at the home, The assessment is $311k. The home did not sell because it was high. I'd suggest fair market more around $300,000. This would be the price that a similar home (not necessarily this one) would actually sell for.


Repeat the above calculation on a $240,000 loan = $1180, plus 600 taxes & Insurance = $1780.


This is a great example, though not statistical proof, that home ownership is indeed a way to go.

Read this great article.

Is now a good time to buy a home?



Look for homes for sale

Posted Friday Nov 25