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Benefits of Home Ownership

The Greater Rochester Association of REALTORS® Wants You To Know the Benefits of Owning a Home…

Long term investment

• Home ownership is an investment in your future. It provides shelter and security, and fosters involvement in community life, and provides important social and economic benefits.
• Homeowners are more likely to vote, and they volunteer time for political and charitable causes more frequently than renters.
• Owners move less frequently than renters, providing more neighborhood stability. In turn, involvement in community quality-of-life issues helps prevent crime, improve childhood education and support community upkeep.
• Homeowners stay in their homes a median of 6 years.
• Homeowners benefit from the power of leverage. Over 10 years, a $10,000 investment in the stock market at an average 10 percent market rate of return would yield $23,600. The same investment as a down payment on a $200,000 home at a normal appreciation rate of 5 percent would return nearly 5 times the stock market return, at $110,300.

REALTORS® add value

• Buyers and sellers give high marks to REALTORS® for the expertise and professionalism they bring to the real estate transaction.
• Nearly 9 out of 10 recent buyers and sellers would definitely or probably use the same agent again in future transactions or recommend their agent to others.
• Today’s typical home sale involves more than 20 steps to complete the transaction. REALTORS® make sure everything goes smoothly to ensure a successful transaction.  Click here for more info on this topic. 
• Recent buyers identified the following benefits provided by their real estate agent:
  • Helped them understand the process
  • Pointed out unnoticed features/faults with property
  • Improved buyer’s knowledge of search areas
  • Negotiated better sales contract terms
  • Provided a better list of service providers
  • Shortened buyer’s search
  • Provided a better list of mortgage lenders
• Learn more... Why Use a REALTOR®?
• How to Choose a Real Estate Professional
• Find an Agent
• Find a Real Estate Office

Financing is Available

• For buyers who qualify for conventional financing, mortgages are available at near historically low rates. Click to see current and historical interest rates.
• FHA programs are a viable alternative for many first-time buyers. FHA market share for home purchases is expected to triple over the next 3 years, from an estimated 4 percent in 2007 to an estimated 12 percent in 2009.

Find your new home...