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There comes a time in renters' lives when they ask the age-old question: Should I become a homeowner? Obviously, finances have a lot to do with the decision whether to rent vs. buy.

But there's more to it than just credit ratings and cash reserves—homeownership is a lifestyle change that you have to be willing to take on.

“People mostly talk about buying and selling a home from a financial perspective,” says Andy Piper, founder and CEO of the Piper Partners Real Estate Team at Keller Williams Realty in Ann Arbor, MI.

“But when you dig deeper, you find out the real reasons people want to buy a home relate to the pride of ownership, self-expression, connecting in a community, and providing for their family.”

Are you mentally ready to take on homeownership and all the obligations that come with it? Here are a few pointers that will help you assess whether you're ready to become the master of your own domain.

 

1. You're ready for home maintenance and upkeep

As a renter, you’re used to putting in a service request to your property manager or calling the maintenance supervisor to come fix the dishwasher when it breaks down. But owning a home means you're now responsible for making repairs—or hiring and paying someone to take care of them.

“So many renters tell me they want to plant a garden, or rake leaves,” says Piper. “The natural pull of wanting to plant your feet on your own piece of ground and get your hands in the dirt is huge.”

Just being willing to shoulder home maintenance could indicate you're ready to take the home-buying plunge.

2. You're ready to settle down and stay put 

Many of us test-drive a few different cities before landing on a place where we'd like to put down roots. If you've found an area where you'd like to live for a significant period of time, homeownership is a worthy consideration.

Experts say a home is an investment that is likely to increase in value as long as you hold onto it for a few years.

“Buyers should plan to stay in their home for at least three years. If possible, seven to 10 years is a better time horizon, because it is roughly one full cycle of the housing market,” says Piper.

3. You're itching to make home upgrades

Do you fantasize about putting in wood floors or tearing out that laminate countertop and replacing it with elegant, durable quartz? If your lack of control over the interior design of your home is too much to bear, you're probably motivated to buy property you can customize to your heart's content.

Nancy Beck, an agent with Century 21 in San Diego, also points out that homeowners can “make homes more functional for their needs.”

For example, if you work from home, you may need to build out a workspace in a nook or closet.

Alternatively, if you or a family member is disabled, you may need to make specific modifications that'll make life easier, like lowering the countertops or building an accessible shower.

4. You want more privacy and control over your living space

Sick of your landlord coming into your apartment, or hearing your neighbors arguing, loud music blasting, or footsteps tramping up and down the stairs? Homeownership can give you the privacy and peace that you crave.

Animal lovers will be happy to have a place of their own where they don't need to pay an extra fee, or ask a landlord for permission to house their four-legged friends.

5. You want your home sweet home

You can make any rented space a home. But as sweet as that space may be, it’s still not yours. And putting hundreds—or thousands—of dollars a month toward housing that you don't actually own can weigh heavy on your mind.

“The personal satisfaction and sense of accomplishment achieved through homeownership can enhance psychological health, happiness. and well-being for homeowners and those around them,” says Piper.

Ultimately, buying a home is an investment in your own future, and, if you're financially and mentally prepared, homeownership can give you a feeling of security and stability.

Anayat Durrani is a freelance education reporter for U.S. News and World Report. Her work has been featured in Military Officer, California Lawyer, the American Scholar, and PracticeLink magazines.