Should you buy or rent your home?
Choosing whether to buy or rent your home is a difficult decision, but we can help you decide which could be the better option for you, with some of the main advantages and disadvantages of buying and renting.
Buying: the upside
Investing in your future
Once you've paid off your mortgage, you'll own your home outright. And if property prices have risen, it could be worth more than what you originally paid for it.
Live your way
Because it's your home, you can do exactly what you want with it. If you want to decorate, extend or refurbish it, you don't have to ask a landlord's permission. Don't forget, you might need planning permission for any structural changes to your home.
Buying: the downside
Saving for a deposit
As per the Central Bank of the U.A.E regulations, when you're buying your first property to live in, you need to make a down payment of at least 20% if you're a UAE national, or 25% if you're a resident expat.[@mortgages-footnote-1]
So if you're buying a home worth AED 700,000, you'd need a down payment of AED 140,000 if you're a UAE national, or AED 175,000 if you're a resident expat. It takes time and commitment to save a large lump sum.
Upfront fees
The extra fees and expenses can soon add up, so you'll need to factor these into your budget. They include, home loan arrangement fees, valuation fees, title deed registration fees and moving costs.
Renting: the upside
You don't own the property
You won't get any financial return on your money as your rent is essentially going to the landlord. So, you won't benefit from any potential increase in property's value in the future.
Rent increases
There's no guarantee that your rent will stay the same as your landlord has the right to review and increase your rent in the future.
It's not a home for life
Many landlords will only offer tenancy agreements of 6 to 12 months at a time. If they decide to sell, they'll give you sufficient notice, meaning you'll need to find somewhere else to live.
You might be interested in
