Rent vs. Buy

Interesting article on money.cnn.com today folks! So...if you rent in todays market in MSP and surrounding Metro you are essentially LOSING money. Example :

(article from 5/26/2009) money.cnn.com

To be sure, the case for renting is largely short term. Over the long haul the arguments favor ownership: You get to enjoy tax breaks, build equity, and take pride in a place that's yours.
Renters also run the risk of faulty market timing. Few expect real estate to bounce back swiftly, but if it does, prices could jump before you buy again. With that in mind, here's how to decide whether renting is the right course.
Calculate your time frame
Renting makes the most sense if your housing situation is already in transition. Maybe you need to move for a new job, in which case renting allows you to test out a new location. Maybe you've already decided to sell and trade up. Or maybe you're retiring and want to trade down or relocate.
This year Cheryl Mitchell, 63, retired from her HR manager job and pocketed the gains from the sale of her three-bedroom San Antonio home. She's now renting a smaller but luxurious condo near her kids in Gainesville, Va., for the same cost. "I'm getting a lot more for my money," Mitchell says.
Price out the tradeoffs
Determining the real costs of owning vs. renting on the kind of property you want to live in is complex. Property taxes and maintenance as well as mortgage payments factor into home-ownership costs, offset by the tax advantages (the calculator at move.com can help). But if you rent for a while, you might have to pay a couple grand to a broker, and when you buy again, you'll have to pay for another move.
To figure out whether renting is a better value than buying, the best metric to look at is your area's price-to-rent ratio, says Dean Baker of the Center for Economic and Policy Research. To figure it out, divide the price of a home you'd try to buy by the annual rent you'd pay on a comparable home. If the ratio for your market is far above the historical average of 15, says Baker, renting may be a better deal.
Assess your market
The longer the price-to-rent ratio stays in your favor, the more benefit you'll gain from renting. To get a sense of where your local market is headed, look at trends in home prices and foreclosure rates.
Use the Stats & Trends tool on Trulia.com to get average list prices and median sales prices within your zip code. You can find out how the rate of foreclosures is changing by county on RealtyTrac.com. Finally, consider the local economy - if your area's major employer just announced mass layoffs, home prices will probably fall further.
Weigh the intangibles
The desire for ownership isn't purely financial. As a renter, you're at the whim of a landlord for things like painting and home improvements. But the tradeoff may be worth it. "I don't like our beige carpets," says Jones, "but it's the best financial move for now."

With that said Folks it is either time to ditch that rental or upgrade into that home that you REALLY want...no REALLY want. In MSP you can get a discount of 30, 40 and 60% off....AND it is the time to buy! Ask me how! I am always open to your comments and question! I will be posting my client of the Month who is closing on Friday ( you know who you are!) and bought her Tres Chic condo at LESS than the 2005 purchase price of the current (soon to be previous) seller!