My house has been paid off for a decade. The mortgage was a significant cost, but unlike rent it went away (and stayed at a flat rate as rents went up). I spent a boatload replacing the HVAC, but it was “working”, it just sucked. If I were renting it would have just stayed at “suck”. I replaced the roof once, but because I wanted solar panels, which again if I were renting it would never happen. So over the last 20 years, I’ve put up with only two significant items and both were elective. When I was renting the only thing that the landlord had to cover was when the 15 year old water heater rusted through and he just had a cheap low end unit swapped in, probably a 600 to 800 dollar job at the time.
For the past 6 years it’s been nothing but insurance and property tax. I’m getting boatloads of money from not having to pay rent or mortgage. This is the light at the end of the tunnel of a mortgage that is nowhere in sight for perpetual renter.
Have a colleague that opts for home warranty to own house but not be surprised by big repair expenses. I’d be skeptical, but he says his has honored their warranty reasonably.
To offer a counter perspective.
My house has been paid off for a decade. The mortgage was a significant cost, but unlike rent it went away (and stayed at a flat rate as rents went up). I spent a boatload replacing the HVAC, but it was “working”, it just sucked. If I were renting it would have just stayed at “suck”. I replaced the roof once, but because I wanted solar panels, which again if I were renting it would never happen. So over the last 20 years, I’ve put up with only two significant items and both were elective. When I was renting the only thing that the landlord had to cover was when the 15 year old water heater rusted through and he just had a cheap low end unit swapped in, probably a 600 to 800 dollar job at the time.
For the past 6 years it’s been nothing but insurance and property tax. I’m getting boatloads of money from not having to pay rent or mortgage. This is the light at the end of the tunnel of a mortgage that is nowhere in sight for perpetual renter.
Have a colleague that opts for home warranty to own house but not be surprised by big repair expenses. I’d be skeptical, but he says his has honored their warranty reasonably.