Homeownership will always be a good investment.

Even if you are on the fence for now, that's OK. There will be plenty of opportunities to buy a home when you're ready. Homeownership is a vital engine in the American economy - and in our culture. It creates strong communities and builds wealth for families who buy homes. Homeownership won't go out of style.

Why does homeownership make sense?
»    You are building equity and adding to your assets.
»    Interest on a home mortgage, as well as the property taxes you pay, are tax deductible.
»    Buying a house with a fixed-rate loan means you know what your mortgage payment will be in the future.
»    In the past 40 years, real estate has delivered the most consistent positive return over any investment.

Nine out of 10 consumers consider home ownership to be a sound financial decision. More than 80% of all Americans over the age of 55 own a home, and more than 73% of all Ohioans have made this same responsible choice.

Purchasing a home is a great way to invest your money. You may invest $20,000 down on a new home and wonder how well that money would do in the stock market. When you buy a home, you will realize appreciation on the entire $200,000 value of the home, not just on the $20,000 you put down. In 12 years, your home could be worth $280,000 ... and you only invested $20,000 in cash for an $80,000 gain.

In the past 40 years, real estate has delivered the most consistent positive return over any investment, according to the National Association of REALTORS^®.

Owning a home simply makes better economic sense than renting for anyone who has a steady job or long-term career and plans to remain in their home at least 4 to 7 years.

There are many advantages to owning a home. One of the biggest is the tax break you receive. This means you will earn credit on your tax return for the money spent on interest — a tax credit you would not receive if you were renting.

When you are buying a home, you are building equity and adding to your assets. (Equity is the difference between the value of your home and the amount you still owe on it.) Let's say you bought a home several years ago for $100,000 and your mortgage loan is $80,000. Today, your home may be valued at $110,000, giving you $30,000 in equity (a $110,000 value minus the $80,000 you owe equals $30,000).

According to popular financial advice columnist Suze Orman, you should stop worrying about your home's value since the housing market is a known long-term performer. In the summer issue of O at Home Magazine, Orman gives readers this advice: "I'm all for technological advances, but one of the most damaging assaults to our collective financial psyche over the past few years has been the advent of sites such as Zillow.com and HomeGain.com. These services allow you to punch in your address and up pops an estimate of your home's worth. ... Let go of your computer mouse and get a grip on what really matters—the long-term performance of the housing market. Even when you figure in the past year's 10 percent dive, the national median price for existing homes has gained nearly 25 percent over the past five years, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Over time, housing will revert to its historical norm: an average annual appreciation rate about 1 percent above the inflation rate."