The many benefits to owning a home

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Search online for the topic "benefits of home ownership" and you will find many related
articles. Sources range from the National Association of Realtors, economist commentaries and Habitat for
Humanity.They all list the many benefits to the individual and society that result from home
ownership.Following are just a few of those benefits:• Homeowners take on a greater responsibility in the
community, such as home maintenance.• Membership in voluntary organizations and church attendance increase.•
Civic participation in both local community and national issues (including voting) go up.• Homeowners have
been shown to have a greater attachment to the neighborhood and neighbors, and increase their charitable
activity.• Homeowners are three times likely to own a business than renters.The financial benefits to home
ownership are huge. Putting money into something you own rather than giving it to a landlord, as well as the
tax deduction, have great benefits.Homeowners also support many businesses in the course of maintaining
their homes, which is good for the economy in general.According to these reports, the benefits to children
are also remarkable. Here are some of those:• Higher student test scores by children living in owned homes.•
A higher rate of high school graduation, which equals higher earnings.• Greater participation in organized
activities.• Children of homeowners are 116 percent more likely to graduate from college.These are just some
of the societal positives about owning a home that are listed on various Web sites.Here is the final item to
note from the lists: Homeowners reported higher life satisfaction, higher self-esteem and happiness and
higher perceived control over their lives.Owning a home is not a panacea for the troubles of life and,
naturally, owning a home brings along its own list of issues to be handled.However, if you are on the fence
about whether renting is better or easier than buying a home, consider these benefits. Do a search online to
find additional information.(Deb Shaffer, of Welles Bowen Realtors, is president of the Wood County Board of
Realtors.)

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