Renting vs. Buying a Home: Can HOA Fees Be Worth the Money?

Learn how condo and HOA fees change the math on renting vs. home ownership, and how to resist a pricey tech upgrade.

Is buying a home with a hefty condo or HOA fee worth the money compared with renting? Hosts Sean Pyles, CFP®, and Elizabeth Ayoola talk with Ryan Sterling, CEO of NerdWallet Wealth Partners, about a listener trying to factor condo fees into the rent vs. buy decision. You’ll hear why the idea that renting is “throwing money away” overlooks the costs homeowners might not get back, how long it could take for buying to break even at different mortgage rates, and why the payoff of owning a home can be as much about emotions as finances.

Then, how do you talk yourself out of a big purchase you don’t really need? Sean and Elizabeth weigh the pull of Apple’s new $2,000 folding phone and a high-end smartwatch, why monthly installment plans and phone leasing can make pricey tech feel cheaper than it is, and how to tell whether a splurge lines up with your values.

Your financial decisions deserve a real partner. Learn more about NerdWallet Wealth Partners here: https://nerdwalletwealthpartners.com/

Thinking of buying a property? Know the real cost first with NerdWallet’s Rent vs. Buy Calculator here: https://www.nerdwallet.com/mortgages/calculators/rent-vs-buy-calculator

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