Over the past couple of years, I’ve watched friends, family members and colleagues move into their very first homes - and I have to admit that I am pretty jealous. However, my partner and I have been stashing away our spare cash to put towards our deposit, but reaching our savings target has been tricky as there are always unexpected costs cropping up. These range from getting the car serviced to having the central heating system fixed.
Regardless of the setbacks, we are on track to have enough saved up to buy our first house next year, and I couldn’t be more excited. There are so many reasons why I want to own a home, rather than frittering away money on rent; I figured I would share some of these reasons with you here so you can understand where I am coming from...
Unleashing my creativity
Perhaps the number one reason I can’t wait to find a house and move in is due to the fact I will be able to start decorating it! I would love to find a property that is described as a “project” so I can really put my own stamp on the way it looks and feels. The day I head to the DIY store to pick up a set of
paint brushes, rollers and other tools will be a milestone, and this simple task will mean a huge deal to me.
Although I don’t have a huge deal of experience when it comes to home renovations, I am interested in fixing things and using my creativity, so it is a challenge I will be happy to accept when the time comes. It also means that we will end up with the perfect decor without having to find it first.
Embracing the freedom
Rental properties have so many restrictions that you can never really feel completely at home. In my opinion, renting a flat or house is basically like living in a glorified hotel or holiday home - you can stay there but you can’t really do anything with it. If you did, the likelihood would be getting a huge deduction in a rental deposit! That’s why I really want to own the space in which I live.
I want the freedom to have a pet, to host a barbecue, or even just put a nail in the wall to hold up a mirror. These things may seem small, but they really can improve the quality of everyday life - or at least they would for me.
Getting on the ladder
Another reason for wanting to own a property is simply to get on the property ladder. It feels like this is becoming harder and harder to achieve, and I’d like to do it relatively soon before it becomes impossible due to the price of houses and the availability of mortgages. Our first home will pave the way towards the future, when we might need to buy somewhere even bigger to accommodate a growing family.