Homeownership has long been a sign of success, but comparing renting to buying isn't all that clear-cut. Renting is less capital intensive, and it gives you the freedom to move when you please. Buying a home will help you build equity and wealth. There are many financial implications and lifestyle factors you should consider when you're making the choice of whether to rent or buy. Learn more so you can make the best decision for yourself.

OWNING

Buying a house is a serious step in your life and you need to consider all the problems you may face and review the advantages you get with your own property. There are plenty of reasons to buy or not to buy a house, but let's highlight the key points that should help you understand whether you’re ready to buy your own property. Home equity is the difference in the market value of your home and how much you owe.

Owning a house is, first of all, a huge investment. Even if you’re not pulling your equity loan, there is always a chance to sell your house later for a better price. The imputed rental income that you receive as a homeowner is not taxed. On top of that, you can deduct your mortgage interest and property tax payments from your federal taxable income.

Owning a house gives you real improvement freedom. There is no landlord who says what you can and cannot do while decorating and improving your house. Renovate your property or completely redesign your bath, you can do whatever you want with your own place. This is something worth paying for. Unfortunately, despite the freedom mentioned above, when you take a mortgage for a house, you’re stuck with this particular place...

Santa Cruz has many fun activities to keep you and your little ones entertained all summer long. Besides the apparent beach-going and water activities, there are many other things to explore.

The Museum of Art and History, located conveniently in the heart of downtown, features a variety of activities and attractions during the summer months. Exhibits are fun for the whole family and change every few weeks.

The Santa Cruz skating rink is located in midtown. You can bring your kids for a few hours of skating or reserve the whole space for birthday parties and special events.

The Seymour Marine Discovery Center is dedicated to raising awareness about how to care for the world’s oceans. You can take your family on a tour of a real marine research facility. You can pet sharks, see moon jellies, and admire a life-size sculpture of a gray whale.

You can also jump aboard a 60-foot luxury charter boat and get ready to look for sea creatures in style. From May to November, look out for humpback whales, which make Monterey Bay their feeding ground. December through April, be prepared to see gray whales. The tours last three to four hours and are narrated by the ship crew.

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Are you planning to move out of state? This is no easy task. Generally, when you are planning to cross the state line, it seems like there are too many priorities on your checklist to accomplish. There is no doubt that moving is hard, and it seems the farther you go, the harder it becomes. Interstate moves are characterized by a set of challenges that make them more complicated. Whether you are relocating to another state to take up a job or you want to move closer to your family, or you want to change the environment for some personal reasons; whatever may be your reasons, out-of-state moves require proper planning.

Craft a Plan for Moving
Create a high-level master plan of how you’ll organize your move. Figure out how much money you can spend while moving out of state. Can you transport any of your belongings in your own car or rental truck, or will you leave everything to professional movers? If you’re planning a DIY move, you’ll want to look into the cost of renting a moving truck.

Make a list of any friends or family members who could help you with moving out of state. If you’re driving some of your belongings yourself, how much time do you have to reach your new home? Will you take out a moving insurance policy? The key to this first step is to prepare the big plans first so you don’t get bogged down in the nitty-gritty details down the line.

Get Rid of Stuff Before You Move
Take inventory of everything that you’ll bring to your new place, being sure to focus on the things you really need, like your dishes and a bed frame. Moving out of state can get very expensive very quickly, so you’ll want to keep costs under control by only moving these necessities.

Secure Housing and Employment
While it might not always be possible, moving out of state after you have a job lined up will take a huge load off. How do...