Why You May Want an Energy-Efficient Home [INFOGRAPHIC]Some HighlightsSince inflation is increasing the cost of goods and services, it may make sense to look for an energy-efficient
Want to Build Wealth? Buy a Home This Year.
Dated: February 3 2021
Views: 21
Want to build wealth? Every year, households across the country make the decision to rent for another year or take the leap into homeownership. They look at their earnings and savings and then decide what makes the most financial sense. That equation will most likely take into consideration monthly housing costs, tax advantages, and other incremental expenses. Using these measurements, recent studies show that it’s still more affordable to own than rent in most of the country.
There is, however, another financial advantage to owning a home that’s often forgotten in the analysis – the wealth built through equity when you own a home.
Odeta Kushi, Deputy Chief Economist for First American, discusses this point in a recent blog post. She explains:
“Once you include the equity benefit of price appreciation, owning made more financial sense than renting in 48 out of the 50 top markets, with the only exceptions being San Francisco and San Jose, Calif.”
What has this equity piece meant to homeowners in the past?
ATTOM Data Solutions, the curator of one of the nation’s premier property databases, just analyzed the typical home-price gain owners nationwide enjoyed when they sold their homes. Here’s a breakdown of their findings:The typical gain in the sale of the home (equity) has increased significantly over the last five years.
CoreLogic, another property data curator, also weighed in on the subject. According to their latest Homeowner Equity Insights Report, the average homeowner gained $17,000 in equity in just the last year alone.
What does the future look like for homeowners when it comes to equity?
Here are the seven major home price appreciation forecasts for 2021:The National Association of Realtors (NAR) just reported that today, the median-priced home in the country sells for $309,800. If homes appreciate by 5% this year (the average of the forecasts), the homeowner will increase their wealth by $15,490 in 2021 through increased equity.
Bottom Line
As you make your plans for the coming year, be sure to consider the equity benefits of home price appreciation as you weigh the financial advantages of buying over renting. When you do, you may find this is the perfect time to jump into homeownership.
Lisa Santana
Lisa Santana, Your Real Estate Expert and GuideHi, I’m Lisa Santana—Managing Principal Broker and Owner of BST Realty, LLC. I’ve been serving clients across Silverton and the Willame....
Latest Blog Posts
What is Curb Appeal?Curb appeal refers to the visual attractiveness of a property when viewed from the street or sidewalk. It is the first impression that a home creates for visitors, potential
Today’s Housing Market Is Nothing Like 15 Years AgoThere’s no doubt today’s housing market is very different than the frenzied one from the past couple of years. In the
You May Have More Negotiation Power When You Buying a Home TodayDid the frequency and intensity of bidding wars over the past two years make you put your home search on hold? If so, you
The content relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the MLS of Central Oregon. Real estate listings held by Brokerages other than BST Realty, LLC are marked with the Reciprocity/IDX logo, and detailed information about these properties includes the name of the listing Brokerage. © MLS of Central Oregon (MLSCO).
This content last updated on September 21, 2026 9:32 PM UTC Some properties which appear for sale on this website may subsequently have sold or may no longer
All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. IDX information is provided exclusively for consumers' personal, non-commercial use, that it may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing, and that the data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by RMLSTM.
The content relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the IDX program of the RMLSTM of Portland, Oregon. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than BST Realty, LLC are marked with the RMLSTM logo, and detailed information about these properties includes the names of the listing brokers. Listing content is copyright © 2026 RMLSTM, Portland, Oregon.
This content last updated on September 21, 2026 5:48 PM UTC at 4 AM. Some properties which appear for sale on this web site may subsequently have sold or may no longer be available.
Based on information from Willamette Valley Multiple Listing Service, which neither guarantees nor is in any way responsible for its accuracy. All data is provided AS IS and with all faults. Data maintained by Willamette Valley Multiple Listing Service may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. Copyright © 2026 WVMLS. All Rights Reserved. Information last updated on September 21, 2026 9:23 PM UTC
All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s) or information provider(s) shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless. Listing(s) information is provided for consumer's personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. The data relating
