So I'm thinking of moving to Vegas... help? (some kinda-tax stuff)

[YTV]

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I know you don't WANT to buy. Sometimes I don't WANT to push very small edges at the poker table, but I do. Buying a house even in a slow market is major +EV compared to renting. You are throwing money away by renting, bottom line. If you pay 1000/month, that is 12,000 for 5 years, or 60K down the drain. Maybe you save money for a down payment five years from now, maybe not. If you buy, get a loan with no down payment, your mortgage payment will be slightly higher than 1K/month, if not equal. At the end of the 5 years, you have equity in the house, and the money you will save for the next downpayment. As long as you live in your home for two years, you avoid short term capital gains. If I were young like you, I would buy as much house as I could possibly afford, and rent a room or two to cover the majority of the mortgage payment each month. You live effectively for free, and you get all the savings that a house gives you. I am no financial advisor, so you should study these things on your own, but I find it hard to believe that someone like yourself is willing to take the risk of casinowhoring, affilating for sites, etc... would not be willing to buy a house to maximize your financial well-being. Making 100K a year and not buying a house is the equivalent of folding pocket aces on this hand so that they will pay off more on the next. Just dumb!

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Well lets see, I bought a $140,000 house exactly 5 years ago at 6% Fixed interest rate. The house is worth roughly the exact same today as it was 5 years ago. My principal has only gone down $4,700 since then. So if I was to sell my house, after real estate commisions I would probably lose a little money. Not to mention all the repair and maintenance costs associated with owning, even in a 5 year old house like mine. If I could do it all over, I would definately rent, sooooooo much easier, and so much more freedom. Not to mention I could live in a nice 3 bedroom townhouse community with swimming pool, 24 hour fitness center, and many more amnenities for less than my mortgage payment. My utility payments would be atleast 30% less in an apartment also.