Buying property is better than renting. A common refrain, even on the heels of the bursting real estate bubble, is that renting an apartment is "throwing money away" compared with homeownership and the ability it offers to build equity and wealth. As if staggering foreclosure rates and underwater mortgages aren't enough to make a different case, consider that it is not just mortgage payments to worry about. There are interest payments, property taxes, homeowner's insurance, furnishings, utility bills, maintenance and repairs to add to the mix. Treating a home as an always-appreciating investment is no longer a smart strategy, and those who base their ability to pay a mortgage on projected earnings, rather than current paychecks, may be dangerously optimistic. Resolutions That Will Save You Money Make paying off debt a priority. Reducing your debt and excising the interest payments and accompanying fees is usually a good idea. But paying down debt shouldn't derail ...
