Should You Move or Improve Your Home?

Choosing to move to a new home or to make improvements to your current home is a big decision. The right answer will depend on your general financial situation and other personal circumstances. Below, we’ve outlined the pros and cons of moving to a new home vs. improving your current home so you can make the decision that is best for you.

Questions to Ask Before Deciding to Move

For most people, a home is the largest purchase they will make during their lifetime. It can take years to save up for a down payment on a home, and many months of planning and wise decision-making before a home purchase is finalized.

Pros of Moving:

• Opportunity for a fresh start. You can choose a new location that better suits your needs, such as a superior school district, proximity to family or work or a more desirable community.
• More (or less) living space. More living space is especially beneficial if you have a growing family or want to add more amenities to your home, such as a home office, designated playroom or gym. If you are downsizing, less living space may be more desirable to you for saving money on your mortgage payment, property taxes and utility bills.
• Potential for appreciation. If you buy a home in an area that is experiencing growth, your property value may increase over time, resulting in a return on your investment.
• No dealing with renovations. If you purchase a home that’s already in move-in condition, you won’t have to deal with the headache of renovations at all.

Cons of Moving:

• High upfront costs. Moving to a new home doesn’t come cheaply. You’ll need to spring for closing costs, a down payment, the actual move and for any new furniture you may need to purchase for your new residence. Selling your current home will also cost you in renovations, agent fees and title insurance.
• Emotional attachment to your home. Did your son take his first steps in the kitchen of your current home? Did your dog have her puppies in the garage? If you’ve been living in this home for many years and it holds lots of happy memories, you may be reluctant to leave.
• Difficulty finding the perfect home. You may need to settle for a home that is less than perfect in many ways. That may end in more stress and regret.
• Stress of selling your home. The housing market is unpredictable, and you may not be able to sell your current home for the desired price. Of course, if you don’t own your current home, this does not apply to you.
• Potentially higher interest rate on your mortgage. If rates have increased since you bought or refinanced your current home, or your credit score has slid, you may end up with a higher interest rate on your new mortgage. That could mean paying much more over the long run.

Before you go ahead with the decision to move to a new home, ask yourself these questions:

• What are the market conditions like in my current neighborhood? Will I be able to get my asking price on my home within a short amount of time?
• What are the market conditions like in my desired neighborhood, and how are they trending? Will I be able to find a home that suits my needs and is within my price range?
• Do I have enough money saved up to pay for the move? Will I need to wait until I sell my home or take out a bridge loan to cover the gap?
• Is this a good time for my family to move?

Questions to Ask Before Deciding to Improve Your Home

Now, let’s take a look at the option of improving your current home with a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC). A HELOC gives you quick access to cash by using your home as collateral. You can withdraw the funds, as needed, over a period of time known as the draw period. When this time is over, you’ll no longer be able to advance funds and will repay the loan, with interest, over the repayment period.

You can also take out a Home Equity Loan (HEL), which will provide you with one lump sum, generally at a fixed rate and payment, and you start paying back immediately.

Pros of Improving Your Home:

• Completely customize to fit your needs. When you design your own home, you can have it customized to perfectly suit your family’s needs and your own tastes. Think granite counters in the kitchen and built-in bookshelves in the family room.
• No stress of relocating. When you renovate your home, you can continue to enjoy the same home and neighborhood you’ve lived in for years.
• Increase the value of your home. Home improvement projects increase your home’s value, increasing your net profit when you do decide to sell in the future.
• Save on moving costs. Why pay thousands of dollars in closing and moving costs when you can have a beautiful new living room for the same price?

Cons of Improving Your Home:

• Stress of renovations. Dealing with a home improvement project can be super-stressful. There are loads of decisions to make, an endless mess and workers in your home at all hours of the day.
• Risk of foreclosure. If not used responsibly, taking out a HELOC or HEL puts your home at risk of foreclosure if you are unable to make the payments. This can have long-term consequences on your credit score and financial stability.
• Additional debt. A HELOC or HEL adds another debt to pay each month, which can be a burden on your budget.

Before you go ahead with the decision to improve your current home, ask yourself these questions:

• Can I afford the monthly payments on a HELOC?
• How much will a home improvement project cost me?
• Will I be able to handle living in a construction zone?
• Do I want to continue living in this neighborhood?

Whether you choose to move to a new home or to renovate your current home, we can help! Quorum home loans and HELOCs offer competitive interest rates, easy eligibility terms and the personal service you’ve come to expect.