08/21/2026
Considering buying a home?
Compare the full cost, not only rent versus principal and interest.
If you are considering buying, review:
Time horizon: How long are you likely to stay?
Cash needed: Can you cover the down payment, closing costs, and still have an emergency reserve?
Full monthly payment: Include principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and any HOA fee.
Ownership costs: Budget for maintenance and repairs, not just the mortgage.
Flexibility: Would a move, job change, or life transition make renting more practical right now?
Homeownership can build stability and equity, but only when the full plan fits. A real comparison uses your timeline, local prices, rent, cash reserves, and complete ownership cost.
Send this to someone who needs to see this.
— Meghan Brown-Scoggins, your go-to mortgage broker in Fort Bend County, Texas