🏠 Renting vs. Buying in 2025: What Makes Sense in Northeast Ohio?

If you’re renting right now, there’s a good chance your monthly payment has gone up recently. And if it hasn’t yet… just wait until your lease renews.

In Cleveland and the suburbs, rent prices have crept up 5–9% depending on the neighborhood—and in some areas, the cost of renting a modest 2-bedroom is the same or more than a mortgage.

So here’s the question:
👉 Are you paying someone else’s mortgage when you could be building your own equity?

💰 Let’s Break It Down

Here’s a real example from a client this spring:

• 🏠 Renting: 2-bed apartment in Strongsville – $1,650/month

• 🏡 Buying: 2-bed townhome w/ garage – $1,580/month (including taxes & insurance)

Not only did they lower their monthly payment… they locked in stability, started building wealth, and ditched the annual rent increases.

🤔 “But What About the Down Payment?”

This is the #1 question I get.

The good news? You don’t need 20% down anymore. With FHA, VA, and some first-time buyer programs, you can buy a home with as little as 3–5% down.

On a $225K home, that’s around $7K–$11K.

If you’ve been renting for a few years, there’s a good chance you’ve already spent more than that in rent.

💬 Is Now the Right Time to Buy?

That depends on your credit, your savings, and your plans over the next few years. But the only way to know for sure is to run the numbers together.

👉 I’ll build you a free rent-vs-buy analysis—no strings attached. Just real info so you can make a smart decision.

📲 Book that quick call right here: https://calendly.com/richganim/