#2min *Thinking about buying a house?* It's a big decision, and one key thing to consider is how long you plan to stay. *As the saying goes, buying a home for yourself really makes sense if you're thinking long-term – at least 15 years or more. Why?* Because buying and selling property comes with a lot of extras that can really add up: *High Costs:* Think stamp duty, registration fees, agent commissions, and legal bills. These aren't small amounts! *Tax & Legal Stuff:* Property deals can sometimes involve tricky areas like unaccounted money and complicated taxes when you sell. *Not So Easy to Sell:* Unlike investments you can sell quickly, houses take time and effort to sell, and there are more costs involved. _Imagine someone who changes jobs and moves cities often. They might end up losing more money on buying and selling costs than they make from the house's value going up. The same can be true if your kids are still figuring out where they'll settle down._ As personal finance expert Ramit Sethi wisely said, "Renting is not throwing money away if it buys you flexibility and peace of mind." *Bottom line:* Buying a house is a huge commitment. Make sure you're in it for the long haul to truly make it worthwhile. Disclaimer:Views Expressed in this article are purely author’s personal experience. #realestate #personalfinance #homebuying #longterminvesting #financialplanning #cfp #certifiedfinancialplanner #manaviwealth #missiontenmillion