Renting

The housing market crash has made millions of people reassess their choice of whether to rent or own their home. If you're trying to decide which course is right for you, DailyFinance breaks down the major factors you should consider in our new series, Is It Worth It?

Even though foreclosure activity declined by 9% in April, scores of individuals and families in America are still being forced out of homes they can't afford. If you're one of these unlucky individuals, you'll likely need to find a rental after your foreclosure. And that means finding a landlord...

For generations of Americans, home ownership has been extolled as a sound investment and source of moral virtue, stability and community. Renting was seen as anathema, a distinct second choice. But in the wake of the real estate collapse, those long-held assumptions have been called into question.

The economy may be looking up, but for many of us, budgets are still tight. But if you're a homeowner wishing for a way to pump up your finances, you may be overlooking your greatest asset -- your home. There are plenty of unconventional ways to make money by renting out a portion of your property.

In what may be one of the strangest twists to the housing market crisis, Section 8 housing tenants are moving from urban housing projects and into high-end condo complexes and single-family McMansions that just a few years ago sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars. The reason? Landlords are...

It seems almost negligent these days to go meet with a prospective employer, set your kid up on a sleep-over or even add an old friend on Facebook without first running the company's name, your kid's pal's parents or your old college chum through Google -- just to see. But it's nowhere near as...

Nothing saves money on rent like having a roommate. But shopping for one during the holidays can be tough sledding. The season is hectic, and community-ad websites can invite creeps, scammers and flakes. Roommates Wanted NYC and like-minded organizers across the country believe they have the...

With interest rates on 30-year mortgages hitting yet another record low this week -- 4.27%, according to Freddie Mac -- it makes sense to rush out and buy a home, right? Maybe not. New York-based real estate research firm Reis Inc. reported Thursday that a surge of renters in the third quarter...

Say the phrase "owning vs. renting," and you're likely to find yourself in a debate between the merits of a mortgage and a landlord. But that's thinking small -- these days, almost anything you can buy, you can also rent. This particularly makes sense when you're talking big-ticket party or home-improvement equipment, whether it's a big-screen TV, a steam carpet cleaner or a rototiller for your garden.

It's time to buy a home! That's what I hear several times a week from friends, co-workers and commercials. I've heard the same prediction since I graduated four years ago and signed a lease on an apartment to share with my new wife. We've been living in the apartment ever since, and despite its...