Renters In Boise Missed Out on $51,500 This Past Year

Rent prices in Boise have increased significantly this year. The latest National Rent Report from Apartmentlist.com shows rents are rising at a rate much higher than the three years leading up to the pandemic:

“Since January of this year, the national median rent has increased by a staggering 16.4 percent. To put that in context, rent growth from January to September averaged just 3.4 percent in the pre-pandemic years from 2017-2019.”

Looking back, we can see rents rising isn’t new. The median rental price has increased consistently over the past 33 years (see graph below):If you’re thinking of renting in Boise for another year, consider that rents will likely be even higher next year. But that alone doesn’t paint the picture of the true cost of renting in Idaho.

The Money Renters Stand To Lose This Year

A homeowner’s monthly mortgage payment pays for their shelter, but it also acts as an investment. That investment grows in the form of equity as a homeowner makes their mortgage payment each month to pay down what they owe on their home loan. Their equity gets an additional boost from home price appreciation, which is at near-record levels this year.

The latest Homeowner Equity Insights report from CoreLogic found homeowners gained significant wealth through their home equity this past year. The research shows:

“. . . the average homeowner gained approximately $51,500 in equity during the past year.”

As a renter in Boise, you don’t get the same benefit. Your rent payment only covers the cost of shelter and any included amenities. None of your monthly rent payments come back to you as an investment. That means, by renting this year, you likely paid more in rent than you did in the previous year, and you also missed out on the potential wealth gain of $51,500 or more you could have had by owning your own home.

Bottom Line 

When deciding whether you should rent or buy in Boise, keep in mind how much renting can cost you. The average rent price in Boise ranges from $1,100 to $1,500. Another year of renting is another year you’ll pay rising rents and miss out on building your wealth through home equity. Connect with Templeton Real Estate Group today to talk about the benefits of buying over renting.