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Real Estate Sales Buying a home with UVA credit or renting?: these are the factors to take into account - La Nacion Propiedades

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Buying a home with UVA credit or renting?: these are the factors to take into account - La Nacion Propiedades
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November 21, 2024


In the current Argentine economic context, both paying the installment of a mortgage loan and continuing to rent present their challenges and advantages.



By Candela Contreras





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Pay the mortgage or continue renting? FreePik



In the complex labyrinth of financial decisions , where the dream and the opportunities of owning a home are still very difficult to achieve, various banks have entered the complex universe of the real estate market , offering opportunities to access a home through a mortgage loan . Therefore, many people are faced with a crucial decision: Should they buy a home with a loan or continue renting?

UVA-adjusted mortgage loans emerged in April 2016, during Mauricio Macri's government, with the aim of facilitating access to home ownership . The main characteristic of these loans is that the installment is adjusted for inflation , which initially allows for a low balance to be paid, but with an economy characterized by high rates, the risk of increases is significant over time . “From its beginning to the present, the UVA grew almost 64 times its value and the initial installments were 25% of the taker's income, but then, due to high inflation, it came to represent up to 40%,” explained José Rozados, director of Reporte Inmobiliario. But, in turn, he reflected: “ That percentage is very similar to what a person must allocate from their salary to pay rent .”



Currently, there are already 22 entities that have launched their new credit lines , after five years of almost non-existence of the same. “This news is a very good sign that nobody wants to be left out of the market and that the banks are betting heavily on the normalization of the economy,” analyzes Federico González Rouco, an economist from the Empiria team , the consulting firm of Hernán Lacunza, who recently launched the book El sueño de la casa propia (The Dream of Owning a House ).

The economist adds that the inclusion of private banks means that financial institutions compete to offer the best rates , which translates into more affordable installments to pay. Competition between banks means not only lower rates, but also a greater variety of options and flexibility for potential borrowers.





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Mortgage loans: 22 banks are now offering their linesMary Altaffer - AP

In this context, the rates of mortgage loans launched range between 3% and 9.5% . The amounts to be lent reach up to $250 million , although in some cases there is no limit. In general, these loans finance between 75% and 80% of the value of the property , with a single entity, and the Bank of Córdoba (Bancor), which lends 100%. The financing terms vary between 5 and 30 years, and the installments , being UVA loans, are adjusted for inflation . In addition, the installment committed by the borrower must represent between 20% and 30% of the monthly income .



The situation of the rental market

At the same time, the rental market in Argentina has also undergone significant changes in recent times, after the law was repealed - on December 29, 2023 - which led to the rules of the game being modified:



  • Increased supply : Property listings for rent have increased by more than 170% so far this year, according to data from the Real Estate Association.
  • Slowing price growth : increases in listing prices on the main real estate portals are slowing down month on month. In October, for example, rents rose by 3.4%.
  • New contractual conditions : there is now freedom between the parties who usually close contracts for two years, in pesos, and with quarterly or four-monthly adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI).


In concrete numbers , the average rent for a one-room apartment in the city is $440,643 per month, a one-bedroom apartment can be rented for $524,907, while a three-room apartment can be rented for $707,201 , according to Zonaprop data from June.

Now, in the midst of this panorama, the eternal question arises: should I pay a loan installment or continue paying rent?





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Rentals: Since the repeal of the law, the panorama in the real estate market has changed Prostock-studio - Shutterstock



The installment of a loan vs. the rent of an apartment in CABA

The choice between buying and renting depends not only on the initial value of the installments, but also on other factors such as: job stability, the initial amount needed (from 20% to 35%, depending on the bank) and the long-term projection (20 or 30 years) of what you want to acquire as a home. What weighs more when making the decision and what do you give up?

In specific cases, taking a UVA mortgage loan -with an average rate of 5.5% to be paid in 30 years-, and a rent in the city of Buenos Aires , an example would be like this: a family acquired a UVA loan for $103,125,000 for the purchase of an average one-bedroom, 40 m² apartment in Palermo, which costs US$125,000 (around $137,500,000 , taking a dollar at $1,100), so they had to have US$31,250 in savings initially (25% of the value of the home requested by the bank). In this case, the value of the first installment would be $585,532 , and will be adjusted monthly for inflation variations.

On the other hand, an average rent for a unit with the same characteristics in Palermo (the second most expensive in the city), implies a monthly rent of around $588,461 , that is, an amount practically similar to that of the loan installment . Although, in this case, the adjustment will also be for inflation, but every three or four months depending on the contract signed.

Another case, using the same amount to borrow, can be seen in the purchase of a two-bedroom apartment in Caballito . In this area, the value of a rental with similar characteristics is around $735,000 , 25.53% more than the value of the loan installment.

So what is best?

The answer to this question depends on several factors:



  • Ability to pay and job stability : If you have a stable income that allows you to meet the increasing installments of a UVA loan, it can be a good option to ensure your own home in the long term. However, in situations of job instability, renting offers greater flexibility, mainly because the contracts are short-term.
  • Risk tolerance : UVA credits involve an inflationary risk that not everyone is willing to assume. Those who prefer certainty may lean towards renting, despite its increases.
  • Long-term goals : Buying a home involves a long-term commitment. Renting, on the other hand, can be more convenient for those who do not want to live in one place for too long or do not want to take on long-term debt.


The data show that in many cases, monthly mortgage payments can be higher, comparable or even lower than rental costs , especially when considering the possibility of obtaining preferential rates as a bank customer.

The final decision will depend on the particular circumstances of each person or family , their financial situation and their long-term goals. Carefully evaluating both options and, if possible, seeking advice from a financial expert, is essential to make the best decision in this uncertain scenario.





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Rent or buy with credit? The dilemma of those who rent and want to own their home Pompi Gutnisky


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