When do you buy and when do you rent? There are a number of things to consider... from what can you expect when you buy a home to how renting differs from home ownership and even how your personality type dictates whether you should be an owner or renter.

Nothing can make you feel more secure than owning your own house, unless buying a home will create financial problems of its own. But are you the kind of person who wants to be free of responsibility, someone who prefers to be able to move in a relatively quick timeframe? If you are, owning a piece of property may not suit you.

Mobility is part of renting. Freedom to take the next job or move for a relationship is easy to come by when you rent a home. And when you do move, there's often more choice of specific location, and price, when you seek rental housing. Want an apartment near a park in western Philadelphia? You may find an easier time looking to rent than buy.

Many renters say they love knowing they're not tied down--and don't have to assume financial responsibility for their living space. This is of course a big difference from home ownership: who does the work.

Maintenance

While you don't receive the joys of making a place truly "your own," you do have limited costs in renting. Landlords are responsible for general upkeep and safety, allowing you to focus on the fine points. Homeowning, in contrast, puts you in the driver's seat. You shoulder the expenses and reap the rewards of home improvement--both great and small. Think about whether you want to put in additional time and money.

Financial pros and cons

No doubt you've thought of how nice it would be not to write a rent check every month, but have you done the math? Here's a look at the most important financial costs associated with home buying to stack up against your monthly rent check.

Instead of the standard deduction on your income tax return, most homeowners itemize their deductions, allowing them to deduct the following (and save on taxes): home mortgage interest, property real estate taxes, state income taxes, gifts to charity, medical and dental expenses over a certain percentage of your income, personal property taxes and most moving expenses.

Figure your monthly payments if you were to buy. Compare your monthly rent to a calculation of the following: purchase price and down payment of your home, your annual income (and debt), property tax rate, home insurance rate, interest rate and length of loan. For a better look into your costs, it pays to contact a home-buying specialist.

Other costs

Expect other costs to homeowning. Along with your monthly mortgage and down payment, there's property tax and homeowners insurance premiums and fees known as "closing costs." These include everything from a credit check to "points"--interest paid up-front in return for a lower interest rate. Other costs that may have an impact on your out-of-pocket expenses: title insurance fee, survey charge, attorney/escrow fees and loan origination.

Long-term equity

No discussion of home ownership is complete without considering the long-term benefits of owning. What your house will be worth when you sell depends on the state of your mortgage and the housing market, in particular. Consult with real estate professionals, read up, and do your math to get a realistic sense of your future home value.

Once you've added up the pros and cons in your own ledger, you can make an informed decision on whether you want to become a renter or a homeowner.