在今日美国（USA Today）上看到一篇谈论有关房子的文章，想到如今中国的房市，特翻译出来，供大家参阅。原创翻译，仅为中国进出口网供稿使用。
拥有一所属于自己的住宅多年来一直是美国梦的一部分，但这并不意味着它适用于我们每个人。假如说，你每隔几年就换个地方，那你完全可以把买房子的大笔钱用去租房子和其他消费上。进出口网建议，如果你处于以下四种情况，那么，不妨好好考虑以下去租房。
1. 没有一个稳定的工作
拥有良好的生活和有一个稳定的工作是有很大差别的。试想，假如你现在挣的钱刚好能够为你的房子付首付了，但是你接下来一年的生活呢？五年呢？十年呢？
现在有很多美国人都属于这一类。有些人是工作收入暂时不错或者正处于一个不太稳定的职位。而且，还有数百万人是自己创业或做生意，这些人的收入都是一年一个样，不稳定。
如果你不幸失去了工作，或被迫接受更少的收入，如果你是一名租房者，你可以更加容易地降低生活标准来维持生活。或者，顶多你现在要付一年的房租，那么一年之后你就可以搬到更小或更便宜一点的房子去租住，而不必为卖房子而承受烦恼和压力。
“不稳定”的工作也意味着你可能会频繁换住处。但是每隔几年就会换地方的人也确实有好多买了房子，考虑到购买和出售房子时通常的额外话费。
据中国进出口网统计，在美国，一所住房的产权转移费通常是房子价格的3%左右。所以卖掉一所价值20万美元的房子需要6000美元的转权费和其他一些附加杂费。假如你会在这个房子里住上10年，那或者这些钱就不算什么，但假如你隔两三年就要搬走卖掉它，这些费用可以与日俱增的，你可能会因此而花费不少钱。
2. 你在你的公寓中投入了很多
假如你在目前租住的公寓里倾注了很多，它也能满足你的需要，那为什么要破坏这一切呢？很多公寓，尤其是在城市中，都是受到稳定控制的。
很多大公寓在续租的时候都会好几年保持原来的租金不变，而对那些新租客，可能会提高租金。笔者从大学毕业之后就一直住在一个公寓里，四年过去了，租金一直是最初的900美元一个月，而同样的房子，新租客现在租金已经是1150美元了。如果你处于同样的境地，你会很难选择离开的。
3. 你在银行没有大笔存款
现在大家都知道，你不必支付很大一笔的首付就可以买到一所房子，但是，这并不意味着是好事。
例如，参考时下最流行的低首付选项，FHA抵押贷款，这使得买家可以在仅支付全款的5%的情况下购买住房。但这不仅使你的抵押贷款需要偿还更多，它还在你的账单中为你增加了FHA抵押贷款保险。
目前，FHA抵押贷款保险要求预先支付贷款金额的1.75%加上每年保费等于贷款余额1.35%的预付款。因此，在一个25万美元的抵押贷款中，你的前期付款增加了4375美元以及每月还款增加280美元。
如果你只要租房住几年就行了，那么去租一套不错的公寓会是一个更好的选择，这样也可以为你省下手头的钱，只到你有足够的存款付首付。为了避免抵押贷款险，贷方会要20%的预付款，许多贷方也需要一定量的银行存款做保障。
4. 你喜欢简单的生活
笔者曾和很多选择去租房住的房主谈过，它们觉得没有比租房生活再简单纯朴的了。
当你租房住的时候，其他人（房东或财产经纪人）通常会为你打理房子的维修和管理。例如，你的便池坏了或水龙头漏水了，打个电话，维修人员就会赶来，而且还花不了你几个钱。你可以避免因空调坏了还得花个几千美元去买新的而苦恼，因为租房住的话，那不是你的责任。
而这一切的底线是，买房子的好处也是非常多的，但不买也有很多好的方面。你自己的美国梦取决于你特定的生活状况，你的喜好，以及你的财务状况。
4 reasons not to buy a home
Owning a home has been a part of the American dream for many years, but that doesn't mean it's right for everyone. For example, if you move around every few years, you can spend so much on closing costs and other fees that you would be better off renting. Here are four situations wher you are probably better off renting.
You don't have a steady job
There is a big difference between making a good living and having a steady job. Sure, you make enough to cover a mortgage payment now, but what about in a year from now? Five years?
There are a lot of American workers who fit into this category. Some people have jobs that are temporarily grant-funded or are otherwise non-permanent positions. And, there are the millions of people who are self-employed or own their own businesses, whose income varies from year to year.
If you happen to lose your job, or are forced to accept significantly less income, it's much easier to downgrade your lifestyle if you're a renter. At most, you'll probably be locked into a year of rent payments, and then are free to move to a smaller or less-expensive apartment without the hassle and stress of selling a house.
An "unsteady" job also refers to one that may require you to move around somewhat frequently. While a lot of people who move every few years do buy homes, consider the additional costs of buying and selling often.
Closing costs on a home generally run about 3% of the home's value. So, on a $200,000 home, expect $6,000 of fees and other upfront expenses. This isn't a huge expense if you stay in the home for 10 years, but if you move every two to three years, these expenses can add up tremendously over time, and eat up your profits when you sell.
You have a great deal on your apartment
If you have a good deal on your apartment, and it meets your needs, why mess up a good thing? Many apartments, especially in cities, are rent-controlled or rent-stabilized.
And, a lot of large apartment complexes will renew a lease at the same price for several years, while raising rent on new tenants. This is especially true in areas wher apartment complexes have trouble staying full. I lived in the same apartment for four years after college, and at the end I was still paying my original $900 per month in rent when the same apartment was going for $1,150 to new residents. If you have a deal like that, it's hard to justify leaving.
You don't have a lot of cash in the bank
Now, I realize it's not terribly hard to buy a home without a large down payment, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea.
For instance, consider the most popular low down payment loan option, the FHA mortgage, which allows buyers to purchase a home with 5% down. Not only does this make your mortgage payment more expensive, since your financing more of the purchase price, but it also adds FHA mortgage insurance to your tab.
Currently, FHA mortgage insurance requires an upfront payment of 1.75% of the loan amount plus an annual premium equal to 1.35% of the loan's balance. So, on a $250,000 mortgage, you can expect $4,375 added to your upfront costs and about $280 added to each of your monthly payments.
If you can deal with renting for a few years, it may be a better option to rent an apartment or home and save your money until you have a more substantial down payment. In order to avoid mortgage insurance, lenders want 20% down, and many require a certain amount of cash reserves in savings.
You like simplicity
I have spoken with many former homeowners who decided to rent again, and they simply cannot get over how much simpler life is when renting.
When you rent, someone else (the landlord or property manager) generally takes care of all the maintenance and repairs on the home. If your toilet breaks, or your faucets are leaky, it's usually no more of a hassle than calling the maintenance man, which won't cost you a dime. Instead of spending thousands of dollars when the air conditioner kicks the bucket, when you're renting it isn't your responsibility.
The bottom line is that there are lots of very good reasons to buy a house, but there are also a lot of good reasons not to as well. Your own American dream depends on your particular life situation, your preferences, and your finances.
