Quinn Residences (“Quinn” or the “Company”), a leading owner, operator, and developer of purpose-built single-family rental communities in the Southeastern United States, recognizes the critical findings from Hunter Housing Economics‘ recent report, An Economic Perspective on Wealth Creation via Rental Housing vs. Homeownership (in the Southeastern United States). Positioned to analyze the long-term financial impacts of renting compared to homeownership in the Southeastern US, this research supports the conclusion that renting is a more long-term financially viable option than buying. The findings reveal that in a representative example household, renters who invest their savings in the market are financially ahead of buyers, in a typical case having an advantage of $31,000 over 10 years.
While the age-old debate of home buying vs. renting is often oversimplified to monthly payments or equity accumulation, this in-depth financial analysis looks at the entire financial scope, revealing that renting offers greater financial security than homeownership in the Southeastern US. Over a 10-year occupancy period, renters can incur as much as $112,758 less in total housing costs, allowing financial freedom to build wealth through strategic investments. These findings are significant as they challenge historical perceptions that homeownership is more profitable than renting. Instead, they show that building wealth isn’t just about homeownership—it can also come from renting long-term and investing in other opportunities, like the stock market. This shifts the conversation around buying vs. renting to focus on which option truly helps grow wealth over time.
For potential homeowners seeking a holistically, financially viable option, this report showcases a variety of ways in which renting is a preferable alternative when considering variables of long-term costs and returns, including mortgage rates, home appreciation, alternative investments, and rental market trends. When looking at the whole financial scope of home buying vs. renting, these factors are plenty and not insignificant. These results also support Bankrate’s recent findings that while housing is expensive across the board, renting was more affordable than buying in all 50 of the largest U.S. metros in 2024. Despite rent prices rising in recent years, they remain far below the surging costs of purchasing and maintaining a home.
“Historical opinion and the media have long pushed the idea that homeownership is more profitable than renting. We wanted to test this theory to determine whether greater wealth generation could be achieved by renting vs. buying,” said Brad Hunter, President of Hunter Housing Economics. “The traditional narrative of homeownership as the ultimate financial goal is shifting. With inflated home prices and unpredictable economic factors, our financial analysis reveals that renting provides greater flexibility and liquidity in today’s market. For many, the opportunity cost of tying up capital in a home outweighs the perceived benefits of ownership.”
The report highlights a realistic example of a couple with a solid $30k to buy their first home. It compares the total costs and potential returns of owning versus renting a single-family house. While homeownership is often seen as the better choice, Hunter Housing Economics’ findings show that renting can actually leave you $53,000 better off in the long run—especially if you invest the money you save. This challenges the idea that buying is always the smarter move.
“This report confirms the market trends we have been seeing, with individuals increasingly recognizing the financial advantages of renting, especially when considering the hidden fees and unpredictable costs of homeownership,” said Richard Ross, CEO of Quinn Residences. “Dedicated rental communities, like ours, can be an attractive alternative as they provide renters with professionally managed properties, fixed monthly costs, and modern amenities, all while eliminating the burdens of homeownership. We’re interested to see how the 2025 market progresses and how renting continues to challenge the traditional view of homeownership as the ultimate wealth-building tool.”
Homeownership comes with significant hidden costs, such as monthly housing payments, homeowner’s insurance premiums, property taxes, private mortgage insurance, and regular home maintenance costs. The case study shows that over the 10 years, homeowners are expected to incur as much as $413,412 in total costs; on the other hand, renters are expected to incur as much as $300,654 in total housing costs throughout the same period with the ability to invest these savings in order to build wealth.
To dive deeper into the report, visit http://bit.ly/4ihDsqp. For the latest Quinn Residences updates, visit www.live-quinn.com.
About Quinn Residences
Quinn Residences is a leading real estate operating company focused on developing and operating new, well-located, highly-amenitized dedicated rental communities throughout the Southeastern United States. Founded in 2020 and based in Atlanta, GA, the company currently comprises a portfolio of over 5,200 homes across 35 communities. Through sustainable development practices, Quinn Residences focuses on creating great neighborhoods and designing homes for modern living. Their communities offer a wide range of amenities and services that make it easy for residents to enjoy life to the fullest while allowing more time for living. For the latest property updates, visit https://live-quinn.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
About Hunter Housing Economics
Hunter Housing Economics based in West Palm Beach, Florida, is a market research and consulting firm specializing in site-specific feasibility studies. They prepare the most comprehensive and sophisticated market studies for new PUDs, built-for-rent single-family subdivisions, rental apartments (suburban and downtown), mixed-use developments, and more nationwide.
Brad Hunter was formerly the Chief Economist and National Director of Consulting for Metrostudy, Managing Director at RCLCO, as well as Chief Economist for HomeAdvisor. He has served as an expert witness on housing market matters, and been a guest lecturer at Harvard University.
Information and market insights are available at www.hunterhousingeconomics.com.
