(22-08-2021, 09:46 PM)Cotillo_Tom Wrote: By buying:
1. An investment, gaining in value every year.
2. Leave everything you want here, no more luggage to pay for and carry.
3. Have a bolt hole for whenever you want to escape.
4. Know exactly where you will be everytime and where everything is.
5. Get to know new friends and neighbours who you will meet time and time again.
6. When you are ready, your permanent retirement home awaits.
7. The value of a property to pass on.
Just a few off the top of my head thoughts.
Tom.
Seconding all of this, and this is why we bought. Additionally, there is no worry every year about trying to find somewhere to rent— which apparently can be something of a challenge, depending on budget, flexibility, and how far in advance you're prepared to make your arrangements.
However, that really is the only "worry" you have with renting. Once you leave the island, you can put it out of your head entirely until it's time to find somewhere to rent for next time. If the worry of having a holiday home is something that will weigh on you (and there are a lot of worries, with everything from the expenses, to the safety when unoccupied, to the property value), renting is worth considering.
However, as Tom said above, there really are a lot of plusses to buying. It's so lovely to have your own place, with everything just as you like and just as you left, not needing to take anything more than hand luggage, and to never have to worry about flight times for early checkin or late checkout, and being able to be 100% flexible with dates because you're not tied to anyone's rental schedule. If buying is finically viable for you, I would choose that every time. Yes, it does come with some extra worries and hassle, but there are so many benefits. As Classic has pointed out, though, I would only buy once you had gotten a feel for where you want to be living. Selling and buying here is costly, so it's an expensive mistake to get the area wrong! How much time have you spent on the island before now?