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# Flipping on houses
- URL: https://www.redeyebr.com/flipping-on-houses/
- Published: 2026-03-23T21:43:40.000Z
- Updated: 2026-03-23T21:43:40.000Z
- Description: In EBR, buying a home is slightly cheaper
- Author: Mukul Verma

It’s now slightly cheaper to buy a home than to rent one in East Baton Rouge Parish, according to *The Economist,* which analyzed housing markets nationwide. The news magazine did not factor in other ownership costs, such as property insurance and HOA fees.

**The details:** The average monthly EBR **mortgage payment in 2025 was $1,349**, compared with **$1,428 for rent.** That’s a modest gap—about $79 a month—but it marks a shift. In 2022 and 2023, renting in the parish was cheaper than buying, when rising interest rates pushed mortgage payments higher and sidelined many would-be buyers.

**What’s happening nationally:** In 2023, renting was cheaper than buying for more than two-thirds of Americans. Today, it’s roughly a 50-50 split.

**Worth considering:** The true cost of ownership depends on expenses not included in the analysis—property insurance, HOA fees, maintenance—as well as the neighborhood and how long you plan to stay.

**The bottom line:** For young professionals deciding whether to renew a lease or call a lender, the margin between the two options is thin. Owning versus renting depends on individual circumstances. The old rule still applies: rent for flexibility, buy for stability.

**Dig deeper:** [**Buy or Rent (The Economist)**](https://www.economist.com/interactive/graphic-detail/2026/02/10/should-i-rent-or-buy?ref=redeyebr.com) **🔒**

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