There Are So Many Reasons (Other Than Cost) Someone Might Prefer To Rent Long-Term Versus Buy A Home; If That’s You, Tell Us Your Story
If you've been following the rollercoaster of the housing market in recent years, you know how wild it's been. I recently read that since interest rates are still high — a little over 7% — more people are putting their dreams of owning property on hold to rent while waiting for rates to eventually drop.
It seems that renting versus buying a home is a heated debate as some people lean more towards one side versus the other.
On that note, I'm asking renters of the BuzzFeed Community: if you've decided to never buy a home and you plan on forever renting, what are your reasons why?
Of course, as mentioned: Cost may be the biggest reason why. There's no getting around the fact that home ownership is more expensive than ever — and millennials and Gen Z are dealing with a completely different housing backdrop than the ones Gen X and Boomers came into.
But maybe it's not ALL about cost to you. Maybe you don't like being in one place for long — and you crave the freedom renting gives you of being able to pick up and move whenever and wherever you want.
Maybe it's a size and space thing. The idea of a huge house with constant upkeep has never appealed to you — and you prefer a much more manageable, smaller footprint. (Easier to clean and keep up with, after all.)
Maybe you prefer the flexibility of renting — whether that's access to amenities in your apartment or condo complex, a prime city-center location you wouldn't otherwise get, or just knowing that your landlord is the one typically responsible for repairs.
Maybe you have a remote-friendly job or family spread out all over the country — and renting just better suits your lifestyle.
Or maybe you just don't want to tie up so much of your income in down payments, property taxes, or a decades-long mortgage. You'd rather use that money on experiences, travel, or other things that are important to you.
Whatever your resoning is, I want to hear it either in this anonymous form or in the comments below.
Some responses might be featured in an upcoming BuzzFeed Community post.
