Happy Renter

Home Ownership: The Ideal That Refuses to Die

Agree with "not so smart" and "Harm" above. Husband and I have been renting a nice place for $1600 per month here in expensive eastern MA for some time. We got out of our owned house two years ago, and are amused by all the realtors who keep spinning variations of the "great time to buy" theme. Have even lost a friend over it. She is a realtor, and told us we were not loyal friends if we did not use her and buy, as she "really needed the money" and it "was so obviously a good move for us to buy".

POINT: Maybe home ownership is not so bad, but it matters what constitutes a "Home". Most of my friends who are in trouble over a mortgage they cannot handle bought GIGANTIC, new, bells and whistles homes. Granite, two-story foyer, huge windows, vaulted ceilings etc. The small ranches and capes of yesteryear are considered "cramped" and unfit. One friend who grew up in a modest cape recently laughed at me when I told her we were looking at homes that were ~2100 sq. ft. She said, "How could you possibly fit a family of four in there?" We had to get out of our 2000 sq/ ft. split because it was soooooo small." Funny how I never heard her mention that about her house growing up.

When I see the wide tracks of homes outside of Denver, I see how large they are, and how people have become to expect luxury as a right. Three bathrooms is not a right. Nor is granite or every child having their own bedroom.