Yes, I'll be a "renter", get over it.

It's okay. I understand. I am getting older and like you I would like a lot less responsibility. A house is alot of that...the upkeep, the bills, lawn work all that adds up....not just in work but in bucks. I hope you find a nice place to rent..

U go for it if that's what u want to do. Nobody's buisness but yours. Don't take the freeloaders in w/u when u move to an apt.

if my husband was for it, i would move into an apartment in a minute. although we live in a townhouse, the mortgage payments are so high. my daughters are getting older (my oldest is going away to school in the fall) and my youngest is 15 so we will probably wait til they are gone before we think of it but hubby likes to have a back yard (we hardly ever sit out and while we do plant a bit, i wouldn't miss having a back yard at all).

You know what's best for you . . . so go with it . . . and who cares what those people think! In a weird way, I'm experiencing a similar thing, the opposite way. We were long time renters and we finally just got a house. I've been kind of getting snubbed by our old apartment neighbor friends . . . it's like we're not included in their club anymore or something - it seems just because we're not living there anymore (we all used to talk about how we dream of living in our own house). But we're still the SAME people!! There's pluses and minuses no matter what living situations we go with . . . so we just have to do what's right for US. Best of luck to you - enjoy your life!!

Good for you. I know, a lot of people put all their hopes and dreams into bricks and mortar, but just because it works for some it's a bit unfair to expect it to work for everyone. If I can give you any advice, before you rent you should talk to others in the building (if it's an apartment) to see how good they are at fixing what goes wrong. If you save money in one area, you don't want to be stuck with a dodgy water heater, etc. Make yourself comfortable in life, heaven knows no one else is going to.

Its a hard time to sell a house in today's real estate market. With so many foreclosures going up for sale you wont get market value for your home, not to mention renting means you are just throwing money into someones pocket without acquiring any ownership of anything. I think its awesome you want to cut cost, but selling your house could be a mistake you would come to regret. Have you tried negotiating a lower payment with your mortgage payment, or taking on a housemate to help you keep up with the house and pay rent?

You know, in my opinion anyone who would look down their noses at you for deciding to rent rather than continue as a home owner simply isn't worth worrying about to begin with. We all have to decide for ourselves what our priorities are and for some it's owing a home while for others it's concentrating on other things and saving some of the money that would go into taxes and general upkeep. To me this is something whee there's no "right" or "wrong" choice", there's only YOUR choice and since YOU'RE the one who will be living with it (and IN it) it's really nobody else's business! Annie

Good luck. Have you thought about buying a condo?

I'm selling my house and I'll probably never own one again. I love my house but there's a lot of money that goes into it that I'd rather save. I don't want the expense and trouble of keeping the yard nice, the front porch all prettied up or any repairs that come up. I had to replace the heat/A/C in December for $8k!! Renting is a great idea, especially at my age (58). Sure, there is a tax write-off for the the interest but I've spent way more than that maintaining the place. I think renting is very sensible, especially if you want to be mobile and be free of economic worries.

I am looking forward to the day I can become a renter, let someone else worry about the stopped up sink or the dishwasher that doesn't work, I don't need the investment any longer and like you would rather spend my time somewhere else. Just laugh at them you have a secret for happiness they don't know about. Blessings

There is nothing wrong with renting a house, in fact the majority of people did that around thirty years ago, and the concept of owning your own home was something that was not known to many. But then people decided that they could afford to do so, and realised that owning a home meant that you would have something that you could give to your children once you passed away. However, as long as you're happy where you live, and you like the house, then surely it doesn't at all matter whether you own it or whether you're just renting it from somebody else. You should be able to enjoy your life to the full, and if you feel as though you would be able to do this better if you were renting then that is certainly what you should do; just don't worry about what everybody else might be thinking.

Well, my husband and I are homeowners, so I am well aware of all the headaches that come with owning a house. For those headaches alone, I think that it would be worth having a rental because we wouldn't be responsible for some of the expenses that we have faced as homeowners. In addition to that, with the economy being the way that it has been for the last several years, I don't think that anyone should look down on you for deciding that you aren't going to keep your house.

I understand that a house takes a lot of work and repairs and if your tired of doing all of that I don't blame you. All I have ever done is rent houses but your right people look down on me for it. Like I am poor or garbage or something, I don't get it. I would love to trade positions with you though. I have wanted to own my own home for years and years but cannot get my credit fixed enough yet...I just hate dealing with slumlords like I have now. But my husband is also willing and able to do all of the work on the house. He had his own remodeling company for 8 years so he could do any work that needed to be done. I wish I could own a home but everyone is different and I don't think there is anything wrong with renting, just a different option. I just want to be able to do what I want with my own house, not to have to ask permission to hang a picture or paint a wall. But I do understand your feelings too.

There is nothing wrong with renting if that is what you want to do and what is right for you.

It is too bad that they are looking down on you. It seems like you are making a wise decision that will leave you time for yourself and money to spend beyond just making ends meet.

bonbon664 ...Good for you..keep telling them to get over it..it's none of their business. In this market especially, renting is actually often a wise move.

I don't understand why should people look down on people who rent. There is nothing wrong with renting if it is what you wanted. Don't care so much about what people think. You know what is good and suitable for you.