"You better own a house, don't waste your money on rent, real estate is the only real way to build equity."
This advice, though, ignores a very important aspect: Our life.
🪤 The Trap
We are feeling pressured to buy a home, but once we check our budget, we understand that not all our dreams will come true. Instead of buying and living in our desired, cool and expensive neighborhood, we need to compromise and buy a place 45 minutes away.
We trade the 10-minute walk to our life center for a 90-minute commute, and thus become the Babysitters of our mortgage.
🎯 Renting as a Strategic Tool
If we can't buy a house in our desired neighborhood, renting is not a failure—it's a great strategy. By renting where we actually want to live, we gain:
- Lifestyle ROI: We live with our community, our kids close to what are supposed to be their best-fitted schools. We gain mental health, and a chance for networking.
- Capital liquidity and composition: We have our capital in our hand, ready to work for us. Instead of the capital managing us, we manage it. We can invest, maybe buy a house later. All options are available.
💡 Bottom Line
Let's not let the mainstream decide for us that we need to buy a house. Some people like to live next to their families, some in the city center—but what's common for all is that we need to make informed decisions and not let the rest decide for us.
📊 Not Sure What's Right for You?
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This is not financial advice. Always consult with a qualified professional before making major financial decisions.