What would you tell your adult male siblings about housing?

[Anonymous]

If you have adult single male brothers who live in high rises/penthouses ( renting, not owning) in downtown, would you encourage them to buy a house?

I also went that path, apartment to midrise and then a house once we had kids. But if I had some sense I would have skipped the midrise phase and went straight to the house because ultimately it's a waste of money.

[Anonymous]

Not right now, with interest rates like they are.

[Anonymous]

You're seriously categorizing altitude in rentals?
You've just lost all credibility.

Consider their career. If they'll need to move nationally or internationally, owning is a hassle.
Renting in a period of high interest rates makes a lot of sense.

If they are sure they want to own a house, then they will need to do a lot of research about schools/sidewalks/walkability, etc, in short consider the trappings of parenthood before being parents. That's hard to do, and usually results in mistakes. Because only a parent fully considers all the needs of their kids.

There are exceptions, of course, like my neighbor who bought the house next door 15 years ago as a young man, put in a ton of DIY reno, and now has a live-in girlfriend. My neighborhood attracts a lot of families looking for walkability and great public schools, so if has kids, he chose his location well.

Even if your brothers don't want kids, buying in a great public school district ensures price stability in recession times. They want to recession-proof their property, in other words.

But you're really putting the cart before the horse here, OP. Given current interest rates and professional mobility, owning isn't necessarily the best solution for unattached adults.

[Anonymous]

I don't tell other adults where to live unless they're living with me.

[Anonymous]

Buying a home under these circumstances makes zero sense.

[Anonymous]

I always marvel at questions like these. No, you don't tell him anything unless he asks. He may never move out into the suburbs. He may never get married. And if he does and they both wanted to move out, they would buy a SFH together.

You are assuming that your brother wants the same life you have. Just because you are doing it one way doesn't mean that is the right way for everyone.

I have a single brother who lives in the city. He loves it. He can't imagine buying a home outside of the city at this point in his life. We wants to meet other people like him. He also might now stay in the area. He actually talks to me about it. I listen and absorb what he wants, not what I think he should want.

[Anonymous]

If you think your brothers don’t understand the difference between renting and owning and that they’re allowed to own before they have children? If they’re not smart enough to understand that without older sister explaining it to them, I’m guessing that they aren’t employed in a field that pays well enough for someone to purchase a home without a partner’s income in the mix as well.

They might not want to own, or want children or marriage. I’m sure they can decide that for themselves.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t say anything. Why do you think this is your business?

[Anonymous]

Not unless they asked me for advice. They are capable of figuring out that buying a house is an option and determining the pros and cons for their particular circumstances. I guess if you feel really strongly that you made mistakes in your own life you could tell them about that but don’t assume that what was a mistake for you would be a mistake for other people.

[Anonymous]

Nothing - I trust my male relatives to do their own research and consider all the factors in their lives and make intelligent decisions.

[Anonymous]

I'd love to rent a penthouse and not have to deal with house maintenance. Agree with the others to MYOB.

[Anonymous]

Why does it matter whether their brothers or sisters and if they’re not asking for your advice, why do you feel they need to hear your opinion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why does it matter whether their brothers or sisters and if they’re not asking for your advice, why do you feel they need to hear your opinion?

*they’re not their