Remember how people used to have a bachelor pad, then an apartment together, then a starter home....

[Anonymous]

I rented for awhile (ages 18-27) and then bought a starter place (27-39) and then my "real" place, which I'll keep till my kid is out of high school. I'm starting to think about where I want to live after that, when I don't need good schools or a bigger house or a yard anymore and can cash out. (I've done all this as a single person.)

[Anonymous]

I bought a condo with next to nothing down. Lived there for 7 years (with roommates to pay the mortgage), got married and then bought our forever house.

I think the issue is that realtors take such a large portion of any appreciation out of a house. 5-6% truly is a lot and since it's so high it doesn't make sense to move ever 4 years until you can afford a forever home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some people - gasp! - rent.

And they're smart to do so, depending on where they live. If you can find an affordable 3BD, 2BA apartment in a good school district - great. But in this area you're likely forking over $2,000-$3,000 a month, if not more. And that's a mortgage.