My husband and I are contemplating the possibility of moving. We’re not sure how everything will play out (we’re waiting to see if he got a job he recently applied for), but we’ve talked a little bit about what our housing situation might look like.

One of the things we’ve decided is that we might not care all that much about buying another home because we may be just as happy with renting. While we’ve enjoyed living in our home, the thought of trying to sell it is stressful. We haven’t started the process yet but I’m sure it’ll be difficult to sell our place when mortgage rates shot up so much and no one can afford the same house they were looking for just a few short months ago. If we move, would we enjoy living in a nice rental just as much?

Could Renters Be as Happy as Buyers?

In a study titled, “The American Dream or the American Delusion? The Private and External Benefits of Homeownership for Women,” a professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania examined the happiness levels of women renting vs. owning.

The results of the study surprised me, but when I really think about it, they make a great deal of sense. The study indicates that those who own their homes aren’t any happier than those who rent. One of the biggest takeaways of the study was that homeowners spend less time on leisure activities than renters.

The Perks of Renting

When you think about some of the realities of homeownership – maintenance, repairs, property taxes, and other costs and tasks that take up time – you…

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