Comparing Apples and Oranges. (apartment complex, renter, house, noisy)

[kaahumanu]

I've notice that in the frequent rent vs. own debates on this board, many people seem to equate renting with apartment living and owning with living in a SFH.

That is not always the case. If we are going discuss the virtues of renting over owning, or vice versa, then such arguments as "If I own the place, I don't have to deal with noisy neighbors like I would if I were renting", or "I enjoy (don't enjoy) having a yard".

You just as easily can rent a SFH as own one. Same goes for a townhouse or a condominium.

For example, I have always rented. I have moved seven times in seventeen years due to my profession. Yet I have lived three SFH's, one townhouse and three condos. I have always rented directly from the owner except for one time where I dealt with a property management company after sealing the deal with the home owner.

All my next door neighbors have have always been home owners. I seriously doubt their living experience was much different than mine.

We should separate the two debates to: Buying vs. renting and SFH living vs. apartment/condo living.

Just saying.

[manderly6]

For a lot of people renting a SFH would just not be economically possible. In many areas these demand a premium and are much higher than renting an apartment. And the fact is the vast majority of places for rent are not SFHs. They are apartments.

[FrugalYankee]

Also single family homes make terrible rental properties from an investment standpoint. While SFHs are available to rent, they are generally rented out by mom-and-pop landlords who have some reason for renting other than using the property as an investment - they were unable to sell, they have two homes in different parts of the country etc. Most rental units are apartments for that reason.

[goodlife36]

All my next door neighbors have have always been home owners. I seriously doubt their living experience was much different than mine.


The renter on my block rent is higher than all of my house related expenses including utilities. Some of the homeowners on your block may own their properties outright. A third of homeowners own their properties outright.

[kaahumanu]

Originally Posted by goodlife36

All my next door neighbors have have always been home owners. I seriously doubt their living experience was much different than mine.


The renter on my block rent is higher than all of my house related expenses including utilities. Some of the homeowners on your block may own their properties outright. A third of homeowners own their properties outright.

Actually, my rent has always been less then the PITI payment that my neighbors are paying. That is the whole reason I rent.

Yes, I have been lucky finding nice, clean, quiet and comfortable places to live. It also depends on where you live.

I currently live in West LA. My rent is $3800 a month, but the place sold right before I moved in for $770,000, plus the HOA is over $1000 a month. Throw in the property tax and maintenance, and living here is costing me way less then what my neighbors are paying. And I don't lay awake at night worrying about the future direction of the housing market (priceless).

On the other hand, if I where to move to someplace like San Antonio, Tx, it would be difficult to find a place to rent (a quality home) cheaper than I could buy.

[kaahumanu]

Originally Posted by manderly6

For a lot of people renting a SFH would just not be economically possible. In many areas these demand a premium and are much higher than renting an apartment. And the fact is the vast majority of places for rent are not SFHs. They are apartments.

True. But, the opposite of owning does not always mean living in a corporate owned apartment complex. There are alternatives.