The location thing rings true, you tend to underestimate it. I've rented 4 places in the past that weren't in an optional location, but cheaper, and 1 (now) in a great location, but smaller. I like the great location much more.
The money thing is also true: you tend to underestimate large costs (20K, say), if they're part of a much larger cost.
And again, the third one (pool) is also true. Pools are really rarely used. Living in the city becomes much more enjoyable once you realize this.
Light and nature, again, spot-on. As a sidenote: I'm enjoying nature almost as much now (in NYC) as when living in the mountains of Colombia. Just to say that living in the city doesn't exclude access to nature (parks!).
And finally, listening to your gut, again, spot-on.
So actually (and again, I've rented AND bought), pretty good advice.
I've bought and rented too. I'm on my third house. And I've learned a few things as well.
It's nice to have a modest house in an up-and-coming community with lots of light and easy access to the workplace. But then you discover that the up-and-coming community has a fire and police district that can't keep up with the growth. So either they try to get by with a shoestring municipal infrastructure, or the taxes skyrocket.
Then you discover the county has overbudgeted during the boom times and hasn't cut back on anything. Taxes are going up again to make up for the incompetent government.
Then the poster starts a family. Whoops, that home that was so close to your workplace is 10 miles from the school. Now you're driving the kids to daycare or school or paying for bus service. Or you discover that the nearby school sucks and is full of gangs but the schools in the next town over are light years better and safer. Private school time.
Then the roof goes. The power grid cuts out every time a squirrel farts on a wire. The 100-year flood plain is really a 10-year one these days.
It goes on and on. Trust me, home ownership has it's upside but a lot of it sucks as well.
Just to say that living in the city doesn't exclude access to nature (parks!).
This! I live in the middle of the city and have access awesome parks and gardens where my daughter can run around and play within 20 minutes walk of my apartment. I doubt I could find anything significantly better by moving out to the suburbs.
The location thing rings true, you tend to underestimate it. I've rented 4 places in the past that weren't in an optional location, but cheaper, and 1 (now) in a great location, but smaller. I like the great location much more.
The money thing is also true: you tend to underestimate large costs (20K, say), if they're part of a much larger cost.
And again, the third one (pool) is also true. Pools are really rarely used. Living in the city becomes much more enjoyable once you realize this.
Light and nature, again, spot-on. As a sidenote: I'm enjoying nature almost as much now (in NYC) as when living in the mountains of Colombia. Just to say that living in the city doesn't exclude access to nature (parks!).
And finally, listening to your gut, again, spot-on.
So actually (and again, I've rented AND bought), pretty good advice.