Embracing New Beginnings: Why We Chose to Sell Our House and Embrace Apartment Living

Change is often met with hesitation, yet sometimes it’s the very thing that propels us forward toward our goals and dreams. My husband and I recently found ourselves at a crossroads, facing a decision that had been lingering in the back of our minds for years: selling our first home and making the move to apartment living.

The decision was driven by multiple factors coming together. Firstly, my husband’s career had taken a promising turn, although it had led to a temporary dip in income. Secondly, we had a strong desire to achieve financial freedom and eliminate our debt, which had become a significant burden. As we evaluated our financial situation, we knew that we were not on track to achieve our goal.

Our journey with homeownership began in 2019, just before the housing market took a sharp upward turn. It was bittersweet to see the value of our modest rambler increase. On one hand, we felt excited knowing that selling it could alleviate our financial burdens. But on the other hand, it was difficult to let go of a place that we had worked so hard to make our own. However, the timing never seemed right until recently.

The significant changes in our lives, including the completion of our adoption, job transitions, and the need for flexibility, all came together to create the strong need for change. Now that our son is settled into our family and our adoption process is finalized, we’ve decided to make the most of this opportunity and redefine our living situation.

Once those things fell into place, the decision to sell our house was quick and decisive, fueled by the desire to tackle debt head-on, shorten my husband’s commute, and embrace the flexibility that renting affords us. What once seemed like a step backward—opting for apartment living over homeownership—now feels like a leap towards freedom.

In the past, I viewed homeownership as a symbol of success, a milestone marking one’s arrival in life. Renting, on the other hand, seemed temporary and unstable. However, as our journey continues, my perspective has shifted profoundly.

Join me as I dive into the details of this decision and explore the variety of ways in which apartment living offers newfound freedom, flexibility, and help us reach our financial goals.

Economic Considerations: Renting vs. Owning

My husband and I had to decide whether it was more economical for us to rent or continue paying our mortgage. We discovered a few financial advantages of renting. Firstly, the rent for the apartment we chose was only slightly higher than our mortgage. However, the cost of utilities was significantly lower. As we had an older home, the cost of heating, air conditioning, and electricity was expensive. In contrast, the apartment had smaller living spaces which resulted in lower utility bills. We also considered the amenities offered at the apartment complex which cut the cost of a gym membership. Lastly, the apartment was only five minutes away from my husband’s work, saving us a lot on gas.

The flexibility and freedom that renting offered was also a major consideration. Renting offers more flexibility in terms of mobility, and we were aware of future plans of being relocated for my husband’s job. It would be easy to end our lease and relocate with short notice. If we were to stay in our house, we would be tied down, and it would be more challenging to move quickly. Additionally, we didn’t know what the market would look like when the time to move comes, nor how long it would take to sell our house.

One of the advantages of renting an apartment is that you don’t have to worry about maintenance costs. Owning a house can be quite expensive, especially if it’s an older one. However, when you rent a property, the property management team is responsible for appliance maintenance and repairs. They offer 24/7 emergency maintenance services to address any urgent repair issues such as plumbing leaks, heating or cooling failures, and electrical problems.

The property management team also takes care of exterior maintenance tasks such as landscaping, repairs to the building’s structure, and exterior painting. They also maintain common areas such as the stairwells, hallways, and parks. Finally, they provide security and safety by making it a gated community and hiring a security person at night.

Financial Freedom: Paying Off Debt and Cost Efficiency

Our main reason for selling our house was to achieve financial freedom by paying off our accumulated debt. Over time, we had accumulated various financial obligations, such as adoption expenses, car payments, and student loans, which had put a significant burden on us, financially. The sale of our house provides us with a chance to relieve much of this financial strain.

The weight of monthly debt payments had become overwhelming, causing a great deal of stress in our lives and putting a strain on our marriage. We knew that this burden was holding us back from reaching our financial goals and living the life we wanted.

We have been considering the possible consequences of wage disparities if my husband’s job relocates us to another state. Although moving to a state with lower living costs could reduce our expenses, it would not necessarily reduce our debt burden. The difference in wages between states indicates that, even with a lower cost of living, our debt obligations would remain the same.

By selling our house and using the proceeds to pay off a substantial portion of our debt, we will eliminate a large amount of our debt, reduce our financial stress, and gain some financial freedom.

Convenience and Proximity

One of the primary factors that influenced our decision to choose our current apartment was its close proximity to my husband’s workplace, which is only a five-minute drive away. Given my husband’s demanding 12-hour workdays and one-hour commute back home, this was essential to us. There were instances when he wouldn’t arrive home until after I had already put our son to bed, which was not something we wanted for our family. By living so close to his work, my husband can now return home much earlier, granting us invaluable additional time together as a family.

Reducing the commute time not only improves our family dynamics but also translates into tangible financial savings. With the shorter distance to his workplace, we’re able to cut down on transportation expenses significantly. By moving closer to my husband’s workplace, we estimate that we will save a couple hundred dollars on gas expenses each month.

Additionally, the apartment’s location near major highways enhances our accessibility and convenience for travel to various destinations. This ease of access adds to our chosen living situation’s overall appeal and practicality, offering us flexibility and convenience in our day-to-day activities and travel plans.

Lifestyle Enhancement: Health and Recreation

Living in an apartment has been surprising in some ways, including the opportunities for physical activity. My husband and I always talked about daily walks when we lived in our house, but never made it happen. Now, we have to walk our large dogs multiple times a day and I’ve enjoyed it. The grassy areas around the apartment complex are great for the dogs, and the complex provides dog poop bags and trash cans for convenience.

I also appreciate the well-maintained playground located right outside our building. It’s a great place for my son to play and burn off energy. In addition, the complex has both an indoor and outdoor pool, which although we don’t use them as much as we’d like, it is still enjoyable to have the option to use them when we can.

Increasing my physical activity is a personal goal of mine for a healthier lifestyle. The apartment living situation has given me the perfect opportunity to work towards that goal.

Lifestyle Enhancement: Health and Recreation

Increasing my physical activity is a personal goal of mine for a healthier lifestyle. The apartment living situation has given me the perfect opportunity to work towards that goal.

Simplified Living and Reduced Responsibilities

One final aspect of apartment living that I’ve come to appreciate is the simplicity and reduced responsibilities it brings. Transitioning to our apartment prompted us to declutter and part ways with many possessions. We didn’t want a cluttered living space, and we recognized that the smaller layout required a minimalist approach.

Embracing a simplified lifestyle has been quite refreshing. With fewer belongings and less space to manage, we now spend less time on upkeep and more time enjoying our surroundings. This shift towards a simpler, more intentional way of living has brought a sense of calm and clarity to our lives, enriching our apartment living experience in unexpected ways.

Final Thoughts

Our journey from homeownership to apartment living has been a transformative experience, filled with both challenges and everyday joys. The decision to sell our house and move into an apartment was not made lightly, but it was driven by a desire for financial freedom, proximity to work, and a simpler way of life. By downsizing and decluttering, we discovered the joys of simplified living and reduced responsibilities, allowing us to focus on what truly matters to us – our family.

Apartment living has brought unexpected joys and conveniences, from the simple pleasure of morning walks with the dogs around the complex to sitting outside in the afternoon sun on our patio. The proximity to amenities has made everyday tasks like grocery shopping or grabbing a coffee feel like less of a chore, and the well-maintained playgrounds and swimming pools have become a center of fun and laughter for our family.

The flexibility and cost efficiency of renting have offered us a renewed sense of freedom and possibility, enabling us to pursue our goals and dreams with renewed hope. As I reflect on our journey, I want to invite you to consider your own housing decisions with an open mind and a willingness to embrace change. Whether it’s homeownership or apartment living, the key is to find a living situation that aligns with your values, priorities, and aspirations.

In the end, it’s not the type of dwelling we choose that truly matters, but the everyday joys and memories we create within it.

Reflect on a significant change you’ve made in your living situation. What factors influenced your decision, and how did you navigate any challenges or uncertainties?
Consider the role of financial freedom in your life. How does your current living situation contribute to or detract from your financial goals? What changes, if any, could you make to improve your financial outlook?