Myito,
My 3 kids are very stable while we rent our 3 bedroom apartment. I’m a stay-at-home-mom. My choice was to raise my own kids in an apartment or have someone else raise them and own a house. Of course I chose to raise them myself! We have plenty of area parks to play in so I don’t have to worry about not having a yard. Sure, it would be nice to have my own yard and it will happen someday.

If I had focused on my career first and bought a home when I first got married …. I’d probably have a very fine home……without any kids inside because I would’ve delayed bearing children. I’d be thinking about having kids but I still wouldn’t be “financially ready.” So in my mid-30’s I’d start trying to have babies, find out that I and/or my husband has issues and be starting infertility treatment. I’m so happy to be renting because I have 3 wonderful children that wouldn’t be here today if I owned a home!

When I’m 35 I will have a 13 year old, an 11 year old and a 7 year old. Hopefully even more children. I hope to own a home by then. If not, its not the end of the world! My kids are happy that I am there for them every single day.

So here it is again – if I had a home now, there would be no kids living in it or there would be kids in daycare all day who enjoy the home on the weekends only (and a very stressed out mom).

My family is local. They can play in the backyards of our friends and family almost any day of the week!

Also, this might horrify you but…. kids who live in houses come over and play in our apartment with my kids!!!!!! We are normal people! The kids who live in houses have fun at our apartment and vice versa!

That is great that you could buy. I’m impressed with your amount of money socked away. Unfortunately I don’t have that kind of money but it really doesn’t matter to me. 6 years ago when our first child was born, I was determined to stay home with her. We cut back on everything! We still don’t have cable! I was able to stay at home with her while my wonderful hardworking husband went to college full time and worked full time – for $9 an hour! It was a tough time but we learned so much from that time of our lives and I look back on that time with fondness.

I love my friends that are homeowners and I love that they don’t look down on me for renting.