@BlackBlossom I had to spend about 8k in plumbing repairs last year. When I bought my house seven years ago, my rent was the same as my new mortgage. Rent has increased so much over the past seven years that I still saved money compared to renting. It's gotten crazy here. The apartment I used to pay 1k a month for now runs for almost 2k a month.

@SW-User Dude! Lol. How? I will block everything in me if my door was open. Even outside air cannot see what inside air is seeing.🤣

@SW-User An open bathroom door signifies freedom to me😁

@SW-User 🤣 Freedom from what? Actually don't answer. Someone elses thread and I am conscious of hijacking it.

@iamnikki Well, it was when we first moved there. But it was very lonely. And that's what the ex wanted. He wanted to be really distant from everything and everyone.

There was a lot about it that was great...or it would have been if things had not gone south. I think I don't appreciate what COULD have been enough...just because I know what happened there.

@4meAndyou I would ask why you settled on it if you were lonely there but that's probably too much.

@iamnikki I am, unfortunately, a dope when it comes to some things. I wanted the ex to be happy...and that was what made him happy. We weren't going to find anything else so removed and private in our price range. And I didn't know in advance that it would become that lonely. I had my job, and things were good at first.

@FaeLuna hopefully you will find a home soon in the coming time.

@TheOrionbeltseeker Me too. I'm looking, but everything in this area is overpriced and too small.

@CanadianTraveller look at his age group! That's a factor now.

@DeWayfarer Age is a big factor. Generally, the 50 to 70 generation is probably one of the most wealthy as a general group than any other generation has been. I, like many parents, are giving advances on inheritances to their children to buy a home and have the same economic advantage that we did.

@CanadianTraveller the matter I suspect is moot. He liked my reply. Make of that what you will! 😊

@Picklebobble2 In the very long run, home ownership will pay off, depending where you live.

Here, a reasonable apartment in a safer area is about $1,600 per month. If you buy the apartment, which then becomes a condo, it is about the same because of condo fees. Both rent and condo fees are subject to increases, often on the whims of the property owner. As for repairs, when you own an apartment (condo) often repairs and upgrades are also regulated where the landowner has control.

A middle sized house mortgage is about $1,300 to $1,800 for most people here. But with ownership, eventually you will either own it outright, or keep reducing the mortgage until your monthly payment is cheap.

@CanadianTraveller Or get swamped by endless periods of economic uncertainty.......like the last year !

No 'Jobs for life' anymore, you can't guarantee anything. Sadly.

@Picklebobble2 That is a factor. But if someone owns a home and they get into serious economic issues, there is value in the home that can be accessed. In an apartment, you are kicked out!

@Thevy29 I like house with all the yards 🏡😁

@Stereoguy A very big YES to not dealing with "noisy neighbours". I almost committed murder back in 2017.

@Stereoguy You forgot to mention SMELLY neighbors...before smoking was banned in this building, a cigarette smoker lived below me. I never understood how one man could possibly stink so very, very badly.

@SW-User I also like independent house. My way to freedom.