AAR22 - Renting vs. Owning: No Easy Answer
The Investing for Beginners Podcast - Your Path to Financial Freedom
What Are the Practical Rules for Affordable Housing Costs?
Evan recommends keeping housing below 30–40% of net income and avoiding stretching to buy.
You can find Evan’s home buying calculator at einvestingforbeginners.com/home.
In this episode, Evan Raidt and Dave Ahern tackle the classic debate of renting vs. owning a home.
They break down the numbers behind home affordability, share real-life experiences, and discuss how your personal goals and financial situation should drive your decision—not outdated advice or pressure from others.
From the dramatic shift in home price-to-income ratios to the realities of being “house poor,” Evan and Dave offer honest insights, practical tips, and a few laughs to help you make the best choice for your life.
Topics Covered:
- How home affordability has changed since the 1980s
- The real monthly costs of owning a home
- What it means to be “house poor”
- Pros and cons of renting vs. owning
- The impact of lifestyle and flexibility on your decision
- Common misconceptions about buying a home
- Personal stories: why Evan bought and why Dave rents
- Using calculators and tools to make smart decisions
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction & The Home Price-to-Income Ratio
02:00 Renting vs. Owning: The Real-Life Experience
06:00 Why Most People Don’t Plan for Homeownership
09:30 Planning Ahead vs. Waiting for Opportunity
12:45 How Home Affordability Has Shifted
16:00 The Modern Reality: Dual Incomes & Rising Costs
19:30 Breaking Down the True Cost of Buying a Home
25:00 What Does “House Poor” Really Mean?
28:00 Comparing Monthly Costs: Renting vs. Owning
31:00 Pros and Cons: Maintenance, Flexibility, and Lifestyle
35:00 Personal Stories: Decision Factors for Evan & Dave
39:00 Misconceptions and Outdated Advice
41:30 Final Thoughts, Tools, and How to Reach Out
Resources Mentioned:
Questions or feedback? Email Evan at evan@einvestingforbeginners.com or comment below—your stories and questions help us make the show better!
Remember, financial freedom is built one smart move at a time. Keep it simple, keep it steady, and at any rate—we’ll see you next time.
Timestamps are generated by artificial intelligence, and are not 100% accurate depending on the platform used for listening.
Today’s show is sponsored by:
Download the Plynk app today to start building your investing confidence.
Go to SHOPIFY.COM/beginners to start selling with Shopify today.
This message is sponsored by Greenlight. Don’t wait to teach your kids real-world money skills, start your risk-free Greenlight trial today at greenlight.com/investing.
Have questions? Send them to Evan at evan@einvestingforbeginners.com
If you’d like to discuss sponsorship or advertising opportunities, shoot us an email at equity@einvestingforbeginners.com.
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