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Episode 10: The Homeownership Trap
The Homeownership Trap (Why Buying a House Isn't the Dream We've Been Sold)
Buying a house isn't a measure of success – it's a choice. And it's okay if it's not your choice.
In this episode, Hema and Mike expose how homeownership has become the ultimate adulting milestone that nobody questions. You're told renting is throwing money away, property ownership equals financial security, and you're not a real adult until you have a mortgage. If you haven't bought yet, you feel behind. But here's the truth: the homeownership narrative is a script we've been handed, and most of us never stop to ask if we even want it.
In this episode, you'll discover:
The homeownership gospel: how we've been sold the narrative that buying = success and renting = failure
Who profits from your mortgage: banks (30 years of interest), real estate agents, home improvement industry, insurance companies, property tax collectors
What they don't tell you: first 10-15 years is mostly interest, closing costs and maintenance don't build equity, houses lose value, you're tied to one location
The reality of homeownership costs: when something breaks ($5K+), roofs ($15K), foundations, HVAC, appliances – inevitable expensive surprises
How you've traded flexibility for "stability": can't easily move for jobs or family, locked in for years, that stability can feel like being stuck
Why renting isn't "throwing money away": you're paying for flexibility, maintenance handled by others, freedom to not be tied down
Redefining success: What if you value experiences over equity? What if financial freedom looks different? What if you'd rather invest in mobility?
The real question: What kind of life do you actually want? Are you buying because you want to, or because you think you should?
From the pressure to "settle down" to the shame of renting past a certain age, we break down why homeownership is treated as mandatory when it's actually optional, and why you're allowed to want a different kind of life.
Ready to disrupt the homeownership default? Tune in now.
Perfect for: Anyone feeling behind because they don't own property, questioning whether buying is what they actually want, drowning in unexpected homeowner costs, valuing flexibility over permanence, or ready to stop proving their worth through property ownership.
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By Hema Crockett and Michael CrockettThe Homeownership Trap (Why Buying a House Isn't the Dream We've Been Sold)
Buying a house isn't a measure of success – it's a choice. And it's okay if it's not your choice.
In this episode, Hema and Mike expose how homeownership has become the ultimate adulting milestone that nobody questions. You're told renting is throwing money away, property ownership equals financial security, and you're not a real adult until you have a mortgage. If you haven't bought yet, you feel behind. But here's the truth: the homeownership narrative is a script we've been handed, and most of us never stop to ask if we even want it.
In this episode, you'll discover:
The homeownership gospel: how we've been sold the narrative that buying = success and renting = failure
Who profits from your mortgage: banks (30 years of interest), real estate agents, home improvement industry, insurance companies, property tax collectors
What they don't tell you: first 10-15 years is mostly interest, closing costs and maintenance don't build equity, houses lose value, you're tied to one location
The reality of homeownership costs: when something breaks ($5K+), roofs ($15K), foundations, HVAC, appliances – inevitable expensive surprises
How you've traded flexibility for "stability": can't easily move for jobs or family, locked in for years, that stability can feel like being stuck
Why renting isn't "throwing money away": you're paying for flexibility, maintenance handled by others, freedom to not be tied down
Redefining success: What if you value experiences over equity? What if financial freedom looks different? What if you'd rather invest in mobility?
The real question: What kind of life do you actually want? Are you buying because you want to, or because you think you should?
From the pressure to "settle down" to the shame of renting past a certain age, we break down why homeownership is treated as mandatory when it's actually optional, and why you're allowed to want a different kind of life.
Ready to disrupt the homeownership default? Tune in now.
Perfect for: Anyone feeling behind because they don't own property, questioning whether buying is what they actually want, drowning in unexpected homeowner costs, valuing flexibility over permanence, or ready to stop proving their worth through property ownership.