[s1artibartfast]

Obviously homebuying is a subjective experience. Buying a home was a positive lifechanging experience for me.

I feel like it was a prerequisite living the life I wanted, and the absence was the source of a lot of depression and anxiety.

My main regret is not buying earlier, money be dammed. I would happily trade that money for more happy years.

[tootie]

I'd argue this is pure cultural bias. It's been beaten into our heads the home ownership is part of the American Dream. Owning a home felt to me like a massive burden. The house owned me more than I owned it.

[s1artibartfast]

Everything psychological has a cultural bias, that doesn't make it less real.

With who I am, from my culture and upbringing, it was near impossible to be happy without a home. I tried for 15 years without success. I grew up reading Walden and love building and improving things. I was never going to be happy in a rental without substantially changing my personality, and couldn't do so when I tried

[tootie]

I grew up watching Star Trek :)

[tricksforfree]

"Ownership beaten into our heads" is your own baggage.

Some people are handy and enjoy taking care of their home.

Some people don't like hearing their neighbors footsteps above them all the time.

Some people play Drums and don't want to pay/share a small 10x10 room to practice in.

[tootie]

That's an expensive hobby. Also, house vs apartment is orthogonal to own vs rent. I owned an apartment.