Renting as a lifestyle choice: How high costs are reshaping the American Dream of homeownership
By
Jennifer Liu
Summary
The article examines a cultural shift in the American Dream regarding homeownership. While 58% of survey respondents still see owning a home as essential to achieving the American Dream, high housing prices, borrowing costs, and homeownership expenses are causing many to reconsider. Some renters now view renting not as a temporary stepping stone but as a long-term lifestyle choice that offers freedom, flexibility, and financial sense. The piece explores the tension between the traditional ideal of homeownership and the economic realities facing Americans in 2025.
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Key quotes
· 3 pulledMore than half (58%) of respondents said they'd need to own a home to feel they'd achieved the American Dream, according to a CNBC and SurveyMonkey American Dream Pulse Survey, second only to reaching financial stability.
Some no longer see renting as a temporary stop on the path to homeownership but rather a long-term lifestyle choice, reflecting a shift in the American Dream.
Renting is 'really freeing for me'
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