[dradernh]

Overall, renting's been noticeably cheaper for us. We've owned three homes and own the one that we now live in.

We made a substantial down payment, and mortgage payments, HOA dues, and property taxes take well under 20% of our annual income. Renting was taking 21% without our ever having to put another dime of our own money into the place.

Before moving in, we spent a fair piece of change fixing-up our home. Half of the mortgage payment goes to principal, and the HOA will replace the roof and 62 sq. ft. of double-pane skylights late next year. Years ago, I would have spent some time keeping track of how much financial sense this purchase has made, but luckily we're in a circumstance and at an age now where that's no longer necessary. In that context, planning well ahead starting over 40 years ago has paid off in the way it was supposed to.

Our view is that we were very lucky in a long list of ways to have been born in the late 1940s.