Note: This is a guest post from Julia Ubbenga of Rich in What Matters.
Lately I’ve been happily fielding a not-so-surprising question: “Why are you raising your family in a 1,000-square-foot apartment?”
Well, actually, the question usually sounds more like, “Aren’t you looking for a house?”
While we certainly could be house hunting if we wanted, the truth is, we don’t have the desire. We did the live-in-a-house thing for three years before moving to our current apartment. And we aren’t in a hurry to get back to that lifestyle.
Yes, we realize it’s a bit countercultural. In the US, 80% of the population prefer to live in a single family home, while only 70% actually do. Meanwhile, apartment and condo living is preferred by only 8% of the population, yet 17% of Americans do live in an apartment or condo.
In European countries, however, apartment living is more common. In Spain, for example, 65% of the population live in apartments.
Clearly, choosing an apartment over a home is not the “American norm.” So why do we love being in that 8%? What’s the draw to apartment living? I think many people don’t even stop to consider the benefits.
Here are 7 reasons why we love apartment living and you will too:
1. Simplicity
Apartment living is a simpler way of living, which translates to a happier, lower-stress life. A simpler lifestyle provides the space to figure out what matters most and the freedom to focus on these things.
Some people may love fixing up their home, and that’s great. But if that’s not how you feel called to spend your gift of time, then apartment living will free you from those obligations that come with owning a house.
Instead of spending your weekends on home maintenance projects or mowing a yard, you can take your kids to the park and the pool. You can relax more and even nap more (yes!) without thinking about things that need done around the house.
This is not lazy living, just the opposite. It’s intentional living that focuses on what you believe matters.
2. Less stuff
A smaller space simply can’t fit a lot of material things in it. It’s minimalist by design. This reality forces you to edit your life constantly by making decisions about what stays in your home.
If you let clutter pile up, you quickly lose living space. In a smaller space, you’re not tempted to buy more furniture or other “toys” because you just don’t have a spot for them. When new things do come into your home, other things have to leave. You quickly learn the feel of “enough” in your home and become motivated to maintain this balance.
3. Connection
Connections thrive in smaller spaces. These connections could be within your family, your faith, or even to yourself. With less home to care for, family time, prayer, and self-care can become a daily theme, not a side note.
An apartment’s smaller space allows families to be more present for one another. This leads to more connection and more shared experiences.
You will talk more, play more, and do more together because you’re closer together in proximity (although apartments are still big enough to allow breathing room when needed).
4. Community
Apartment complexes come with a built-in community. Many have weekly activities or a clubhouse where people often meet. This can be beneficial, especially for stay-at-home-moms (or those of us who work from home).
A face-to-face, adult conversation is always easy to find, which can be a very welcome thing during a day spent taking care of kiddos and a home.
Feelings of social isolation are hard to come by in apartment complexes. Befriending elderly neighbors can be especially rewarding. The memories they share are almost always about family and experiences—not stuff. Hearing stories from their lives will remind you to slow down and keep a big-picture perspective on life.
5. Financial flexibility
Apartment living helps shape your spending around the lifestyle you feel most called to. If your family values relationships, traveling, health, and generosity, but your finances are going toward home projects and repairs, then you won’t be able to focus as much on those values.
Consider if the trade-offs make sense. Instead of saving up for a new roof, you could travel to see family out of state multiple times a year. Instead of redoing your flooring, you could have frequent nights out with your loved one. Instead of repairing your basement’s foundation, you could invest in your health by eating organic, real foods. Instead of renovating your kitchen, you could donate to a cause you’re passionate about.
6. Contentment
Happiness is found in being true to yourself and your values—not someone else’s. Studies also show time and time again that more possessions don’t ultimately make us happier. Although many people may pursue the “American Dream” (a bigger home, more stuff), they don’t report being any happier for it.
Raising your family in an apartment also instills this in your children. As your children observe your family’s lifestyle, they will realize that you don’t have to do what everyone else is doing or live the way everyone else is living to be happy.
7. A tidy home
Any living space requires upkeep. Apartments, by design, are easy to keep tidy. Less space means less to clean in less time. When cleaning doesn’t seem overwhelming, you’ll be more motivated to do it. And the peace that comes from a clean, uncluttered living space will motivate you to maintain this feel in your home.
Home maintenance systems are also easy to implement. Consider laundry, for example. When your washer and dryer are only steps away, you’re much more likely to stay on top of laundry than if you had to descend two sets of stairs to wash your clothes. Being in close proximity to your daily chores increases the chance you will do them.
We realize that apartment living isn’t for everyone. But for us, a minimalist lifestyle in a 1,000-square-foot apartment leads to more joy, more fulfillment, and more family togetherness.
Our home has never been tidier and our family is thriving in this simple, manageable environment.
If you’re looking for a way to simplify your life and focus on what matters most, why not give apartment living a try?
It’s not the American norm, but it could just be the right lifestyle for you.
***
Julia Ubbenga is a freelance journalist whose teachings on minimalism, simplicity, and intentional living have reached thousands of people worldwide through her blog, Rich in What Matters. Julia practices what she preaches in her Kansas City apartment home with her husband and two extremely lively young daughters.
Luke Smith says
I like that you pointed out how apartment living is a simpler way of living, which would translate to a happier, lower-stress life. My wife and I just got married and we are now trying to find a place where we would start our family. We cannot afford a house right now, so maybe we should look into those apartment duplex for lease.
DS Aldridge says
I agree with everything but #4. I purposely moved into a complex with a walled courtyard and no amenities such as pool or clubhouse because I’m a loner. I’ve met a few people here over the seven years I’ve been here, but they know I’m not a sociable person, so they pretty much let me come to them. My apartment is tucked back into a corner away from the parking lot and street. I love it here, and hope I can stay here for a very long time, if the ever-rising rents don’t make me leave.
Beverly Eagan says
Americans have a strong need to buy a house. That’s not going to change. It’s part of the culture. We own one in California. It burned in a wildfire but has been rebuilt. After the fire, we moved to Paris, where we are renting a beautiful Haussmann apartment with a view of the Eiffel Tower. My goal had always been to live in an apartment, owned or rented, in Manhattan. This is even better. I would consider buying an additional American house as an investment, but never want to live in one again.
Dana H says
With interest rates so high, we can sell our paid for home with super high property taxes and will earn enough interest to fully cover rent.
CaptainFI says
Loved my time living in an apartment, even lived there with my 40kg Rottweiler in a city apartment. however now I am looking for a place by the beach and aren’t many apartments here that will rent with pets so we are probably ending up in a townhouse or freestanding home
Beverly Eagan says
A nice surprise in France is that pets can not be forbidden. It’s a “don’t ask, don’t tell” situation during the rental process, but then you move in with your pets and you have the right to keep them. They should not disturb others, but French pets are like French children, quiet and well-behaved.
CaptainFI says
It’s getting better in australia too for pets
Renae says
Our family has embraced the downsize in a big way. I do love being able to call on maintenance. The pool has been amazing. I don’t mind noises of neighbors. We are in a beautiful community and saving more money for the moment in our area.
Timothy says
Julia this is the greatest inspiration. We agonized over buying a house, moving to questionable neighbourhood, compromising career and family time and experiences for ‘home improvements’…. Then I read this. I did the math. 4500 dollar mortgage vs 1800 dollar rent. Bad neighbourhood (house) vs downtown (apartment). Focus on our kids and careers vs home renovations.
Simply city vs ‘just too much’.
This tipped the scales. Thank you.
Judy says
Good information and I think apartment living can be great for some. But the is something to be said about the house payment means you are working on building up home equity. I lived in an apartment when I was much younger and single and could not afford a home. But being able decorate my home as I please grow flowers or vegetables in my own garden, is also intentional living. In an apartment, if my neighbor starts a fire, they are right next to me. They could also be very noisy. Just something to think about. If you live in an apartment and it is working for you I am happy for you as well. There are many ways to live in this world. One last point. Nothing stops a person from craming a small apartment full of stuff. If you are a minimalist you will be one no matter the size of the space you live in.
EmmyLou WASSINK Wassink says
EXACTLY!!!
Polly O'Neill says
What if your neighbour starts a fire in their mortgaged house? Unless you have the fortune to be living in a detached property, this could potentially spread to your property…
Dorene says
I totally agree with that last statement. When we lived in apartments we had too much stuff for the space. It was always cluttered and messy. I’ve managed to also overfill my house in the 30 years we’ve lived here and are currently decluttering to downsize to our retirement cabin now that our children are grown.
Bárbara Filipe says
Are you speaking about renting? Because in Portugal, for instance, many of us are the owners of our apartments and, believe me, is the same of owning a house PLUS lots of problems with neighbours about common expenses of maintenance of the whole building that has common parts to all (roof or stairs for instance). Our is an old building with lots of problems that must be solved. And here is better to buy a house/apartment because the prices of renting are impossible. But so are the prices of houses/apartments depending on the site. I have a house in the centre of Lisbon that I bought 20 years ago and that would certainly not be capable of afford right now because of the square feet prices. I believe it’s quite difficult to say that life in an apartment is better than life in a house. You might have noisy neighbours and you may not even like them. In the pandemic, the lack of privacy and being with others 24 hours a day was a nightmare for many families and led to lot’s of divorces (for instance, my downstairs neighbours). It’s not that simple to clean, it might just be smaller to clean than a house. But if you have a small space, you might have lot’s of things that constrain the cleaning process that might be simpler in a house with more space to organize, even if you decluttered and simplified and so on – I have done that but, helas, I still hate dusting and vacuum even in decluttered spaces and hate the time I spend doing that because and it can’t be avoided. Depending on your time, and the number of family members, you may or may not have piles of laundry. I normally don’t, but sometimes, if I am busier, I may have lots of laundry to wash, sort and put back in the closets. But of course it might be a good idea if you don’t want to spend time in the traffic because you work on the town center and live in a suburb. It can really save time and energy and that’s the strongest point for me. I can walk to my job, ride a bicycle or take the bus, and I have services, gardens, museums, hospitals nearby, and I live in a city quite near the sea/beach. I believe it’s not a good idea to be too romantic about an apartment because there are many variables that can make the experience awful or wonderful or just normal, with great good and bad sides to it.
Melissa says
Exactly! Not too mention you are throwing your money away on renting.
Catherine Main-Oster says
Not if you invest the money that would go into house maintenance and mortgage instead. You only get equity out of a house if you take it out and keep having a mortgage….it’s all very individual and also where you are in your life. I think the point perhaps that owning a home shouldn’t be “the American dream”…financial security and debit free perhaps? Just some thoughts.
Jane Norberg says
I have finally embraced my love for apartment living over giving in to societal pressure to owning a home, which we have done several times in the past. While resonating with everything you wrote, you missed the greatest reason of all for apartment living… which is the ability to turn in your notice and move at will! Nothing worse to me than being trapped in one place. Suppose you don’t like your neighbors. You’re half married to them when you live in a suburban neighborhood. But if you don’t like your neighbors or noise or want to move for family reasons, weather, job etc ….just turn in your notice and move elsewhere . Otherwise you are trapped by market trends and cannot up and leave at will.
You can even decide to not even rent for a while… but rather travel to different Airbnb’s once your kids are grown and avoid the responsibility of any kind of physical living space for awhile.
DS Aldridge says
I so agree with you about the freedom of living in an apartment. I’ve owned two houses as a single woman and found that the work and expense was just too much for me. I swore to myself I’d never buy another house. I’ve been living in rentals for 12 years, and the one I’m in now, I hope I never have to leave, but if I want to, I can! We don’t even have to sublease. Just find someone to take it over, put them on the lease, and take me off. I can be out of here in 30 days or less.
Emily says
You’ve made some great points, although I would suggest buying over renting right now in America. Rent is so high! Many condos are similar to apartment complex’s with the amenities, and I’ve even seen some subdivisions like that. Of course there are Home Owners Associations to deal with, some good, others not so much. Also programs like FHA loans can help with lower down payments and deposits.
Overall, I would recommend buying if you can, and looking for a place that has the amenities that you and your family would like.
Thank you for writing such an informative article!