"In today's market, the average homeowner has to stay in their house for 7 to 9 years to make owning a better deal than renting. In the not-so-distant past, the rule of thumb was two to three years. That's according to Amanda Pendleton, home trends expert for Zillow. I interview her during an interview on Business Insider's new "Well Spent" podcast, which I'm hosting."
"Here's something even more wild: In really expensive markets like San Francisco or New York City, it takes 15 to 20 years to make buying a better deal than renting, Pendelton says. In the first episode of "Well Spent," Pendleton talks to us about how renting is no longer seen by many as just a step along the way to eventual home ownership, but rather as a reasonable financial and lifestyle choice for grown adults."
Homeownership requires staying in a house for 7 to 9 years to be financially preferable to renting; in expensive cities such as San Francisco or New York, it requires 15 to 20 years. Higher home prices, elevated interest rates, slower home-value appreciation, and strong stock-market returns have shifted the buy-versus-rent math. The traditional rule of thumb of two to three years no longer applies for many markets. Renting has emerged as a reasonable long-term financial and lifestyle choice rather than merely a stepping stone to ownership. First-time millennial and Gen Z buyers face heightened challenges in achieving homeownership. The national median home price reached $435,300 in 2025.
Read at Business Insider
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