In my homeownership education throughout the years, buying a house was not only a wise investment (potentially the wisest of all) but a cardinal marker of success and financial prudence. No matter the location or condition, it is better to own, and quickly, so the wisdom went. Though not yet able to actualize this goal myself, its imprint has remained strong.
Scores of newly married couples I've known - and enterprising singles - boast of their home purchases. These announcements come along like those of engagements and pregnancies, the couple beaming with pride in their acquisition. Yet most of these acquaintances are buying elsewhere, as the Greater Nashville Area is more inhibiting than many other regional cities. For my wife and I, the housing market of a city like Nashville skews our perspective toward contentment in being tenants, even as many peers elsewhere are able to afford homes of their choice. This can lead to some degree of disappointment and shame, for feeling behind or simply lazy. But I do not subscribe to the notion that homeownership is best for all, all the time. It is more situational than I was led to believe, and renting can at times be the best choice, not only a consolation.
That said, we do aspire to own a house, in Nashville if possible. We'd rather wait and assess the city's growth while making our plans, rather than assuming we have no place to buy but far outside the city limits. Waiting has risks, but so does haste. Homeownership in the areas of town we'd prefer to live in still seems distant at present, but we don't view this as a damning conclusion. Right now, our value is placed on the location and space our rental duplex affords us, as well as the handling of all maintenance by our conscientious landlord. The ability to not focus on renovations and homemaking allows other investments that will also build equity. And when the time does arrive to buy a house, we look forward to being prepared and eager, rather than frantic and opportunistic. Until then, we're gratefully enjoying being central and comfortable.
Andy, a Memphis native, has been in Nashville for six years and currently lives in the Crieve Hall neighborhood. Though graduating with a Political Science degree from Mississippi State University in 2015, Andy has worked as a finish carpenter for the past few years specializing in cabinetry and furniture, both in residential and commercial spaces.
