I am Debt Free with NO Mortgage. I own my home.
If owning allow for "Murphy" to visit and regular home maintenance costs.
JMHO (Just My Honest Opinion),, I need to state that I am a member of the Budget Board Debt Dumpers 2018 and debt can occur at anytime of your life and preparing for it is important. I restarted at age 40 without a penny and three teens to support.
When my eventual retirement comes about I will have less income than when I was working, even with savings ,,work pension and government pensions therefore I felt it best to not have a mortgage payment.
Whether renting or mortgage,,, either way you need a strong financial plan.I can't emphasize how important this is for women.
If renting allow for cost of living /inflation costs and availability.
Far too many people have no *plan* at all.
Our next generation unfortunately face a lot of challenges in the rising costs of housing,,many just can not afford to buy in and that spells bad news for current owners (equity) and for communities/government who soon may have to help with the cost of housing for seniors.
Every report I have read states that the amount of seniors needing housing accommodation assistance in the near future is going to be astronomical.
So either way PLAN.
Hugs Mel
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/15/how-much-americans-have-saved-for-retirement.html
https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/32-of-canadians-are-nearing-retirement-without-any-savings-poll-1.991680
https://business.financialpost.com/...ings-is-756000-according-to-poll-of-canadians
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/11/how-many-americans-have-no-retirement-savings.html
Old article but really had me thinking when I found out my grandmother's monthly room at a retirement home-with 1 meal a day was costing $5,500 a month.
https://seniorhousingnews.com/2015/04/27/why-senior-living-must-change-dramatically-by-2050/