Does Homeownership Make You Feel Healthier?

Homeownership is an ongoing debate, particularly among the younger Gen Z and Millennial generations. The convenience and simplicity of renting are often trumpeted as primary reasons to avoid the hassle of owning your own home. 

However, there are more benefits to owning your home than simply gaining a little sweat equity. Here are a few of the best ways that owning a home can literally make you a more healthy person, both physically and mentally speaking. 

Homeownership Provides Greater Input on Your Location

One of the best health benefits of owning your own home is the amount of input you have over its location. If you rent, you have to find an existing rental unit and, like as not, you’ll be butted up against other apartments or townhouses. If there’s any yard to speak of, it’s probably tiny and you’ll have to share it with others.

When you own your own home, you have full control over all of the location factors that come into play. Everything from access to transportation to school districts, air and noise pollution, secure neighborhoods, and even amenities can impact your choice. 

In addition, once you’ve bought your house, you’re free to plant privacy hedges, put up fences, plant trees, and anything else that can improve the aesthetics of the exterior of your living space. Many of these aren’t just nice benefits of homeownership, they also factor directly into your health.

Homeownership Allows for Greater Home Improvements

Everyone likes to point out the fact that owning a home means the buck stops with you — and make no mistake, that’s perfectly true. However, the other side of the homeownership responsibility coin is that it puts you in the driver’s seat. 

If you’re the one paying for your home, you’re also the one that gets to call the shots. If you want to take out a wall for wheelchair access, do so. If you want to add a window or two for more natural light, go for it. If you want to repaint the walls a more positive color, have at it. It’s your space, after all. You can personalize it for your own physical and mental health needs as you see fit.

Homeownership Gives You a Healthy Sense of Pride

Now, don’t misunderstand. If you live in an apartment or a multigenerational home, you’re certainly still your own person. However, there’s a unique sense of pride that comes with owning your own home.

Your home isn’t just your personal space, you’re the queen of the castle. You’re the king of the hill. You own every bit of the space, and it’s yours to do with as you will.

While you still have to pay your mortgage and taxes, you aren’t beholden to leases and landlord oversight. This provides a unique sense of accomplishment that is difficult to find elsewhere, and it can do wonders in smoothing insecurities, depression, and other mental health concerns.

Homeownership Frees You Up to Do More Things

Owning your own home also gives you the ability to truly do whatever activities you please. If you want to turn an entire wing of your house into your own personal exercise space devoted to mental health, it’s completely in your power to do so. If you’ve always wanted to build a greenhouse or even simply garden in the backyard, you can. If you want to create a living wall in the living room, by all means, do it.

Homeownership Enables a Cleaner Living Space

If you’re a renter, you’re at the mercy of your landlord to keep your living space healthy. Plumbing leaks, broken appliances, and even things like lead paint or mold issues can often go unaddressed for months or even years.

If you own your own home, you can address these health issues as soon as you want to. In addition, any money you invest into the solutions has the potential to add value to your home, too.

Homeownership Can Be More Secure

Homeownership isn’t just practical. Nor does it just stroke your ego. It can also provide a sense of security. If you feel that your home requires greater physical protection, you can install whatever security system you see fit without crossing any boundaries. 

If you want to excessively prepare for the next quarantine or other catastrophes, you can do so without anyone criticizing your efforts. In addition, the simple act of having equity in your home can provide an added layer of financial security.

The Healthiness of Owning Your Own Home

There are many responsibilities and stressors that come with homeownership. Nevertheless, it’s important to remember that these can be more than offset by the numerous health benefits that come with owning your own home.

From a healthy sense of pride to safety concerns, cleaner spaces, and more control, owning your own home can be a great way to invest in a healthier future for you and your loved ones.