Key facts
- Catherine Collins sold her 3,600-square-foot dream home after owning it for less than two years.
- The decision to sell was driven by the overwhelming financial and mental burden of maintaining a large home, especially after her divorce.
- Collins found that renting a smaller space (1,100 sq ft initially, then 1,000 sq ft) provided significant relief from maintenance tasks and reduced utility costs.
- She discovered a greater sense of peace and financial security in a smaller living space, prioritizing this over the traditional 'American dream' of homeownership.
- Collins now lives in a 1,000-square-foot apartment in a Chicago suburb.
Catherine Collins, a financial writer, recounts her experience of selling her spacious dream home less than two years after purchasing it. The decision was prompted by the overwhelming upkeep and financial strain, exacerbated by her divorce.
Collins initially struggled with the demands of maintaining a large house, including cleaning, yard work, and essential maintenance tasks, while balancing work and raising young children. A flooded basement and a property tax increase in the same week served as the final catalysts for her decision to sell.
She found unexpected relief and happiness by downsizing to a smaller rental home and subsequently a 1,000-square-foot apartment. Collins highlights the benefits of reduced mental load, closer proximity to her children, and financial freedom from not having to manage property repairs. She now views financial security and peace of mind as the true American dream, having abandoned the traditional ideal of large homeownership.