Author sells dream home for smaller apartment, finds happiness

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.