The Rent vs. Buy Lie Everyone Told You Wrong | Zillow's Amanda Pendleton | Networth & Chill

Should you rent or buy? Turns out the "adult" thing to do isn't always the smart financial move. This week, Vivian sits down with Amanda Pendleton, Home Trends Expert at Zillow, to break down why the old rules of real estate don't apply anymore, and what actually makes sense for your life instead of your parents' life. In this episode, Vivian and Amanda cover: 1. Why the "buying means you've made it" mindset is so hard to shake, whether Gen-Z's fears about never owning a home are actually justified, and the cities right now where renters come out ahead financially, even over 30 years. 2. The real questions to ask before you ever open a mortgage calculator, whether "throwing money away on rent" is actually true, and the hidden costs, taxes, insurance, maintenance, HOA fees, that blow up most people's math. 3. What to do if you don't have 20% saved, the down payment assistance programs most first-time buyers don't know exist, and the one piece of conventional real estate wisdom Amanda thinks you should ignore. Keep up with Amanda at   / amanda-pendleton-b0b98056  . Learn more about Zillow’s BuyAbility calculator https://www.zillow.com/homeloans/buya... and try out the rent vs buy calculator https://www.zillow.com/rent-vs-buy-ca.... Find the Zillow Plan tab https://www.zillow.com/plan. Follow the podcast on Instagram   / networthandchillpod   and TikTok   / networthandchill   Got a financial question you want answered in a future episode? Email us at podcast@yourrichbff.com About Me Your favorite Personal Finance & Investing Creator. Let’s talk about money, career, & getting rich. Learn more about my background in Finance on www.YourRichBFF.com and follow me for more smart money tips.   / your.richbff     / yourrichbff     / yourrichbff     / networthandchillpod   #money #finance #financemotivation #stockmarket #investing #invest #business #businessgrowth #entrepreneur #entrepreneurship #richmindset #moneymindset #financetips #businesspodcast #financepodcast #home #homebuying #realestate #realestateinvesting 00:00 Rent vs. Buy: No Shame in Renting 01:02 The Rent vs. Buy Decision: Myths and Mindset 03:34 Where Buying Makes Sense - Best and Worst Cities 04:34 Homeownership, the American Dream, and Psychology 06:39 What Young Buyers Should Consider 08:42 Key Questions: Affordability and Lifestyle 10:42 Average Homebuyers: Social Media vs. Reality 12:00 Is Renting Throwing Money Away? 13:39 Smart Renting as a Financial Strategy 14:44 How to Calculate Break-Even Points 16:37 Housing Supply vs. Demand: Market Trends 18:20 Creative Buying: Multigenerational, Friends, & House-Hacking 19:55 Investment Properties: Buying Outside Expensive Areas 23:25 Running the Math on Rent vs. Buy 25:08 Biggest Cons: Homeownership vs. Renting 26:45 First Steps for Aspiring Homebuyers 29:21 Choosing the Right Mortgage and Shopping Around 32:11 Low Down Payment and Assistance Programs 33:28 First-Time Buyer Mistakes: Getting the Order Right 35:44 Lightning Round: Personal Real Estate Insights 39:44 Overrated and Underrated Upgrades & Advice 40:54 Final Tips, Tools, and Where to Find More