Thinking about buying a home but signing another lease instead? Welcome to Rental Diaries, where real people break down what it’s actually like to rent—what they pay, what they sacrifice, and what they’re still dreaming about.
Today, a 54-year-old PR executive shares how she found happiness in an 800-square-foot one-bedroom rental in Hoboken, NJ, after years of living in Manhattan. She made the move to be closer to family—even though she wasn’t convinced at first that she’d like it.
What she found was a lifestyle that struck a surprising balance: easy access to loved ones and a rental setup that checked just enough boxes to feel like home.…