To tell people we're still renting when we bought outright.

please don’t do that op people don’t talk like that irl.
people won’t be talking about if you rent or own anymore they’ll be talking about how rudely you responded to perfectly normal question.

I cannot ever imagine asking anyone such a nosey intrusive question.

Yanbu not to wish to discuss your business with randomers.

It's not small talk.
It's nosey, and its rude.

"Why do you want to know?" is a great response.

I think thats a good idea- the "why do you need to know"

Also, I know people who have celebrated moving into a nice rental property! I dont understand this idea that if you move into a rental it's always bound to be shit and so whats the point of having a housewarming? some rentals are quite lovely

Also, I know plenty of people who have decorated their rentals - its not impossible!

I agree overthinking.
The problem with this small lie is has the potential to lead to more lies. For example, if you’re asked when your planning to buy or further down the line imagine your having a new kitchen fitted and your asked if the landlord gave you any input into it. What do you say?

I don't understand why you're giving it so much head space. Renting/ buying/ mortgages etc it's all just general chat. Like talking about the weather. Yes, we bought the house. Job done.

I find this so strange. In my social circles, it would be completely normal to talk about being in the process of/buying a house.
No nosiness, purely along the lines of "Oh very exciting good luck with it"/ "Yes we are thrilled."

I think you are wwwaaayyy overthinking this. If there aren't many rentals, it seems likely that people are probably interested in whether you're planning to stay permanently or potentially thinking of moving somewhere else as rentals tend to be less of a permanent commitment. No need to discuss your mortgage situation. We own our house outright and have never had that come up in conversation.

you don't HAVE to tell people anything you don't want to. It would put my back up too.

but why would they not if its common small talk?

People probably wonder why you would live there / bought it outright because it’s not a choice most people would make with kids.
So my guess is they are curious as to why you’ve decided to live where you have. You don’t have to tell anyone anything op! Or justify it if you don’t want to..

It is normal to say if you're renting or own a place, and normal to ask. Beyond that, questions can become about finances and nosy and you may not want to respond, but it's weird to lie about the simple status of renting or owning.

What benefit is there to being dishonest.

I'd just answer honestly if asked, it's just normal conversation to my mind. If you find someone's question genuinely intrusive then you can just not answer it, there's no reason to lie.

I do think it's a case of overthinking it though, I'd just say that the landlord was selling so we now own it and are really happy, then move on. I'd be happy for friends in this circumstance and would want to congratulate them, not judge.

"Och No, we paid cash, but I hear mortgage rates are going up, what are your thoughts on that?"

“Is it me, or is it intrusive of people to ask someone (that they don't know very well) this?” …….copied from OP!

Yes, it would be a bit odd to pretend you have a mortgage when you don't. I'm surprised there are so many people who would assume someone would have a mortgage and not own their home outright.

just say - we rented it, then we were so lucky the owner had to sell we really liked it and bought it - I know loads of ppl who have done the same in London! No need to be awkward about it.
the fact they ask is awkward I would never ask but ppl are nosey!

They might just be asking because if you'd recently bought (and noone need know you don't have a mortgage) they can congratulate you on your new home, and maybe ask if you've got any plans for it.
All pleasant small talk.

Our NDN's rent but I know they are thinking of buying it as the LL came around and asked about access for something. Tbh their home ownership status is of no matter to me!

All you say is you bought your house. You don’t need to get into the finances whether you bought outright or have a mortgage. Don’t make life difficult for yourself by having to remember / continue a lie.

On some sites you can see when they were last sold. I think I would just say that you'd bought from the landlord. Most people will assume that you have a mortgage. We own outright, but no-one has ever asked that. I only pretend to be renting when I get cold calls from companies wanting to sell me things.

Oh, get over yourself.

I am not sure why people asking you is bothering you so much-maybe if people were asking multiple times when you were dodging the question.
I think most people asking that are just making small talk.
I personally wouldn’t disclose if I had bought outright. If you decide you want to tell people you have bought you can always say (as is true) you were renting but then arranged to buy but add you didn’t want to say that until it was all finalised.
Some people are horrified by the thought of taking on a mortgage so want to rent and some people see rent as lost money and so don’t understand people renting long term-I know people with both these views. Good friends don’t care what your house status is (renting, mortgaged or outright owning) or what size your house is or what money you have. You can only speculate what people are actually thinking. Try not to care so much about what others think. It sounds like you are happy and that your time making sacrifices has paid off-well done. 😃