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

Because it feels intrusive having random acquaintances repeatedly ask about my financial situation. Especially when it's the first (and often the only) question asked, and when I changed the subject, I was continuously asked until I HAD to give them an answer.

I didn't want to open up the conversation to any further discussions on our finances and this is why I lied. If they are asking our rental/owner situation then they would likely ask more when they find out we now own.

I will now be asking why they need to know (thanks for the tips on here).

I could understand if it was a friend asking but these are people that I barely know. Random parents from the school, local clubs etc.

The fact that we initially rented then decided to buy is something I'm not comfortable discussing with random people.

I do potentially feel that they are judging our 'status' as why else would they NEED to know. There are very few rental properties locally so majority of people know who the renters are in our small area.

I said previously that it's the way they are asking more than what they are asking that bothers me. They way they are asking is coming across as smug.

It's not the norm to ask this in my circle and this is why my back is up when I'm repeatedly asked.

But it's not just the financial side. They're not asking "how much did you pay/are you paying?" They're asking if you own or rent because it impacts your life and security in your home.

It's probably because as soon as I mentioned we have moved, the first response from multiple people was 'have you bought or are you still renting'

No congratulations, no talks of decorating etc, just straight to the financial side of it.

DH and I recently moved house. Our previous house was a rental and we lived there for almost a decade. The old house was a small 2 bed flat where we lived with our 2DC.

The old rent was way below market rate as we had lived there for so long. We sacrificed living and outdoor space a little longer than we probably should have for the financial security and to allow us to build our savings. The smaller home/outgoings also allowed me to cut my hours to part time while the children were younger so we were happy to make the sacrifices as the benefits outweighed the cons.

Our local area is mostly made up of large new build houses that cost above average for the city we live in. All of our acquaintances and friends have much larger homes than us, and were often surprised when they discovered we lived in such a small, modest flat. Especially as we both have 'good' careers.

We have a combined income of approx 80-95k (depending on bonuses) and have managed to save a good chunk for a house deposit. The market has been terrible for a while and we haven't found anything we like, so decided to also look for bigger rentals to give us a little more space while we house hunt.

A 3 bed rental came up locally and we went for it. After a month of living there, the landlord had some major family issues and notified us they would need to sell unexpectedly. We still hadn't found a place to buy that we liked, then the landlord made us a great offer to buy our current place.

The cost of the house was less than our saved deposit so we decided to make a cash offer and buy the place mortgage free. The deal is finally complete and we are really happy here.

Here's the AIBU. Anytime someone finds out we've moved, the first question they ask is if we are still renting or have bought. I don't know why, but it's really bugging me. Never would it cross my mind to ask someone their renting/home owner status. I'm finding it very intrusive.

Would they still be asking this question if we had previously lived in a similar home to theirs? Do they see us being 'beneath' them for being renters rather than owners?

The first few times I was asked I simply changed the subject and didn't answer, but it keeps happening. These people aren't even close friends, just local acquaintances.

I've eventually started telling them we are still renting as I feel telling them we bought outright would open the door to even more uncomfortable questions.

Is it me, or is it intrusive of people to ask someone (that they don't know very well) this?

My real friends haven't once asked my rental/owner status. Why do random people seem to think they have a right to this knowledge?

AIBU to find this question intrusive and unnecessary?

Reading back and seeing that most people would only congratulate those that have bought and not those that have moved into a new rental really confirms the point I was trying to make.

People do see renting as 'less than' buying. And this is why my back is up when these acquaintances immediately ask if I've bought or still rent.

A simple 'why do you need to know' is exactly how I will deal with this in future. Thank you for the good advice.

But it's not just the financial side. They're not asking "how much did you pay/are you paying?" They're asking if you own or rent because it impacts your life and security in your home.

Last time I rented a house, I looked on Right move, looked around the next day, and moved in just over a month later. There was maybe 3 forms to sign and a credit check.

When I bought our current home, it took well over 6 months including the mortgage process, putting in an offer, liasing between solicitors, tons of checks...it was a completely different ball game.

Now we're here, we'll probably stay for decades.

Renting is objectively worse than owning in most ways. You can't decorate. You can't guarantee you'll be able to stay a long time. You can't predict if the rent will rise. You can't upgrade things like the heating system or the insulation. It's not yours, it's just borrowed.

Owning your first home is a significant milestone and a totally normal thing to share or question to ask.

Why would that be their concern? Of course if you have a Jumbo sized mortgage and rates go up you could lose the house, but it is still none of their business?

With the mortgage you are renting the money from the bank instead of the house from the landlord, wages and demand drive rents, the bond market drives mortgage debt costs, as demand for rental falls like now any landlord bumping up rents will have an empty property, with the mortgage debt if the bond market puts up your mortgage debt rent you can"t move away.

Renting money? That's total word salad.

I have borrowed money from the bank. I own my house, however, I am using it as collateral for the money I owe and the bank can claim it in order to repay their debt IF I default on the agreement I have made. I have made this agreement for a number of years and will need to make a new agreement, which might have a different interest rate, when it ends.

In OP's case, she owns the house and she doesn't owe any money. No-one can alter that.

Owning is less flexible than renting. It is harder to sell than end a rental agreement. This is another reason why buying is a significant milestone as you are taking a leap of faith that you are going to stay in that home for a long time.

You seem to be thinking just the way the bankers want people to think. They didn"t give you the money, you rent the money by paying interest on it, the same way a landlord gets interest on his/her investment in the form of rent, the bankers money doesn"t have maintenance costs though. The difference in the legal situation for both scenarios is also different, if a renter goes home to live with their Mum they owe the landlord nothing, a mortgage debtor owes the money with interest until the loan is cleared.

You're talking riddles.

There's no such thing as "renting" money. When I rent a house, I don't pay back a bit of house and a bit extra each month until I own the house.

I have borrowed the money and I pay interest.

I used it to buy a house, which belongs to me, but if I do not pay back the money that I owe, my house may be repossessed- just like any property can be repossessed if you borrow money and don't repay it.

You're talking riddles.

There's no such thing as "renting" money. When I rent a house, I don't pay back a bit of house and a bit extra each month until I own the house.

I have borrowed the money and I pay interest.

I used it to buy a house, which belongs to me, but if I do not pay back the money that I owe, my house may be repossessed- just like any property can be repossessed if you borrow money and don't repay it.

I'm just organising you a parade so you can tell your friends and family too like you told the internet

But in honesty

No one cares who rents who's mortgages who outright owns .. the only ones who do are the ones bragging ,

You're talking riddles.

There's no such thing as "renting" money. When I rent a house, I don't pay back a bit of house and a bit extra each month until I own the house.

I have borrowed the money and I pay interest.

I used it to buy a house, which belongs to me, but if I do not pay back the money that I owe, my house may be repossessed- just like any property can be repossessed if you borrow money and don't repay it.