45% of Renters Wish They Owned
For all the headaches of homeownership, renters are the ones with more regrets, according to the Zillow Housing Aspirations Report. One of their biggest: renting.

For all the headaches of homeownership, renters are the ones with more regrets, according to the Zillow Housing Aspirations Report. One of their biggest: renting.
For all the headaches of homeownership, renters are the ones with more regrets, according to the Zillow Housing Aspirations Report.[1] One of their biggest is renting: 45% regret renting rather than buying — more than five times the share of homeowners (8%) who regret buying instead of renting.
Tenants’ top regrets are not being able to build equity and not being able to customize or improve their rentals (52% in each case), followed closely by wishing the rent weren’t so high (50%).
Renters[2] also found their homes were too small (40%, compared to 21% of homeowners) and that they lack private outdoor space (49%, compared to 25% of homeowners regretting all that yardwork).
Across major metros, 87% of renters have at least one regret about their home, compared to 72% of homeowners. The metro with the largest share of renters reporting at least one regret is Phoenix (93%), followed by San Francisco (92%) and Denver, San Diego and San Jose, Calif. (all at 91%).
Like homeowners, renters become less regretful with age: 90% of renters ages 18 to 34 have at least one regret about their rental, compared to 82% of renters age 55 and up.
Pets and parking mark the biggest differences in regrets between those age groups: 38% of younger renters say pet ownership is too limited, compared to 21% of older renters. Similarly, 40% of younger renters say there’s not enough parking, compared to 25% of older renters.
Having children at home also makes a big difference. Renters with children are more likely to have at least one regret about their home: 93% versus 86% of renters without children.
They’re also more likely to regret renting instead of buying: 59% compared to 42% of renters without children.
[1] A semiannual survey conducted by Ipsos of 10,000 homeowners and renters in 20 of the country’s largest metro areas.
[2] Renters refer to those who rent their home or live with family members or in another living situation, but do not own their home.