We were in DC for two years for my husband's job. Rent was crazy expensive so we took a very modest apartment and made the best of it, We did have an awesome view though......First thing I saw each morning when I woke up..

Personal calamity. Health, death, bankruptcy.....the whole ugly picture.

You claw your way back.

It seems like ancient history, until I see another in the vortex of their personal calamity.

Yes and then back again. I was testing out a new city.

Not me, I like it being mine to fix, keep and care for. But had a great talk with someone who moved to Florid for the winter and is renting as they quite do not know where they want to settle, makes sense

Yes, we moved out of country for a while and didn't want to lease our house out while we were gone plus we weren't sure whether we would return to the same area (we did not).

Yes, currently doing so. Wanted to downsize and be closer to my son. So far so good! 

When we lived overseas we rented homes; rent was paid by my husband's company.

That's an interesting question. In my case, no.

It's complicated.

Not sure that I could be a renter.

Not yet, but in many cases it makes a lot of sense to do so.

We have not gone back to renting. Though we have thought about it in the last bubble and if we weren't living exactly where we wanted to now we would consider cashing out at these peak prices and renting for a while. -Kasey

      Yes.  Sold our house during the boom in 2006 for 3X what it was worth.   No capital gains on the sale; so I pocketed the excess.  We leased for a few years until the market completely crashed, then bought again.  

Switch from old to new home was not ready. Have done it a few times.

I have done this and it is both humbling and quite acceptable as needed. 

Started buying at 17 and other than vacation rentals I have always owned at least 1 home at any given time.

After divorce for three years until I married Dave Yonkers.

Only temporarily while looking for a new home.

No, once I bought, I never went back to renting. We thought we might have to rent when moving to Tennessee, but fate found us a home just in time

When we relocated to AZ for about 2 months

I prefer home ownership but might consider renting on a seasonal basis. 

Yes while having a house built.

Not yet, but when my kids are older, I rent out my place and get something small( buy or rent).

I pay a heavy coin for my L.A. home that I'm leasing, it makes perfect sense with the numbers (time value of money theory) and I'm very happy with that and the location. I do own other real estate.

Many, many years ago we lived in an apartment while we were building our house. Since then, we build first and sell next.

No rental, I have been lucky one house one wife and one life.

When we remodeled our last house we had to move out for what we thought was going to be 6 months but turned into 14 months...

We rented when we first moved to Bend in 1985; we had sold our first home we owned in Irvine and needed the proceeds from it to start a business. After a few years, we were able to buy again and haven't rented since.

Yes, divorce

Not since I bought my first home in 1973.

Sno.

Yes, relocation.  We needed a place to live in the new city and apartment was the fastest we could get into after an extended stay.

Hell NO.... the only time we rented was right after college for 2 years.... once I was pregnant, we owned before I delivered....

Never was a renter, it would take a natural disaster of epic proportions for me to go to one.

have not rented since I was a student.... hope to avoid renting if possible, but can understand there are times it may make good sense.

Nathan Gesner We rented home when we lived on Okinawa and mainland Japan, and rented when we first came back to the States until we learned the area. We owned since our last rental.

Most all of my Short Sale clients have to transition from Owner to Renter, post-sale. After a few years they usually call me  & we get them transitioned back to Owner.

NO

Yes. For a short time when we moved to another state.

Me personally no.   But sevearl clients yes- moving temporarily for a school district.  one person didn't want the upkeep of a house and wanted to rent. 

Yes. We moved overseas with my husband's job (military).

Not since 1974.

Yes, numerous times, financial reasons, 10-15 years ago.  Have to say I enjoyed it!  Can move easier, owner responsible for maintenance, not a bad way to live... :)  Own again now, but would have no problem renting again!

I did years ago only for 5 months while my new home was being built.  Don't want to do that agian!