Courtesy of Elisa Ball
- Elisa Ball bought a house in Palm Bay, Florida, with a former partner who's now her best friend.
- Florida's climbing rents were a driving force to split the costs of homeownership with someone else.
- She now has nearly double the space for almost half the cost and is happy with her decision.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Elisa Ball, a 67-year-old travel agent who bought a home in Palm Bay, Florida, with a former romantic partner in 2023. The conversation was edited for length and clarity.
I've owned many homes previously, but I sold everything in 2009. I truly didn't plan on owning anything for the rest of my life.