I bought my college son a townhome instead of wasting $12,000 a year on his student housing. I might even make a profit.

Tech Insider : Business
A headshot of a woman.
LeAnne Carswell didn't want to waste money on her son's rent, so she bought him a home.

Courtesy of LeAnne Carswell

We tried building our dream life in Portugal. After 3 years, we realized living abroad was actually holding us back.

Tech Insider : Business
Author Yvonne Ivanescu, cat, and partner at home in Portugal
Portuga

Yvonne Ivanescu

I moved to a city I'd only ever visited to be closer to my childhood friends. My life improved in ways I didn't expect.

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
The writer and her friend in her new home city of Saratoga Springs, New York.
caption TK

Natalli Amato

We were tired of suburban life, so we traded it all in for life in the wilds of northern Minnesota. We've never felt more at home.

Tech Insider : Business
woman in winter coat with snow in background
Kate Westlund Tovsen in Minnesota in winter.

Courtesy of Kate Westlund Tovsen

We had a low mortgage and lived comfortably in Maryland but gave it all up for a fresh start in Georgia. I'm now divorced with a higher mortgage and regret.

Tech Insider : Business
Baltimore, Maryland skyline
Baltimore skyline.

Dee Liu/Getty Images

She fell in love with traditional Japanese homes during a high school trip. At 24, she bought one in the countryside.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
A traditional Japanese farmhouse covered in a blanket of snow during winter.
Coline Aguirre, originally from France, bought a traditional house in Japan when she was 24 years old.

Coline Aguirre.

Florida's housing market was once red-hot. Now it's one of the coldest in the country.

Tech Insider : Business
Sarasota, Florida skyline.
Sarasota, Florida.

Jack Elka Photo/Getty Images

Instead of downsizing, we bought a bigger house. Our family uses the space, even if cleaning is endless and bills are higher.

Tech Insider : Business
A family walking into a home being shown by a real estate agent.
The author and her family (not pictured) moved into a bigger home when their friends were downsizing.

Anchiy/Getty Images

I'm a California landlord who bought my first rental property in Greece. It went so well, I'm already looking for more.

Tech Insider : Business, Economy, Travel
A professional headshot of a man in an office.
Alex Pettas bought an apartment in Athens, Greece, to use as an Airbnb.

Courtesy of Alex Pettas

I moved from Chicago to Spain. It's harder to be an entrepreneur here, but I work less and still have a great life.

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
Giovanna Gonzalez in front of the Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe.
Gonzalez in front of the Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe.

Courtesy of Giovanna Gonzalez

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