• My husband and I decided to relocate from Melbourne to Bright, Australia, three years ago.
• We own our home in Melbourne and decided not to sell it.
• Renting it out to tenants and finding a rental in Bright offers us flexibility.

Three years ago, my family moved from Melbourne to Bright, Australia. We'd lived in Melbourne for eight years and were ready for a change.

One night in October 2021, my husband put an idea on the table. He asked if I wanted to turn over a new leaf and move to Bright, where his family was based. We'd already vacationed there plenty of times, and I'd enjoyed it, so I said, "Sure, let's do it." Soon, we were planning our escape from Melbourne.

We decided not to sell our home in Melbourne when we moved

We'd been living in the home we'd bought together for four years, and though we were ready to leave Melbourne, I had reservations about selling. We also didn't want to buy in Bright because I didn't know whether I'd enjoy living in such a small town. I suggested we spend a year there and then reassess after that.

The first major hurdle we faced was finding a place to live. Though small, Bright is a popular tourist destination known for its wineries, hiking, and gold rush history. It's surrounded by beautiful mountains and is a short drive from Mount Hotham, a popular ski resort. Rental properties in the area are in short supply, but we were lucky enough to find accommodation at a friend's place while they were overseas for the year. We relocated at the end of January 2022 and rented out our home in Melbourne to tenants.

Our family quickly fell in love with the slower pace of country life. Later that year, in August, we welcomed our third child to the family.

Renting in Bright means we have more flexibility

As a growing family, we needed our own space, so in January 2023, we moved into a simple three-bedroom house conveniently close to town. Then, last October, we found our current rental home — a beautiful three-bedroom, two-bath property in a green, family-friendly part of Bright.

My favorite thing about the property is the big back garden. Birds love it, too, and pink galahs and crimson rosellas visit every day. There are three small vegetable plots where we grow tomatoes and strawberries, and my children spend hours outdoors in nature.

Financially, renting where we want to live and owning a property elsewhere has been a good decision. Our rent each week is less than our weekly mortgage repayment (which is pretty much covered by the tenants), so we are essentially saving money.

Renting also means we can move freely and live where we can't afford to buy. Bright is much more expensive than Melbourne, and the median house price is over $1 million. We get to live here while paying off our mortgage in Melbourne, and that's a big drawcard.

We might not rent forever, but it works for us for now

Sometimes, my husband feels guilty about the kids not having a "proper" family home. They've never owned a pet because it's easier to get a rental property without one, and that makes me sad. Our son is 9 years old, and he's lived in six different houses, which is not ideal. But I try to think of it as a positive — it certainly keeps life interesting!

While my husband and I don't want to rent forever, for the time being, it's working well for us. When the market in Melbourne picks up, we may decide to sell our property there and buy one in Bright. But renting has definitely given us options.

• Justin Mauldin built an accessory dwelling unit, or ADU, in his Austin backyard for $41,500.
• Mauldin said the ADU office allows his family of four to live comfortably in a smaller home.
• The ADU also boosted his home's property value, according to his real-estate agent.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Justin Mauldin, 40, who built an accessory dwelling unit, or ADU, in his Austin backyard. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

I'm the founder and CEO of Salient, a PR agency that partners with tech startups.

By 2019, before the COVID-19 outbreak, my team had already shifted to a mostly remote setup, with many freelancers working from home or shared office spaces like WeWork. My wife and I decided to make the most of our property and build a dedicated home office.

Our property is within Austin city limits. We live on a quarter-acre lot with a relatively small main house of about 1,200 square feet. At the time, our large backyard was undeveloped, with only a small farmhouse shed on the property.

We added an accessory dwelling unit of just under 200 square feet to our backyard. The cost for the ADU was $32,542, which covered the products, shipping, and installation. I believe prices have increased since then, but we were able to take advantage of a sale and a 10% discount at the time. The total cost of the entire project was about $41,500.

It's been the best decision we could have made for our property. We purchased our home in 2020 for around $450,000, and its value has definitely increased. When we asked our real-estate agent for an estimate, she said it could be worth $750,000 today. (Editor's note: The median home price in Austin has increased 12.8% since 2020, according to Redfin.)

Working from the ADU has been fantastic — it's allowed me some quiet time. We have two young children, so I can "go to work" without being in the main house with all the chaos and noise. It's truly been a game changer.

The construction process was simple and fast

Even though it's separate from the main house, the home office is the most beautiful room on the property — everyone who sees it is completely wowed.

I went all out with super-tall, dramatic ceilings and a massive wall of windows. We also built a fire pit in front, which has become a real focal point.

When we decided to build an ADU, COVID made it difficult to get bids, materials, and reliable contractors, so a pre-fabricated option seemed like the best choice. I went with Studio Shed, a Denver-based company that builds the structure in their warehouse and then ships it to be assembled on-site.

The process was simple, like building with Lego bricks or designing a car. You pick your model, customize the size, ceilings, and windows, and select your upgrades. You can go as basic or as fancy as you want. It's all done online — just like ordering anything on Amazon — and you get the price immediately.

Before the ADU arrived, I cleared the site and poured the concrete pad, which cost about $1,500.

When it was delivered, I didn't want them to just drop off the materials and leave me to figure it out, so I paid a few thousand dollars for them to assemble the structure. The walls, windows, and roof were up in just two days.

After the structure was assembled, a local handyman and I worked on the finishing details, including installing the flooring, painting, adding door handles, electrical work, and other touches. Since the ADU was too far from the main house to connect to our central AC, I also added a mini-split system that I purchased for $600 and paid about $500 to install.

Everything was built and finished quickly. The ADU was delivered on February 1, 2021, and completed by the end of the month.

The ADU allowed our family of 4 to live more comfortably in a smaller house

Given the price of our home, it's clear we're not in a fancy, McMansion-filled neighborhood. Most homes here are 1950s bungalows.

When we first moved into our home, instead of following the common trend — where people tear down these homes to build new constructions — we took the opposite approach.

We wanted to preserve the character, so we did a lot of renovations: replacing the siding, repainting, completely redoing the interior, and reworking the landscaping. I think the neighbors really appreciated that.

Still, we have two girls, so a 1,200-square-foot home with just one bathroom can be a challenge, especially when we have visitors.

Of course, we'd love a bigger home, but with prices still unaffordable, it's tough. When we bought our home, our interest rate was locked at 2.5% — rates now are much higher. Most homes in desirable areas are in the $1.5 million range, and with the high property taxes here, it's just not realistic. We could not afford a place in Austin now without doubling or tripling our housing costs.

For now, we're happy with our place, and maybe we'll add a bathroom one day.

ADUs are becoming popular in Austin, and I can see why

Austin has a housing crisis, yet people still want to live here and continue moving to the city. I think creative solutions like ADUs are necessary.

Over the past few years, the city has made it much easier to add ADUs to properties, especially the type I built, which is under 200 square feet.

Historically, with a permit, you could divide a quarter-acre or smaller property into two lots — one for your main home and the other for an ADU, often for uses like Airbnb. But now, with relaxed regulations, you can simply add a small structure in the back of your property without needing a permit.

While some may have concerns about homes being closer together, I believe this is the best solution for making it easier for people to build ADUs and own homes — and it's working well.

The office has certainly made living in our house much more comfortable.

In today's world, there's so much background noise, whether you're at the office or working remotely, making it hard to focus and be creative. You can try blocking it out with headphones, but there's a big difference between that and being in a truly quiet space.

I'm used to my kids running in and out — that's just part of being a dad — but when I close the door, it's so serene.

Beyond avoiding interruptions, sometimes you just need real focus time, especially for the creative stuff. With all the noise around us, having a quiet space feels like a complete escape.

• Ila Corcoran lived in California but bought a four-bedroom home in Texas where prices were lower.
• She's a house hacker, living in one bedroom while renting out the others to cover her monthly costs.
• In 2024, she bought a second property using the rental income she earned from her primary residence.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ila Corcoran, 26, who purchased her first home in 2021 and used the income from renting out its rooms to help buy a second property in 2024. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

When I was 18, I earned my real-estate license and later became a property manager at an apartment complex in Los Angeles. I lived in a one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit valued at $2,300 a month, but my rent was covered as part of my salaried role.

I used the money I saved by not paying rent to build up a down payment so I could invest in real estate. At 22, I started house hacking by buying properties and renting out rooms in them.

In March 2021, I bought my first home for $250,000 in Forney, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. I used a Federal Housing Administration mortgage, or FHA loan, because it made the purchase more affordable. I put 3.5% down on the home and secured a 2.8% interest rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage.

I eventually moved to Texas to live in the home — since FHA loans require the home to be your primary residence — and began renting out the extra rooms. I've earned a total of $110,000 in rental income over the past four years. However, I do have property taxes to pay and a homeowners association, or HOA, fee of about $400 a year.

In January 2024, I bought my second property. It's a two-bedroom, two-bath, 1,300-square-foot home in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

I got it for $190,000 with a 10% down payment, a 6.5% interest rate, and a seller-financed 10-year mortgage. The HOA fees for this home are $250 per month, and I'm unsure of the exact property-tax bill since I've owned the home for just under a year. I rent out the entire house to a single tenant for $1,500 a month and have earned $25,000 so far before expenses.

I use the money I make from renters primarily to cover the mortgages and utilities for my homes. Any extra income goes toward building my fintech company, BySengo, which helps founders seeking funding connect with investors interested in private businesses across the beauty, fashion, wine, and hospitality industries.

In the long term, I'll put the rental income profits into investing in more real estate.

I had to leave California to afford to buy a home

I decided to buy property outside Los Angeles because I knew I could more easily afford homeownership elsewhere.

Although I had never been to the Dallas area, I chose it for its population growth, emerging communities, and affordability. It also stood out because it had a high proportion of renters compared to homeowners, which made it seem like an easier market for renting out property.

I found my property through a real-estate agent. It was a new construction home that had yet to be built.

In October 2020, I flew to Dallas to visit the site. During the trip, I put down a $1,500 deposit to reserve the land. In March 2021, I closed on the home, bringing about $9,000 to the table.

I split my time between California and Texas, traveling back and forth from March 2021 until I officially moved in September 2024. It was difficult leaving my home state, but I realized this was what it took to build wealth, and I was ready to make it happen.

The home is two stories and has four bedrooms, which are all occupied. Over time, I've had about seven different roommates. At the moment, I'm charging $1,000 a month for the primary bedroom and $900 for the downstairs bedroom. I'm not charging rent for the fourth room, as my best friend, who recently moved from California, is staying with me while she gets settled. I've previously charged $750 for that room.

Living with roommates isn't always smooth sailing

I found most of my roommates through the app Roomster, which helps people find rentable rooms or lease out their homes, and I have also used Facebook groups.

I screen all my roommates and have them sign individual leases. Most leases are for six months to a year, after which they can become month-to-month. My renters can stay as long as we both agree, but we need to give notice if either party wants to terminate early, with no fees involved.

For my contracts, I've drawn from my experience as a property manager in California and tenant law. I've also consulted with local lawyers who've reviewed my documents and given me recommendations.

Things aren't always perfect with roommates. I've definitely faced my share of challenges. For example, one roommate might complain about another, saying things like, "I don't like when they do this" or "It bothers me when they do that." It's definitely something I deal with on an ongoing basis.

Communication is key in situations like these. It's all about establishing boundaries, talking things through, and letting people come to me privately to make sure everyone feels heard. I'm not easily angered, so having patience really helps.

I used a seller-financed mortgage to buy my second home

I chose to buy my second home in Tulsa because I learned about Black Wall Street and its historical significance in the city.

I also came across a YouTube video discussing up-and-coming cities. Because of its municipal bonds, government investment, and corporate interest, Tulsa was mentioned as a city on the rise.

There were many benefits to purchasing the home with seller financing. The process was similar to a traditional closing. The key difference is that I make my payments directly to the seller, who holds the lien, rather than a bank. If I fail to make my payments, the seller has the right to foreclose.

I chose this route because I am self-employed, which can make it harder to get a traditional mortgage. Seller financing allowed me to avoid the long documentation process and had fewer requirements. I was also able to put down less money and avoid private mortgage insurance.

The home seller benefited because they didn't have to pay taxes on the entire lump sum from the sale at once. Instead, by receiving monthly payments, they spread out the income and pay taxes gradually. This lowers their tax liability each year, allowing them to keep more of the money.

I am proud of myself of investing in real estate so young

When I bought my first home, everyone told me not to do it. They said prices were too high, and I was overpaying. They suggested I wait until rates went up and the market cooled down. But I'm glad I didn't listen.

There's always going to be a "better deal" or a "better time," but if you let that hold you back, your opportunity cost becomes even greater. All the time spent deliberating on the best possible outcome can prevent you from even starting and achieving anything.

I do think people should be cautious but also take the risk of investing in themselves.

I know real-estate investing isn't for everyone, but as a Black woman, I feel like I'm helping to address some of the inequality in homeownership in America — particularly the disparity between Black landowners and non-landowners.

Investing in real estate and house hacking has also been incredibly beneficial for me. Without the equity from my real-estate investments, I wouldn't have built much of a net worth — at least not as quickly.

I've had my family's support, but I've done this financially on my own. Honestly, I feel great about it.

I still have goals of getting married, having a family, and becoming a wife and mother — goals women are often encouraged to prioritize. But by pursuing real estate on my own, I feel more confident about dating and marriage because I already have a strong foundation and feel established.

• Single people have more difficulty affording a house than married people.
• That's because couples often have a larger financial cushion with joint incomes.
• Here are the top real-estate markets for single men and women.

The benefits of marriage aren't just limited to tax advantages. It's easier for married people to buy a house, too. According to Redfin, nearly 70% of single people struggle to afford rent or mortgage payments. For married couples, that number is significantly lower, at 52%.

Just because you're single doesn't mean you're alone in experiencing this struggle. A growing number of Americans are in the same boat. Rising housing costs have resulted in rent or mortgage payments eating away at Americans' budgets. For married people, having two incomes gives them a leg up in the housing market, but single people have to shoulder the burden of rising living costs by themselves.

However, there's no need for single people to panic — some states are easier than others for solo buyers to get their foot in the door.

Online loan marketplace LendingTree analyzed US Census Bureau data and found the states with the highest levels of homeownership for single men and women. Single women, in particular, might have an advantage in the housing market, as LendingTree found that they owned 11.1 million homes nationwide, compared to 8.4 million for single men. That means in the US, single women and men own 13% and 9.8% of owner-occupied homes, respectively.

Regardless of gender, the top housing markets for single men and women are typically in states with low population density and economies driven by a combination of energy, manufacturing, and various natural resources. New Mexico is the top state for single women homeownership. For men, it's North Dakota.

Tanner Schock, a real-estate agent from Minot, North Dakota, believes that a combination of cheap housing costs and job opportunities make the state particularly attractive to homebuyers.

North Dakota's cost of living is almost 9% lower than the national average, according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center.

"Out west, we have oil fields, and a lot of people actually come from out of state to North Dakota to work in the oil and gas industry," Schock told BI. "In the Minot area, we have an Air Force base as well."

These industries tend to have a higher proportion of men relative to women, which could explain why male homeownership is high in the state, Schock said.

Nationwide, one explanation for the higher number of single women homeowners could be due to women's earnings catching up to men's, according to LendingTree. Another factor could be that since women typically live longer than men, there could be a higher proportion of women who became single homeowners after their spouse died, LendingTree said.

Listed below are the top three housing markets for single women and men homeownership and the median home price for each, according to Redfin. For context, the median home price across the US is $427,670.

New Mexico

% of households owned and occupied by single women: 15.3%

Median home price: $392,990

Mississippi

% of households owned and occupied by single women: 15.1%

Median home price: $292,000

West Virginia

% of households owned and occupied by single women: 14.7%

Median home price: $269,999

North Dakota

% of households owned and occupied by single men: 13.5%

Median home price: $347,350

South Dakota

% of households owned and occupied by single men: 13.1%

Median home price: $360,000

Alaska

% of households owned and occupied by single men: 12.8%

Median home price: $431,000

• After years of diligent saving, Carmelo Camilleri bought his first home at age 27 in 2021.
• He credits his savings habits to his dad, who also taught him to 'always own, never rent.'
• Thanks to smart negotiation and patience, he bought the home for $25,000 below the asking price.

The first time Carmelo Camilleri made a significant amount of money, he was 19 and had just wrapped up his freshman year of college.

He landed a summer gig as a sales rep and, within two months, made about $7,000 selling Cutco knives, he told Business Insider: "At the time, I thought I was rich."

His dad quickly shot down that notion.

"The first thing my father said to me was, 'Don't spend it. Put it away,'" recalled Camilleri. "And I said, 'What do you mean? I have this money. I should be able to use it.'"

His dad responded by teaching him about what happens when you overspend, accumulate debt, and incur interest. Rather than having compound interest work against him, he could take advantage of the phenomenon by investing his money.

It resonated and, from that point on, Camilleri adopted a new savings philosophy: "I just said to myself, 'If I make a dollar, I can only spend 10 cents of it at most.'"

That early money lesson, plus one more from his dad — "he taught me, 'always own, never rent,'" — led to Camilleri becoming a homeowner at age 27 when he purchased a five-bedroom in Brick, New Jersey in 2021. BI verified his ownership by looking at a copy of his mortgage statement.

"I was always going to buy a home. It was just a matter of when — not if," he said.

Saving up for a down payment: Living at home, using price comparison apps, and refusing to pay for subscriptions

Camilleri financed his home purchase with a 20% down payment, drawing from savings he'd accumulated throughout his early 20s.

He maintained the disciplined savings habits he established in college even as his income grew in his full-time sales role — and he avoided paying for housing for years. He lived with his parents in his childhood home until he bought his own place, meaning "I never paid a dollar of rent my entire life," he said.

Camilleri refuses to pay for subscriptions, which he considers "the biggest scam out there." He does have access to YouTube TV — his cousin gave him his login — and, "I jailbroke my FireStick," he said. "There's always a way to watch things for free."

He also refuses to pay top dollar for gas and groceries.

"If it's not the cheapest gas in the area, I'm not getting gas," said Camilleri, who uses the GasBuddy app.

As for groceries, ShopRite tends to be the cheapest option in his area, but if they raise the prices on one of his staples, like ground turkey, he'll shop around.

"If I see it went up 50 cents a pound, I'll take out my phone, and I'll start looking at other stores," he said. "I'll look at Stop & Shop, and if I see that it's 50 cents less or even 25 cents less per pound, I'm getting into my car, and I'm driving five minutes away. It's worth it in my head, especially because I like to buy in bulk."

At this point, his frugal habits are ingrained.

"This is how I live my life. I get the best deals on everything, and I never buy at the first price. I'm always trying to negotiate. I'm always looking to get the best price I possibly could," said Camilleri. That said, there's a time and a place to splurge, he added, pointing to his upcoming wedding. "I'm not being frugal when it comes to the wedding, but that's also because it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Paying $25,000 under asking thanks to patience and smart negotiation

When Camilleri started seriously considering buying a home in 2020, interest rates were low, but the market was hot.

"At least in New Jersey, so many of the houses I looked at were going for $100,000 over asking price, $50,000 over asking price," he said. He wasn't willing to overpay, and living at home allowed him to be patient. "It's not like I had to move out."

Camilleri's patience paid off after a year of house hunting. He not only avoided a bidding war — he landed on a price that was $25,000 lower than what the seller was originally asking. He paid $670,000 for the 2,300-square-foot home.

It was part skill and part luck.

"I'm literally negotiating over the phone and making sales all day long. It's what I do for a living. I understand how negotiations work," he said. "I knew they weren't going to accept my first offer, but I started about $50,000 under asking, then they came back with a little bit higher than I wound up paying, and then we found some middle ground."

He added that lowballing wouldn't work in every situation: "It really depends on the demand for that home. If there were 10 people bidding on the home, I'm sure it wouldn't have worked out in my favor. In this instance, I do actually feel like I might have gotten lucky because it is a beautiful home."

He locked in a 2.875% interest rate, which still seems surprising to him: "You don't get that in New Jersey."

Even though his rate was "a steal," he said, "if I had no other choice and I had to pay 7%, I would still do that every single time over renting."

The way he sees it, it's much more costly to rent than to own.

"When you're renting, you're literally building someone else's asset. You're paying 100% interest is the way I like to describe it — because you're literally getting nothing back: You put a dollar in, that dollar is gone forever," said Camilleri. "Even if the interest rate is high, it's still something you own. It's still something that will build in value over time and that you have control over."

• Property taxes are an important consideration when buying a house.
• Taxes tend to be highest in Northeast and Midwest cities.
• These are the 10 cities that paid the highest taxes relative to home value in 2023.

When it comes to purchasing a house, homebuyers need to consider the down payment, mortgage, insurance — and who could forget — property taxes.

Although sometimes dubbed a "hidden cost" of buying a home, property taxes can hit your wallet hard. Local governments levy property taxes to fund public services such as schools, infrastructure, fire and police protection, and other local services. And depending on where you live, they could make a serious difference in home affordability.

SmartAsset ranked 342 of the largest cities in the US to find where homeowners are paying the highest property taxes relative to home value, using data from the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey.

Cities in the Northeast and Midwest tended to have the highest effective property tax rates, and several cities from Illinois and New York made the list. According to SmartAsset, Illinois has the second-highest property taxes in the US, with a statewide average effective tax rate of 2.1%. That's more than twice the national average rate of 0.9%.

Many cities in upstate New York also made the top 10 list. Since property taxes are set by the local municipality, there's high variability within the state. While New York City is infamous for its sky-high cost of living, property taxes in the city are actually in line with the national average of 0.9%. SmartAsset found that Monroe County, located in upstate New York, has one of the highest effective property tax rates in the state, at 2.9%.

One Texas city also made the list. While Texas is known for having no income tax, that doesn't mean taxes are lower across the board, as Texas cities tend to rely heavily on property taxes as a revenue source.

Property taxes have been increasing across the board nationally. According to Redfin, monthly property tax bills have increased in 48 out of the 50 most populated metro areas since 2019.

As home prices go up, so do property taxes, said real estate data provider CoreLogic. That's because local tax assessors periodically reevaluate property values, rendering tax bills higher if home values have gone up. For those who live in states or tax jurisdictions with annual property reassessments, property taxes have likely soared alongside appreciating home values in recent years.

Between 2019 and 2023, US median property taxes increased 23.6%, from $2,287 to $2,826. That's a 5.9% average annual increase.

Listed below in descending order are the 10 cities with the highest property taxes, as well as the median real-estate taxes paid and the median home value for each, according to the SmartAsset analysis.

Peoria, IL

Percent of home value paid for annual real estate taxes: 2.6%

Median real estate taxes paid: $4,455

Median home value: $168,900

Rockford, IL

Percent of home value paid for annual real estate taxes: 2.5%

Median real estate taxes paid: $3,452

Median home value: $140,300

Waterbury, CT

Percent of home value paid for annual real estate taxes: 2.4%

Median real estate taxes paid: $5,607

Median home value: $234,400

Syracuse, NY

Percent of home value paid for annual real estate taxes: 2.4%

Median real estate taxes paid: $3,254

Median home value: $137,800

Albany, NY

Percent of home value paid for annual real estate taxes: 2.3%

Median real estate taxes paid: $5,561

Median home value: $237,700

Paterson, NJ

Percent of home value paid for annual real estate taxes: 2.3%

Median real estate taxes paid: $10,000

Median home value: $432,000

Elgin, IL

Percent of home value paid for annual real estate taxes: 2.2%

Median real estate taxes paid: $6,394

Median home value: $287,300

Aurora, IL

Percent of home value paid for annual real estate taxes: 2.2%

Median real estate taxes paid: $6,310

Median home value: $285,300

Rochester, NY

Percent of home value paid for annual real estate taxes: 2.2%

Median real estate taxes paid: $3,001

Median home value: $136,900

Pearland, TX

Percent of home value paid for annual real estate taxes: 2.2%

Median real estate taxes paid: $7,847

Median home value: $364,000

• We pay half of our two family members' rent in Los Angeles so we can stay with them when we want.
• Most of the year, we live in our house in Wisconsin, where my husband works and our mortgage is low.
• We've had to get creative to afford to live in both places, but we're happy to make it work.

In August, my husband and I signed a one-year lease for a two-bedroom apartment in Studio City without giving up our home in Wisconsin.

We love the Midwest, but I grew up in Los Angeles County and often miss my home state — especially in winter when temperatures in Wisconsin can plummet below zero.

My family and I have often traveled to California, visiting family and friends, splurging on Disneyland, and enjoying the beach. Our trips have been soul-nourishing and fun but pricey. On average, we've spent about $200 to $300 a night on Airbnbs alone.

We've talked about moving to California, but there are delightful obstacles in our path. First of all, we adore our community, and my husband loves his job in Wisconsin.

We also love our house and the 3 acres of land it's on. Plus, the low 3% interest rate on our mortgage means living in our five-bedroom home in Wisconsin costs about the same a month as renting a 1,000-square-foot apartment in Los Angeles.

So when two members of our family decided to move to Los Angeles, we made a proposal: If you can put us up for some of the year, we'll pay half the rent.

They happily accepted. This way, they could afford a larger place in a nicer neighborhood, and we'd get a pied-à-terre with the flexibility to come and go as we please for just $1,750 a month.

After a fun period of collaborative apartment hunting, we found a great space in Studio City and have been back and forth several times.

To make this work, we've found ways to live frugally and save money

Whenever we've gone to Los Angeles for an extended visit, we've driven the 2,000 miles in our hybrid to save on airfares and car rentals once we arrive.

For shorter trips, we find cheap flights. Since we keep clothes, toiletries, and books in both places, we only need laptop bags when we travel, which saves money on checking bags.

We also arranged for a friend in Wisconsin to stay in our house while we're gone, so we don't need to pay someone to water our plants or mow the lawn.

Our apartment in Los Angeles has been furnished with Ikea sale items, donations from friends, and cheap (or free) finds from Facebook Marketplace and our neighbors.

When we're home in Wisconsin, we live frugally. If we're going to splurge a bit, we prefer to do it in Los Angeles.

Although the cost of living is higher there, we've also found many free or inexpensive things to do for fun: hiking on many of the nearby trails, going to the beach, exploring different neighborhoods, and visiting free museums.

If we go out to eat, we do so during happy hour to take advantage of discounted specials. Potluck meals with friends have also been a great way for us to have fun in Los Angeles without breaking the bank.

Since we live in a neighborhood close to shops and restaurants, we also save money on gas and get our steps in by walking as much as possible.

We still meet our savings goals by using the money we'd normally budget for vacations to support this lifestyle instead.

For now, I hope to continue living across 2 states

My favorite things about living between the Midwest and West Coast have been the excitement of always looking forward to something new, enjoying the beauty in both locales, and spending time with family and friends in each place.

Our lease will be up in August 2025, and I don't know if our family members will continue to live in Los Angeles.

If they move out and on, my husband and I will need to get even more creative to keep making our California-Wisconsin lifestyle work. We'd probably need to downsize the apartment and find other ways to cut back on our spending — but that's fine by me.

Every time I walk along the beach in Malibu on a sunny day in January while it's -10 degrees in Wisconsin, I know it's worth it.