Many long-held beliefs hold people back from pursuing their passion for travel. Oftentimes, these beliefs aren’t impossible to overcome. We just need to explore the benefit of one over another. However – as humans – we let the stories in our heads inhibit our most fulfilling path in life. For instance, you might believe that you can’t travel because you’re landlocked to your primary residence. Of course, not everyone wants to keep their property and rent it out or leave it empty while they are away traveling. What if, instead, you sell it, purchase an RV, and completely surrender to your traveling desires? Sounds scary? Initially, almost every change is.
To soften the blow of anxiety from making a massive life transition, here are 4 undeniable benefits of selling your house and traveling the country in an RV.
Benefit One: Freedom from Financial Handcuffs
For people considering committing to a life of RVing, you will likely have fewer financial responsibilities compared to owning your home. In many major cities, it’s cheaper to buy an RV than to buy a newly renovated single-family house. House mortgages typically have a 30-year term. To counter things like high interest rates in the real estate industry right now, certain banks are offering 40-year mortgages to make the monthly housing payments more manageable, making payments smaller but your debt last longer. An RV will usually not take as long to pay off and then you own it!
Physical houses come with additional expenses that RVs don’t. For example, expensive monthly HOA fees are more common now. Similar to inflation, these typically increase annually as supplies, labor, and other costs increase. There are zero HOA fees when owning an RV. Property taxes are another huge expense for homeowners. Cities typically perform property reassessments of home values each year and increase this annual expense. These cost increases are out of your control and negatively affect your monthly spending budget. Once homeowners become freed from their costly houses, more financial wiggle room is created to spend on fun adventures whilst traveling in an RV.
Benefit Two: Minimalism Decreases Stress
As more people prioritize experiences over owning “stuff”, minimalistic and nomadic lifestyles have become more popular. People traveling in an RV naturally live this philosophy. With fewer personal items to worry about, less stress creates a simpler lifestyle.
Nomadic lifestyles have become especially popular for people living in large cities. For example, Philadelphia PA has seen a large number of residents leave the city – some of which are off traveling. Brotherly Love Real Estate, a company that helps people sell houses for a living, explained, “Even in Philadelphia, PA where the properties are more affordable than other cities, homeowners continue to sell their houses and move. More people seem to care about lifestyle and travel over owning a home in one central location. We’ve heard multiple accounts of people selling a house and traveling in a van.”
This trend means people will likely continue to sell their houses in exchange for a lifestyle of RV or van travel, leaving behind the stress of home ownership as well as big city life.
Benefit Three: No Stone Left Unturned
Sometimes, we get too comfortable and allow limiting beliefs to hold us back. We believe that something isn’t for us, we are too old, or we can’t do something. However, it is important to listen to our desires and leave no stone unturned in life – we only get one shot. While owning a home is considered a great financial investment for your family’s future and one that most of us have been taught to work towards, it isn’t for everyone. Maybe it doesn’t fit your vision or just no longer feels right. Then consider what does feel right and pursue it.
If travel is your dream, but you aren’t ready for the big leap of leaving your home, consider taking a hybrid approach. Many folks keep their homes and purchase or rent an RV so they can travel or just get out in nature more. By downsizing your current house to something that is easier to manage and afford, you can create more free time and money to travel.
To start on this path, you might create a list of the “stones” you’d like to turn over whether that is experiences or places to visit. Then build a general itinerary for a trip. This might show you how long the trip will take or how many places along the way there are to see. You can then decide if you want to break it up or go on a big adventure.
And remember – nothing has to be permanent. You can sell your house today, travel in an RV for several months or years, then return and buy another home. You might even find during your travels, a new place that makes your heart happy and is where you want to put down new roots.
Benefit Four: New skills
Traveling down the open road in an RV teaches you skills that a brick home may not. For one, you learn to adapt to whatever life throws at you. You might plan certain portions of your travel around an event to attend or place to visit, but hear about another exciting, cannot-miss event. And of course, even in RVing, there are still maintenance and breakdowns that occur so you learn to adapt to these as well.
The good news is that RVing empowers you to be spontaneous and switch plans. There isn’t as much friction holding you back when your transportation and personal items are already in the RV and ready to go. The world is your oyster to limitlessly explore.
Travel vs Owning a Home
At the end of the day, life is about preferences. There is no right or wrong way on how to do life. You might be comfortable where you are and with what you are currently doing. Or the grass can be greener on the other side and is calling your name. Keep in mind that seeking discomfort or change in life can yield amazing, fruitful, and fulfilling benefits via connections with others and unique experiences.
And remember that anything is possible. If you have a strong desire to travel in an RV, you can make it happen. Don’t give up on your lust for travel and your passion for life.
Thank you to guest blogger, Tanya Hanson of Any Room Remodel. Tanya is a passionate writer for the real estate industry. When she’s not remodeling a home, she’s spending her time outdoors. Hiking and surfing are her top hobbies.
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