Dive Brief:

• Among renters who previously owned their homes, 51% said they prefer renting, according to a survey by Apartments.com.

• Their top reasons for choosing to rent instead of buy: no unexpected repairs; no—or low—maintenance; the flexibility to move when they want to; more affordable; no unexpected tax increases; can’t get or don’t want a mortgage.

• Plus, 56% of renters who have never owned a home said they prefer renting.

Dive Insight:

On the flip side, 44% of renters who have never owned a home want to buy one, the survey showed. Rents continue to rise nationwide—although the pace of that growth is slowly decreasing. When renters choose to move, either to another apartment or to a purchased property, it’s often because they want more space or because they have gotten married or divorced.