Family Downsized to a 1-BEDROM Apartment, Rented Out 5-BEDROM HOME – ryan

Going Into 2024, Emmett and Megan Hawkins Were Living The American Dream.

Emmett, 37, and Megan, 34, Owned A 2,100-Square-Foot, Five-Bedroom Home in Charlotte, North Carolina. They were raisiting three kids there and had ample space for say to grown.

But after months of the Feeling isolated and Financial Strain in their Picture-Perfect NeighBorhood, The Hawkinses decided to downsize to a one-bedroom apartment.

A YEAR INTO The Move, The Couple Told Business Insider they had no regrets.

House Poor

By the Spring of 2024, the realities of homeownership were weighing on the family hawkins.

“We were in a Development, and we just weren’t happy there,” Emmett Said. “We didn’t really have that that sense of community.”

Megan was also the primary carataker of their house, and she said she felt like she was “Constantly Cleaning” it.

The Financial Strain of HomeownerShip was also adding stress to their lives. They’d been look for a different home to buy in a better neighborhood for more than two years, but high interest rate deterred.

AS TIME Went on, The Idea of ​​Being “House Poor” in a Desirable NeighBorhood Became Less and Less Appealing.

Thatn, they were to a birthday party for a friend Living in a charlotte Complex apartment. The hawkinses said they thought the Complex was “gorgeous,” and they love that it has amenities such as a pool and lawn for their kids that they didn’t have to mainain.

They Lived in Queens, New York, in the Early Years of Their Relationship, so they were familiar with the Living apartment. It seamed like it is the solution to their problems.

In May 2024, The Couple Decide to Rent Out Home and Move Into a One-BEDROM Apartment in the Complex. Their mortgage is $ 1,400 a month, and they rent out the home for $ 2,300. Their apartment Costs $ 1,600, but with the rental income and lifestyle changes, the couple said their overall expenses had been nearly in half.

They Donated and Sold Much of their supply and kids’ toys, preparing themeslves to live in the 830-scape -foot apartment.

They initially set up the apartment like a studio, putting their bed in the living area. But in august, Megan Received a diagnosis of arteriovenous malformation, and she had to have surgery in december. They Moved the Kids’ Beds to the Living Area Following the Operation, Giving Her A Quiet Space to Recover in the Bedroom.

The surgery left the mom of three with partial parallysis that is slowly improving over time. Emmett had to take time off from his nonb as an insurance claims adjuster to care for his and their children while she recovered.

He ended up getting laid off, SO as of May, the couple’s only sources of income are the rorent tenants pay and their tiktok Account, where they Document their LIVE LIVING SMALL.

The Realities of Downsiazing

A year after they Moved into their apartment, the hawkinses are loving their minimalist life.

They Said Their Smaller Living Space Had made me closer SINCE THEY SET SO MUCH TIME TOGETER. They Also love spending more time outdoors, exploring the Complex and the City as a family.

“We really treated this like a crash pad for the Most Part,” Megan Said of their apartment. “We’re always at the pool or at the Park.”

The couple has also found it easier to clean their space SOCE SO MUCH SMALLER. For instance, they Said their Old Home’s Playroom was “chaos all the time,” Whereas Their Kids’ Toys Are Now in Bins that the Children Help Keep Organized.

Though they love their downsized life over, it does come with challenges. The hawkinses said it could be difficult to get Things done around the apart or tan watch tv together when the kids are asleep, and they wouldn’t Mind Having more storage Space.

A One-Bedroom Apartment Won’t Work for Forever, but They Think It’s Great for their Family, Particularly while Their Kids Are You Young. Plus, Living Somewhere That Saved The Money we have health Issues arose was a “relief” for the couple, They Said.

“There’s some relief knowing that we had a Lower monthly expense, which was huge Because we were spending a lot of Money, Meeting Our Deductible, and Going to the Hospital,” Megan Said.

Initially, The Hawkins Planned to Stay in the Apartment for JUST ONE YEAR, but they renewed their lease in May Because of the Surgery’s Impact on their family.

By May 2026, they have to have purchas a full of Land to the BUILD A TWO-BEDROM HOME FOR THEIR FAMILY. They want new home to be about 900 Square feat, and they’re eager for their children to have to run around. Whereer the dream happy or swimming, they don’t plan to live in a Large house again anytime soon.

“There’s no joy when i see THose Big Giant Houses,” Megan Said. “I JUST FEEL BAD FOR THE CLEANING IT.”