Jerusalem Demsas, editor-in-chief of The Argument, has a hot take when it comes to our housing woes: “Homeownership is overrated.”

That’s a particularly bold perspective when you take into account that 70 percent of Americans think owning a home is a key part of achieving the American dream. Demsas argues that our homeownership society is not all it’s cracked up to be, and that there can be a real joy in renting.

“I’m a renter and I love being a renter,” she said. “I love being able to move when I want to move. I love not feeling like it’s my responsibility to make sure the roof is okay and make sure the fridge isn’t going to break. A house is a massive asset. Even if you’re an entry-level home buyer, that’s a lot of money. There are a lot of people who benefit from it, and who enjoy getting to have the freedom of renovating their home and making it exactly how they want it. But I think that we overhype the financial benefits way too much.”

On the latest episode to Explain It to Me, Vox’s weekly call-in podcast, we dig into that hype, why homeownership isn’t for everyone, and why the dream of owning a home is so prominent in the American imagination to begin with. Below is an excerpt of our conversation with Demsas, edited for length and clarity.

You can listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. If you’d like to submit a question, send an email to askvox@vox.com or call 1-800-618-8545.

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