W
e relocated from Melbourne to Bright, Australia three years ago. My husband and I decided not to sell our home in Melbourne, instead renting it out to tenants and finding a rental in Bright that offered us flexibility.

    I had reservations about selling our home, having lived there for four years with my husband. We also didn't want to buy in Bright as I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy living in a small town. So, we decided to spend a year in Bright and reassess later. Finding accommodation was the first major hurdle; rental properties are scarce due to Bright's popularity as a tourist destination. However, we were lucky to find a place at a friend's property while they were overseas.

    Our family quickly fell in love with the slower pace of country life. Later that year, we welcomed our third child. Renting in Bright has given us more flexibility as a growing family; we needed our own space, so we moved into a three-bedroom house close to town in January 2023. Our current rental home is a beautiful property with a big back garden where birds visit daily and my children spend hours outdoors.

    Financially, renting has been a good decision for us. Our rent is less than our weekly mortgage repayment, which is covered by the tenants, so we're essentially saving money. Renting also means we can move freely and live in Bright while paying off our mortgage in Melbourne. The median house price in Bright is over $1 million, making it unaffordable for us to buy here.

    While my husband sometimes feels guilty about not having a "proper" family home, I try to see the positives – it certainly keeps life interesting! We may decide to sell our property in Melbourne and buy one in Bright when the market picks up. For now, renting has given us options and flexibility as we navigate this new chapter in our lives.