I haven't told my friends I've bought a property

[Four Seasons]

I bought a unit in September 05 and I've been renting it out since. I plan to move into it in May this year. I haven't told all of my friends that I've bought it yet because they all seem very against buying property.

Some of them could have afforded to buy a property already, but they prefer to spend their money on travel, and they don't want to be tied down to a mortgage. They seem to have this attitude that having money is bad, and that they are too young to "settle down", even though they are all in their mid to late twenties.

One of my friends, who works for an investment bank in another city which has notoriously high property prices, has bought a unit, and when my friends found out about it, they kept making comments about how it had harbor views etc, as though he shouldn't be buying something so expensive, and that he's so lucky to have so much money etc. The reality is, he works very long hours and has a very demanding job.

I am now worried about letting my friends know that I own my place when I move in. It's not a really expensive property, but it is in a good area, and is probably more than my friends would ever expect to buy.

I have considered pretending that I'm renting it, but I'm nearly 26 years old, and have been living with my parents all this time, and they will wonder why I hadn't moved out earlier.

[old_school_soul]

These people aren't your friends. There are judgemental and jealous.

[winneythepooh7]

I honestly don't think it's their business what you choose to do with your money. Everybody's financial situation, and financial goals are different. I think it's pretty cool that you were able to buy a place.

[and1grad]

I honestly don't think it's their business what you choose to do with your money. Everybody's financial situation, and financial goals are different. I think it's pretty cool that you were able to buy a place.
Ditto that.

[spiritedaway]

I second this. They may not agree buying a property at a young age, but they shouldn't make you feel bad about buying your own propery.

These people aren't your friends. There are judgemental and jealous.

[Xander]

I honestly don't think it's their business what you choose to do with your money. Everybody's financial situation, and financial goals are different. I think it's pretty cool that you were able to buy a place.
Third this.

If they're telling you not to buy because they feel you're hurting yourself financially, that's one issue, but if it's because they think you should spend it on other things, that's wrong.

You've already bought. That point is a sunk cost. If they give you grief, they should shut the hell up.

[CTGirl]

I agree with the others, what kind of friends do you have???

I have a friend who recently put a deposit on a piece of property in South America. Its certainly not something I would have done, and I dont think it was such a great idea, but it's his money, and he can do what he wants with it, and it certainly has had no ill effects on our friendship.

[Four Seasons]

Yeah, I have one friend who's living in France this year, and keeps asking me to visit her. I've told her that I can't because I'm saving money to buy a place, and she thinks that I'm just making excuses and the the cost of a flight to Paris shouldn't make too much difference to my savings.

I can't explain to her that I REALLY can't afford it because I've already bought the place because she'll be annoyed that I lied to her.

I only lied because I knew she'd think that I should be travelling rather than "settling down".

[TinyDancer]

I could understand your friends making comments if they were concerned about you. . . like if you bought a crackhouse or lost 10 grand in slot machines this year. . . but buying a house?

You should NOT feel bad about this and should not LET THEM make you feel bad.

Congrats!

[Valentine]

These people aren't your friends. There are judgemental and jealous.

Ditto. They sound like Communists. With friends like these, who needs enemies?

[Four Seasons]

Thanks for all the support and congratulations.

[mishl982]

I agree with the others. I think it's pretty crappy for your friends to be so judgemental. They should be happy for you (and your other friend who has their own place). I would hate to have the kind of friends where I couldn't share great news with them because they're going to be make me feel bad about it.

[redav]

Your friends may feel the way they do because they haven't seen how rewarding it is. They may change their attitudes when they do find out.

[Winter Storm]

I can't believe your friends would get so pissy over owning property that you've felt compelled to hide it from them. I'd finally come out. And if they take issue with it, tell them to fuck off and get over it.

It's really a dumb thing to bitch about.

[wordsmith]

Screw your friends if they're up in your face about buying property.

The only way I can even understand somebody being snippy about this topic is if the property owner is the sort of person who goes around telling all their friends how stupid they are if they rent, etc...in that case, I can totally see throwing attitude back at said friend.