Should we rent for a while before buying the next place?
Often, yes — and it's a position of strength, not a step backward, however it feels to a former owner. Renting after a big transition buys the two things money can't rush: information and time. You learn how the new life actually runs — where the week takes you, what you miss, what you don't — before committing to a long-term guess.
The math critique writes itself: rent is money you don't get back. True. But the wrong house costs more — transaction costs in both directions, plus the daily tax of living somewhere that doesn't fit. A year of rent is cheap tuition against that.
The version that works is deliberate: a real lease in a neighborhood you're auditioning, eyes open, no pressure to exit early. When the audition produces an answer, you'll buy better than any rushed version of you would have. I'll be ready when you are.
I wrote this answer, and I stand behind it. I'm Chris Deutsch, a Minneapolis Realtor (MN #20382264). Twenty-five years of walking these neighborhoods, checking basements, and sitting across kitchen tables from people making exactly this call. I re-check every answer and date it — this one was last verified .
If your situation is more specific than the market, that's the one worth talking through. Email me at chris@lakesarearealty.com.