UPDATE - I'm so pleased I put this post out! I was worried that I was going to get castigated for feeling drawn towards renting, but the overwhelming response is that renting for a while is a good idea 🙂

I'm (F36) about to complete on an ex-marital property sale and will be moving to a new city at some point this year. I mostly WFH apart from travelling to London once a week or less, so I can essentially move anywhere. I'm thinking about moving to a city in the midlands. I will have enough deposit money to get myself back on the property ladder. However going straight in to another property purchase feels a bit overwhelming. I know that renting is dead money in a sense but I'm seriously considering renting a flat for a year or so while I build a life in a new location and can do house hunting while there. I've been staying with my parents in a very remote rural location for the past 18 months, so it has felt like my life is on hold. I've run the numbers and could still save £500 a month if I rent, so I could still keep topping up my existing deposit.

Am I totally mad to consider renting rather than getting myself immediately back on the property ladder? I know that if I tell my friends and family they will think it's crazy to rent voluntarily. I'm interested to hear a variety of perspectives, especially from others who have been in the same position.