HOUSTON (FOX 26) -
Census figures show US homeownership continues to sit at a 15 year low as more people can't afford to buy or choose to rent.
Apartment-search website Rent.com's new survey finds nearly two thirds of renters are saving for down payments or waiting for better financial times before buying ahome.
That's the story with Don Russell. Russell owned a couple of homes before but got tired of the upkeep and expense.
"We were thinking about buying last year," he said. "We decided not to because we just didn't feel like the budget was ready. When you're living in an apartment, you really don't have to worry about all that stuff. It pretty much takes care of itself."
The Houston Apartment Association has seen a growing trend of so-called "renters-by-choice" and the market is responding, building apartment communities with amenities that renters want.
The HAA says the occupancy rate for better apartments in the city is running at about 95 percent, and that demand is pushing prices higher for many.
