I bought my dream home, but the difficult process and higher cost sometimes make me wish I'd stuck with renting

Courtesy of Chelsey Brown

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation Chelsey Brown, 31, an interior decorator and entrepreneur who recently bought her first home in New York City after being a renter for years. She has written one book about making upgrades to rented homes and another about making the most of small spaces on a budget. The conversation was edited for length and clarity.