Fair enough, I did not sufficiently qualify my statement. But my main point is that looking at just mortgage vs rent is leaving a lot of costs out of the equati

Fair enough, I did not sufficiently qualify my statement. But my main point is that looking at just mortgage vs rent is leaving a lot of costs out of the equation. If you can get rent for less than the monthly mortgage payment, then the landlord is basically subsidizing you to live there and it's a pretty great deal. Buying in those conditions is a sucker bet.