There is not one right rule to follow. It all depends on investment trends, the cost of maintenance, the competition for tenants. In Australia, where 98% of pe

There is not one right rule to follow. It all depends on investment trends, the cost of maintenance, the competition for tenants. In Australia, where 98% of people live on 2% of its land, buying can make sense because it is a hedge against travelling time. As population grows, competition becomes more intense for suburbs that are closer to the city, buying a plot means that you have got a shorter commute than future residents. Ownership is also a hedge against rent rises. A retiree who is risk averse may find it better to own the property they live in rather than try to pay rent on a fixed pension.