They could have bought. Instead they took advantage of the optionality afforded to a renter that can up stakes and move at will, without being tied to a mortgag

They could have bought. Instead they took advantage of the optionality afforded to a renter that can up stakes and move at will, without being tied to a mortgage. If they couldn’t afford to buy then they got to take advantage of a locale they desired at a lower price, another benefit of renting. (While it would be nice if anyone could live — and own — anywhere they like without worrying about price or competing demand from the billions of other humans around, that’s so far away from reality it’s not worth discussing.)