>"But if you need a place to live it might make sense to buy a house under certain conditions (you plan to stay in the area for a long time, the economy is not

>"But if you need a place to live it might make sense to buy a house under certain conditions (you plan to stay in the area for a long time, the economy is not under a bubble, etc.)" Or you buy a house that is well below your means. That's another condition in which buying is a good idea.