[hansvm]

The usual argument I see for renting being good is that up-front barriers make home buying hard for a lot of people and that transaction costs make it impractical for short tenures. If those were independently solved somehow would renting still have notable advantages?

[closeparen]

* Other investments may outperform home equity, even taking into account imputed rent, especially if homes are sustainably affordable (read: have no return).

* Other investments may be less correlated with your earning potential.

* Risk of being underwater.

* Risk of an expensive, unexpected maintenance or repair item.

* Chores you are no longer paying for, you have to do yourself.