[seansmccullough]

Your principal and interest payment can never go up, but your property tax (which is included as escrow on your mortgage) definitely can. I live in Texas, and my mortgage will be $400 a month more next year because of rising property tax.

[lijogdfljk]

But that would go up at the same rate as renting, no? I imagine you're replying mostly to the "mortgage stays fixed" comment, but relatively speaking i think it still holds true. Sure, taxes may change, but so does the value of the dollar, etc.

In theory every cost you pay as an owner, you pay as a renter - just with less time investment as a renter. It's a convenience fee.