[MattPalmer1086]

Well, I see my house as my home. But I do know that if things ever got rough I could sell it and live somewhere cheaper with a good chunk of money left over. So it is an asset, even if you don't think of it like that on a daily basis.

Whether renting is cheaper than buying varies. In the short term it often is, but not always. There is generally a long term point where buying is cheaper - but again, not always! If you can do something else with the money you save renting, then good for you.

To put this on context, to rent a house in my street is only a tiny bit cheaper than a mortgage on it. So it would not make long term sense to rent unless you had no choice.