[Swizec]

> Generally, this holds true today for most HCOL and MCOL areas. It is still a good idea to buy in a few LCOL areas

We have friends who rent to live in SF and buy in LCOL as investment properties. Also seems to work well as a strategy.

I think of primary residence as a consumption expense. It's not really an investment because you can't cash out[1]. So unless you put value on the act of owning itself, it's best to do whatever gives you a lower monthly. In our case that's renting.

[1] yes I know about HELOCs. I'd rather get margin loans on index funds than risk getting kicked out of my home.

[hintklb]

I fully agree with you. I also think that there are as many good intangible argument for owning as for renting.

Renting allows you to be flexible for new opportunities. They allow you to focus on other things in life than your house, treat your landlord as a service provider, free your time to do more important things.

Frankly it is sad that as a society we value homeownership so highly and judge people that decide to rent so harshly.