[lbrito]

These own-vs-buy comparisons always compare an idealized rental situation vs a concrete ownership situation. Its never realistic (although this article does acknowledge it: "My 1983 home had been used as a rental for years, so much of the maintenance had been neglected".

Specifically: people think about maintenance costs as a "con" in owenership, but its not like in the alternative (renting) you'll get all of those things for free. The owner just won't do any maintenance beside the bare minimum required by law.

[iamalizard]

And when you invest in something because the landlord won't do it, then move to another rental for some reason, you may have to do it all over again. Especially for upgrades. When you own the logic is "I'll pay X for this and it will hold for ~Y years". When you rent it's "I'll pay X for this and if I leave before ~Y, I'll have overpaid on a per-year basis".