[ekianjo]

> A home you live in is almost always a net cost.

Plus it "prevents" you from moving somewhere else. Or let's say, it increases the friction of moving somewhere else. Most home owners stay at the same place for the rest of their lives.

[vonmoltke]

There are a whole lot of other factors that increase friction more than owning your domicile, and those factors tend to be stronger with people who are motivated to buy:

- Deep networks of friends - Strong community ties - Strong local family ties - Children with their attendant social networks - General aversion to moving frequently

Also, the idea that "most" homeowners never leave is antiquated. Nearly everyone I know who has bought a property has bought more than one before 40.

[ekianjo]

> Also, the idea that "most" homeowners never leave is antiquated. Nearly everyone I know who has bought a property has bought more than one before 40.

I'm guessing you live in the US ? Outside people are way less mobile.

[jbb555]

On the plus side, once you've found somewhere you like you can stay there as long as you want. If you rent it's up to the owner how long you can live there

[ekianjo]

True, but there's always the risk that where you like living changes over time and becomes HELL 20-30 years down the road. And I have seen this happen among several of my family members.

When you rent, sure, you can't stay forever, but you have visibility at 2 years down the road (depends on the country where you live, but where I do the owner cannot get you out for the duration of your lease, and that's usually 2 years).