Good discussion. The rent/buy discussion cannot be summed up with one simple answer. It depends on many factors. Renting will be best for some, while buying best for others. The important thing is to understand that both are expenses and not investing. Owning a house to live in rarely has a good rate of return. Of course, neither does renting. What really helped me start building wealth was learning that I needed to keep my living expenses as low as practical and invest the rest. On the other hand, buying an investment property, if done well, can help you get rich.