The renting versus buying decision depends heavily on your financial situation, how long you plan to stay in one place, and local market conditions.
Buying builds equity over time and offers stability in monthly housing costs (aside from property taxes and maintenance), but it comes with upfront costs like a down payment, closing costs, and ongoing maintenance responsibilities.
Renting offers flexibility and predictable monthly costs without maintenance responsibility, but doesn’t build equity, and rent can increase at each lease renewal.
A common rule of thumb is that buying tends to make more financial sense if you plan to stay in the home for at least five years, since transaction costs on buying and selling can outweigh the benefits over a shorter period.
Run the numbers for your specific market – in some cities, renting is significantly cheaper than buying on a monthly basis, while in others the opposite is true.