You conveniently pick a case where someone bought a house on the cheap. What do you recommend all those who are leaving university right now? To buy into sky high housing prices? Are you claiming there is no risk involved in home ownership regardless of when someone times a home purchase? I would in that case completely disagree. When comparing mortgage purchases and renting one has to factor in all aspects of the trade.
Have to disagree, a close friend of mine has 2 houses he bought over the last 35 years, the houses he purchased have increased in value over that time, one is paid off and the other I believe owes about $150,000, one is rented the other is a 2 family, the rents far exceed what he owes in mortgage and taxes, he clears more in rent in a year than what you would make on a million dollar portfolio in the s&p
Rents are insane right now. I purchased my place and living cheaper than if someone were to rent my place....if rents were to drop to where my mortgage and taxes are there would be what we call another crisis and probably a deep deep recession which means my costs stay pretty much flat as long as taxes don't rise too much while rents will continue to rise in the years to come....plus with housing prices jumping another 5% in the last year I can't complain....

