Quote from winter:
Oh really? If, as you say, "your goal is strictly to maximize the return on your investment, regardless of lifestyle" then I'm sure I can come up with a much cheaper way to live then either of your two choices.
An honest financial analysis would pick the lifestyle you want and then determine whether renting or owning is better.
Comparing owning a condo to renting an apt or compare owning a house to renting the same house.
You have not provided any valid reason why your refuse to do an apples to apples comparison.
At least reading that "Painting the house every 10 years at $10k = $30k" was amusing.