Rent or buy: When does homeownership actually make financial sense?

Wondering whether you should rent or buy? Buying your own home is often viewed as a major financial milestone. But the financial case for owning a home isn’t as simple as ‘mortgage payment versus rent.’Homeownership can build equity and provide long-term housing stability, but elevated home prices and borrowing costs put it out of reach for some. And while renting avoids the upfront cost of buying and can preserve more cash for savings and investments, high rents can make it ha