Should I rent or buy a home?

The right answer depends on your time horizon, local market, financial situation, and personal priorities — not on the cliché that 'renting is throwing money away' (owning also has substantial non-equity costs: mortgage interest, property taxes, insurance, maintenance, and transaction costs). Buying generally becomes financially advantageous when you plan to stay in the same home for at least 5–7 years, can put down 10–20%, and the price-to-rent ratio in your area is reasonable (below ~20 is generally favorable for buying; above ~25 often favors renting). Run a detailed comparison — including opportunity cost of your down payment — at wealthserene.com/tools/buy-vs-rent.