After living in three different rental apartments over five years, I've noticed that landlords rarely fix mold or pest issues unless I threaten legal action. My last place had a leaky roof that took four months to repair, and I'm now weighing whether to buy a small condo with an HOA fee that feels like a second rent. Is renting really more flexible and less stressful than owning a home, given how much time and money renters lose on maintenance they can't control?