Buying a home is not always better than renting, even when you plan to stay put for over a decade. I ran the numbers for my own situation: a comparable apartment rents for $1,800 a month, while the same unit would cost $350,000 to purchase. After accounting for property taxes, maintenance, and insurance, renting and investing the difference in an index fund looks surprisingly competitive. But then again, rent keeps rising and a mortgage payment stays fixed, which changes the calculus for long-term stability.