Is buying a home in 2025 still a sound investment, or has the real estate market shifted so much that renting is the smarter financial move? I'm comparing mortgage payments with interest rates around 7% against rent for a similar place, and in many cities the monthly difference is huge. Even when I factor in property appreciation over 10 years, the maintenance costs and property taxes eat into the gains. I'd like to hear from people who've run the numbers recently — did you choose to rent or buy, and what tipped the decision?