Is buying a home still a wise financial decision when rent prices in my city have risen 30% in five years, but mortgage rates are also at a 15-year high? I've been renting a two-bedroom apartment for $1,800 a month, and the same unit would cost $450,000 to buy with a 7% interest rate. Factoring in property taxes, maintenance, and insurance, my monthly cost would be nearly $2,500, not including the down payment. I've seen friends who bought in 2020 brag about their low rates, but for me, the math doesn't seem to work in favor of ownership right now. Given that housing prices have historically appreciated about 3-4% annually, could renting and investing the difference in index funds actually outperform buying over the next decade?