Renting forever is smarter than buying a home in most cities today. After watching my brother sink $80,000 into repairs and property taxes over five years while his house barely appreciated, I've started to question the whole 'owning is an investment' mantra. Between maintenance costs, interest payments, and the lost opportunity to invest the down payment in index funds, renting often leaves you financially ahead — and with far more flexibility to move for a job or life change. Why do we still treat a mortgage as the only responsible path to adulthood?