Renting forever isn't throwing money away—it's buying flexibility and freedom from maintenance and property taxes. In cities like San Francisco, median rent for a one-bedroom is $2,500 a month, while the median home price is $1.3 million. That down payment could grow faster in index funds than home equity, especially with current interest rates. But I get the appeal of owning—there's a security in knowing your monthly payments build something. Is the emotional payoff worth the financial risk?