Owning a house works better for me because I didn't go out and buy a huge house with a huge mortgage. I kept the price well within my means and while I know i'm going to have costs that I wouldn't have had, such as new furnace, a new fence, etc, at least I don't have to deal with the things I dealt with in an apt. I don't have to listen to my old neighbor, Miss Elephant Feet, stomp around on the hardwood floors right above my head in heels. I don't have to deal with parking my motorcycle on my back porch, she goes in the garage now. I don't have to live in stark white boring walls. I don't have to scrounge quarters to put into someone else's washer and dryer on a weekly basis. I don't have to hide my tomato/basil plants in the flower bed and hope the landscapers don't cut them down. Sure, I could have rented a better apartment with more amenities but that would mean more money every month.... Now I have 3 - 4 times the space for the same amount of monthly cash. I'm sure it differs for each person based on what they make and where they want to be located but owning works for me right now. Yeah, I still stress on whether or not I made the wisest choice but I got the house while the price was down and while interest rates were low, so I think it will be ok.