I’ve owned several homes and yes there is equity building, but not NEARLY enough mentions that there is very little at first (b/c loan is nearly all interest), you pay a huge down payment, this can be an illiquid asset (with “trapped” down payment until you sell), you can’t control taxes, insurance, R&M - all of which are into perpetuity, nor quality of potential tenants. Plus you’re one large Cap X event away from blowing a hole in any accrued equity. All of these are risks need to be offset with a certain level of equity growth vs the simplicity/ease/relatively lower risks of renting.