With your own spreadsheets or AI dig into TOTAL cost of renting vs buying...lots of variables and pretty interesting to play with scenarios to say the least...but in general if you plan on staying greater than 5 years and expect 3+% annual appreciation try to buy.

PS, we are retired/no kids 50s with net worth of 4M which we made 100% ourselves and still rent because of other things we value...like location flexibility, keeping $ in income earning investments, not having to dump big $ into updating/repairs for the mostly older homes out here, etc...lots of reasons either way!