Questions/Objections
"Renters throw money down the drain."...If you have $300,000 and a choice between spending it on a house or shares, you'll pay $6,000 a year in incidentals if you buy the house or about $15,000 a year ($1,250 a month) in rent if you buy the shares. But the shares will return $21,000 a year after inflation while the house will return zero....
"House buyers get tax breaks." So do share buyers, but both are a bad deal...
"What about the pride of home ownership?" It's not for me. I define ownership as no longer having to pay for something and being able to do as I please with it. I own my coffee maker. House owners must pay taxes each year even when their mortgage payments are done. In certain markets they can't even make changes to the houses they've paid for without seeking the approval of others...
"Are you saying I should sell my big house and rent an apartment instead?" I'm not trying to win anyone over. Strong demand for houses keeps my rent cheap.[/qu