Buy or Rent?

Although most people believe that buying a house makes more sense than renting one, experts argue that it is not always the case.  A CNN Money article suggests that the financial-side of the decision comes down to three factors: location, how long you plan to stay, and how rents compare to home prices.  The New York Times has an interactive calculator that helps one determine under what circumstances it is better to buy than rent.  Taking into account factors such as down payment amount, property taxes, mortgage rates, utilities, common fees, and renovation costs, it calculates the period after which one begins to reap the financial benefits of homeownership.