Owning a house is a bit like owning a car. It’s needs maintenance and there are associated running costs (bills, tax, etc) which can impact any equity increase (which is also constantly depreciating in real terms thanks to inflation). Renting can offload a lot of that to the owner. It’s also the perfect way to “register” with the government. It’s why govs all want you to own a house and do their utmost to try and support the property “market”. That all said, like a car, it feels like yours, and provides you some freedom and stability. It’s not always clear-cut that one is better than the other. I guess the ultimate is owning the land and the house, in a low/zero tax country, that’s all powered with personal solar/wind/hydro and has its own water source and some arable land. And perhaps a bunker and no/very few neighbours.