If you had $10,000 laying around...

[Topless]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

If Warren Buffett put the $31K he used to buy his first home into shares of his own company instead, he'd have $42 million today... That house is not worth $42 million...

Another fallacious strawman argument PL. He has to live somewhere and the total costs associated with owning his home were lower over time than the total costs associated with renting an equivalent property over the same period. This freed up more cash to invest wisely in Berkshire.

So unless your mom is willing to take care of your housing by giving your old room back, buying beats renting long term. Renting beats buying short term. It really is that simple. Only the time window changes based on market fluctuations.