Right. What I'm talking about is the differential between the carrying costs of ownership, and the cost of renting, which is what's often referred to as 'forced savings'. Nowhere am I saying you don't have to pay rent. If renting costs less than the carrying costs of owning (which it often is), you can take those cost savings to the bank to be invested. This should also be factored into the cost comparisons.
Owners of rental properties wish to make a profit. Therefore renting is more expensive, month to month, than owning a property even after factoring in all costs involved.
The only time this isn't true is if the owner has a very old mortgage or outright owns the home.
