When does renting actually make more sense?

Renting tends to make more sense when you expect to move within a couple of years, when your income or job situation is not yet stable enough for a mortgage, or when the upfront cash needed to buy would leave you with no financial cushion. It can also make sense while you are still deciding on a specific area to settle in. Brian will tell you honestly when renting is the better move, even though that means no transaction for him.