[angra_mainyu]

> renting just doesn’t make all that much sense in this economy

I disagree.

Example scenario of many young Europeans in their 20s:

- living in small or mid-sized city

- job offer pops up paying significantly more across the country, either capital or one of the top cities

- move and earn significantly more (even when adjusted for CoL)

- continue progressing careerwise

- job offer pops up elsewhere, possibly in other EU countries, pays significantly more

A reasonable person in their 20s would allow themselves the chance to focus on professional career growth/salary growth up until they hit their mid-30s in which they can start considering settling in a given place and purchasing. Before that it's nonsensical.

To give my own example, I went through various cities across several countries, starting at 12k, then a few years later job offer in another country for 33k, then a few years later at 54k, then at 115k, all before 30 years old (because I allowed myself to be anchor-free).

The rest who stayed put in the same city? 12k to 30k in the same span of time.

Anyone telling a person in their 20s: "buy a house and stay put" is giving terrible advice. The advice should be something along the lines of: "what you do in your 20s will bear fruits in your 30s, stay open-minded, adventurous, don't be afraid to burn out and discover your limits, see the world before your parents get old, and try your hardest".