[waffleiron]

In a perfect world, but rent is often less significantly predictable than mortgage payments. Of course the cost of repairs and maintenance isn’t absorbed, it is paid in full by the renter in the cost of rent.

[sokoloff]

Over the term of the lease agreement, rent is contractually predictable.

[pphysch]

Which is rarely longer than a year, and many people go month-to-month, if they even have a contract.