I just don't feel the equity built up really works out to be that much to be honest. Housing really will never "increase" in value providing new homes are being built for the demand. All the increasing prices have been coming from people flipping houses higher and higher and higher and higher. You don't just build something you can live in and then its 200,000 this year and in five years its now 300,000 and in five more its 400,000 lol
The only reason that happens is from overall inflation and house flippers. You pay your mortgage off, all 250,000 + the interest and you have this house free and clear, you still have to pay taxes on it and when you go to sell it or pull out some equity the bank appraiser says its only worth 100,000 when you bought it for 250,000 and paid that much on it. I feel bad for those people as it was supposed to be a "no risk" investment.
But Id rather be stuck with a house I can live in and losing money on it than the stock market and just having a statement sent to me every month showing me how much money I have lost lol.
If you don't like to move, higher end rentals are more likely to allow leases for 5+ years. But I am looking right now for a rental and the last place I could tell if they only knew I was going to put two stripper poles in the house day one they wouldn't rent to me.
just another benefit of ownership.