Buying versus Renting: You need to determine what will make you the happiest and what makes the most financial sense. I have seen it asked many times on Quora whether someone should continue renting or if they should buy a home. It is certainly a sign of the times that buying a home that used to be considered a major part of the American dream, is now considered to be much more optional.  Many will argue that renting is “throwing money away”, but that is not always the case.  For some, renting is still a viable option, while for others settling down and owning a home may be exactly what they need. There are arguments both for buying and for continuing to rent, depending on a potential homeowner’s individual circumstances. To help you understand these variables and evaluate your own situation, here are five important questions to consider as you make the buying versus renting decision. How long are you planning to stay in the same place? How long you stay in one loc...