I don't think that's the advice. Rather that renting can be significantly cheaper and less risky to your savings in the current market. Here's an anecdote from where I live. If you were to buy the unit I live in today, you'd have to pay $3700/mo in mortgage, $1000 in maintenance, and $250 in taxes. That's $4950/mo to "own" this place. Instead you could rent it for $3200. That's $1750 difference. That's a lot more than what's going to be going towards your principal, your equity in the purchase case. Out of the $4950/mo, only $860/mo would be going towards equity. Everything else goes in someone else's pocket. The renter would be able to stash more money than you till your 13th year in the mortgage. If this is the reality you're looking at renting is significantly cheaper. I think that's what the advice is about.