Monica, you maybe talking more about the problems with affordability of housing rather than rent versus the buying options.

Renting or buying a roof over our heads in many ways comes down to a financial mechanism. Owning a car once had prestige as opposed to leasing but the reverse may be true now. And the choice can come down to a financial decision -- kind of the individual deal. Renting can make sense for us because we have money available to invest elsewhere (and financial markets are open to anyone these days). Just like holding shares and bonds, in real estate you can luck out -- or not.

What you may be really talking about is not having the choice of buying -- and that American dream thing.

Best to you