In financial terms, Home ownership is only truly better than renting (a similar home) if it is an outright purchase...no mortgage. Renting has these potential benefits:

1. No maintenance costs
2. No property tax costs.
3. No improvement or repair costs
4. No appliance replacement costs.
5. No landscaping costs
6. No lump-sum "down payment" costs (save that money instead)

Sometimes the rent is actually less for a comparable property than a monthly mortgage payment would be.

We rented between 2009and 2015.  Purchased this year...no mortgage.