"Buy a House — Renting Is Throwing Money Away"

"Buy a House — Renting Is Throwing Money Away" is the most dangerous myth because it ignores opportunity cost, maintenance, property taxes, and illiquidity. In San Francisco during the 2010s, a renter who invested the down payment in an S&P 500 fund saw returns nearly 50% higher than median home price appreciation. Renting also outperforms #5 on this list by avoiding the hidden costs of homeownership, which average 1-2% of property value annually. This advice fails more than #2 because it pushes a single asset class without considering market conditions or individual timelines.