owning isn't for everyone, especially for those who like to be mobile and move frequently, or who don't want the hassle of maintenance,.. owning also doesn't guarantee you will be able to make your payments and many have and could lose their homes and then as you say you 'end up with nothing' anyways even after paying for X amount of time,... when you rent you aren't wasting money at all in that you are paying for a service in a sense and that service is a roof over your head. It isn't like you are getting nothing in return for your money.