@ dctroll - tax/fees/maintenance will always be their!!! you pay taxes on food!!! you maintain your car!!!
apartments never build equity. house builds equity.
you never own apt. you own house.
you never finish paying off you apt. you will finish paying off your home if you choose to.
assuming its a average size house and it's payed off compared to $1000/month rent
your rent in 3 years will always be higher than maintenance/fees/tax for the house in 3 years.
And finally
know the difference between "owing and being owned", because "when u owe, you are owned".