> there is a lot more freedom in renting than buying
There are varying definitions of "freedom" to consider.
Sure, there is the freedom of being able to walk away after 12 months to someplace else.
But there is also the freedom of being able to plant a garden, or paint your room, or install shelving, or excavate a root cellar, or install a new doorknob, etc, without having to get express written permission from your landlord (which will almost always be no).
That is almost the entire reason that I like owning. The kitchen looks like I want it to look, the walls are the color I want them to be, the doorbell is wifi, I have a Nest thermostat, and if I don't like that there's a peach tree in the front yard I have it removed (true story!).
There are varying definitions of "freedom" to consider.
Sure, there is the freedom of being able to walk away after 12 months to someplace else.
But there is also the freedom of being able to plant a garden, or paint your room, or install shelving, or excavate a root cellar, or install a new doorknob, etc, without having to get express written permission from your landlord (which will almost always be no).