I'm going to offer an alternative idea on the rent-vs-buy discussion that I never hear. In most sane countries (not the US) you can achieve non-resident status and not have to pay taxes. In Canada this is possible if you rent, but not as a home-owner. You have to be out of the country at least six months a year and you lose your health coverage.
What you gain is not having to pay taxes. If you're working remotely on a software engineer's salary, that can free up over $50K a year. That's enough to pay your rent, and likely also your food, for a small family even in Canada's most expensive cities.
Taxes are also throwing money in a hole.
I think most people couldn't do it because they have kids (and don't want to homeschool), or one or both spouses have jobs in a physical location, or they just don't like nomadic living. But it's an interesting idea.
What you gain is not having to pay taxes. If you're working remotely on a software engineer's salary, that can free up over $50K a year. That's enough to pay your rent, and likely also your food, for a small family even in Canada's most expensive cities.
Taxes are also throwing money in a hole.
I think most people couldn't do it because they have kids (and don't want to homeschool), or one or both spouses have jobs in a physical location, or they just don't like nomadic living. But it's an interesting idea.