I need shelter. It is illegal for me to live in a cabin in the woods and any way to do it legally is almost certain to be rejected - I looked, extensively.

So this just leaves renting or buying a house as the only legal options I have left. Maybe a boat, but locations for that are more limited and things can be expensive. Of the two choices, buying is way cheaper long term than renting and even pretty quickly short term depending on the markets.

Remember, rent goes up every year. Your mortgage value remains as it was when you got it. A 250k loan isn’t going to be so much after a sum inflation rate of 50-100% several years down the road. Or about a week if Reform get in.