Homes depreciate in value as they are a physical object. They also require regular maintenance. If you don’t factor these in you will just lose the money at sale time.

I’m saying that putting the money in an index fund outperforms the opportunity cost lost by paying additional rent and not having appreciating real estate.

Those options to exit your real estate position are expensive and drag your real return down over time, so unless you have a job so stable you’re sure you will never move, you’ll make less than you think. My numbers don’t even consider that so I’m being generous.

Filing bankruptcy doesn’t seem like part of a sound financial plan…

Money is not being wasted renting. You have to factor in the lost opportunity cost of investing in index funds, which are a better asset class. In reality when you own a home, you’re wasting the potential earning power of your money.

I have passed a practice CFP exam so I’m not a professional but pretty sure I know what I’m talking about here…