“It’s worth what it will rent for! ” That is basically a false statement.
99% of the time it always costs more to buy than to rent – that’s why many communities get upset when renters start moving in en mass, sorry to be blunt but renters are usually in a lower income bracket (b/c it’s cheaper to rent) vs. their owner neighbors.
Buying, under “normal” circumstances, generally means a person is financially stable, has a stable job and is putting down roots – all important factors to a community.