For the home I wanted to buy, putting 20% down and financing the rest using a fixed rate loan amortized over 30 years, including property taxes, insurance, the differenct was not even close to being as much as 50% more then renting. I pay 2500 a month now in rent. The loan would have cost 2200 a month, plus another 600 a month for prop tax. Through in another 100 a month for insurance. Now yes I would get income from the downpayment if I didn’t buy which I am getting now. However the money needs to be liquid in case I find something I want AND that income is taxed.
If you want I can go into much more details on the numbers.
