Definitely get off the rent-wagon as soon as you can. Your money
   is likely paying off a mortgage to a bank.

   Mortgages last for 20-40 years. Now in some cases, perhaps it's
   "bought + paid for" but as people like liquid money, even if the
   original mortgage for the place you are living was paid off,
   it's very likely there is some sort of loan on the property
   being used.

   In short, banks invariably own living spaces.

   So, your money goes to a bank, helping someone pay of their
   mortgage or their mortgage loan, or your money goes to a bank,
   helping yourself pay off your own mortgage or mortgage loan.

   Bank wins every time. But at least you get more control with
   your own bank-owned home. You do lose flexibility since a home
   is a liability for many many years. It only becomes an asset
   once it's paid off at the end of the term. If you need money
   again, it becomes a liability again once you get a home equity
   loan.

   But at least it would be your loan that you're paying off each
   month, and no someone else's loan