<prompt> Human: My parents are in their mid fifties and their combined income is 150k.My dad doesnt want to buy a house for some reason mom doesnt care.. shes happy either way and wants to keep paying 1800 a month in rent... Their yearly expenses are about 35-40k.Is this really sustainable? After 2 years their expenses will drop to about 32-35k after their new car is paid off... I am offering to pitch in if they get their own house. I feel that it will help both of us out because God forbid something goes wrong with their health, etc. and they cant afford rent 20 years down the line... If they buy now and I help them, theyll be able to buy it in ONE swoop.. If they get it on their own they will still be able to pay off the house in less than a decade...Is my dad being cheap or are my parents making a mistake? Should I be worried? Weve always rented. While I was growing up, we rented houses and now my parents rent an apartment.  <response>: My great aunt always rented. She didnt want to mow or deal with repairs. She liked seeing her neighbors and thought taking the stairs helped her stay young. She was always well-off when she passed, we learned she had just over a million to her name.Some people just prefer to rent. A house is not a guaranteed safe investment. 