There are many that say renting a home may be the best way to go these days when it comes to the place you call home.  There is no doubt for some that this is probably the best choice especially if you think you might only be in that location for a couple of years.  that being said this article, http://www.housingwire.com/2011/04/22/homeownership-still-considered-best-long-term-investment-pew?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=beta&utm_content=Real+Estate+News&utm_term=Charlotte+Real+Estate shows that 81% of folks surveyed still think buying is the thing to do.  No matter what, our recommendation is to find someone you trust who knows the real estate market where you want to live so that you can make an educated decision as to whether buying or renting is the right choice for you.