I moved for a job to Ann Arbor from San Francisco back in 2001 with my spouse and our two kids. The idea that I should have immediately bought a house simply in order to start a job is risible. There are lots of good reasons not to own your house, even if you're going to stay in an area long-term (I ended up staying there for 4 years; we bought the house we lived in for our last year there, and took a bath on it, because buying a house you only keep for a year or two is usually a terrible idea).
I live in Chicagoland now. I own my house, but several of my neighbors rent theirs. Why wouldn't they? Residential real estate exposure is not a universally appropriate investment strategy. People live for decades in houses they rent; their landlords have property managers who handle upkeep, and the renters invest their money elsewhere. Maybe at some point they have to move houses; there are plenty of other rentals nearby.
Crime is lower in places where more people own their homes, communities are tighter, streets are cleaner. All these externalities of crime, community, and hygiene are apparently not a problem when you're a factor.
EDIT: Whoops, alex_smart below has pointed out that I am suffering from the context-loss-disorder that is common on HN. It is true, renting is a positive-sum thing and good for many.
I'd reply, alex_smart, but the downvotes have limited my ability to do so.
