Apropos of nothing

Is it Better to Buy or Rent? NYTimes java applet.

I'm not sure if they include the opportunity cost of the money you spend vs, nominally, investing. Either way, it's very much a no-go in DC right now. ($400k for a 1000 sq foot house in Arlington). Unless my illegitimate kids finally track me down and I need extra basement space, I'll be renting my cardboard box for awhile.

(And yet... the house down the block just went up for sale. Should I put in a bid? When it doubles in two years, I'll be rich!)