If you rent you are paying a mortgage, why not pay your own?

The rental market is hot right now and rent prices are reflecting the supply and demand out there!  People who had their homes foreclosed on need somewhere to live and the demand is growing by leaps and bounds.  With that being said there are a lot of homes on the market right now that are killer deals and why pay your landlord's mortgage?  Out of 10 cities across America that have housing markets that are predicted to rise, 5 of those are in Washington State.  You are paying a mortgage right now whether you own  a home or not...why not pay your own mortgage and get the benefits?  Whether you are a first time home buyer or buying an investment property now may be the time to get serious about it.   http://247wallst.com/2011/05/11/housing-markets-that-will-rise-most-this-year/3/