without sounding condescending

Because you've been setting a great example.

I mean, it's pretty self-explanatory, right?

But, just in case: it's basically impossible to save for a deposit when your income is getting gobbled up by rent. If you are lucky enough that a family member can help you out with the deposit, then not only do your monthly outgoings go down (mortgage payments + taxes, maintenance costs etc are always going to be less than rent in an equivalent abode), but most of that money is going directly into your property i.e. it's still yours.

So, obviously, anyone would choose owning over renting, apart from in some very specific circumstances. It's not that people are too stupid to come up with the genius idea of buying a house. You're flushing money down the toilet every time you pay a rent cheque, and everyone knows this. But that constant haemorrhaging of money is what makes renting a trap.

P.S. I can be more condescending than this if you still aren't getting it