Owning all the way.

First, paying rent doesn't get you any closer to owning the house. You don't have to worry about interest rates, but instead of interest you are paying someone for the right to use their rented asset, which likely means they are making profit off of you.

You might see the eventual hiccups and repairs that come with owning a house as a downside, but you'll run into them when renting, too. You don't have to lift a finger, that's true, but the ease of living comes with a cost, as the owner has to generate the money needed for repairs from somewhere: the rent.

The flipside of owning is of course the eventual maintenance that every house needs. It all comes down to smart financial decisions and not spreading yourself too thin by getting too large a loan and not being able to save up a nest egg of both money and skill & knowledge of your house in the case something unfortunate happens. However, sometimes newly acquired houses can have hidden problems such as structural problems, water damage etc. That is the main risk with owning, but barring sheer bad luck, can be largely mitigated by careful research before buying a house.

Also, I like the true freedom owning gives me: with eventual problems and maintenance, it is up to me to face and conquer them, or suffer the consequences. It can be harsh at times, but I think it can teach you valuable lessons about responsibility and the power you can have with your hands and mind. Did I mention this, the best part, is completely free?