Is it worth buying a house? Or is it better to just pay rent in the long run?

A lot of people say that owning a house is a great investment once it's payed for and finally sold for retirement. But I also hear that it's just easier to pay rent and have more money to save up or invest into something else. To give a better understanding with state-specific taxes and cost of living; I live in Los Angeles, California of the US. Or does state really matter with this answer?

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