Over the past five days all the hub bub on the street has been the eternal question in real estate: Should I buy or rent?

The answer has never been clearer: Buy.

In 98 of the top 100 housing markets, buying a home is more affordable than renting, according to the online real estate company Trulia. Only Honolulu and San Francisco buck the trend.

Rising rents, falling home prices, and low mortgage rates have made home ownership make more financial sense in most areas of the country, according to Trulia. "With home prices nearing a double dip and more foreclosures expected to flood the housing market over the next two years, the decision between renting and buying a home across most of the country has clearly moved in favor of buying," said Ken Shuman, Trulia's spokesperson, in a statement.

Of course, many renters are not in a position to buy. For one, it's hard to get a mortgage these days, despite low rates. And paying rent can push them further away from being able to afford to buy. "Rising rents make it harder for people to save for a down payment, which is the biggest barrier to buying a home that aspiring homeowners face," Jed Kolko, Trulia's chief economist.

Are you paying $800 or more in rent? That is a mortgage. So why rent when you can make it happen and own a home? Don't just assume you will not qualify. I have 30 banks and lenders I can shop around for you. It is a myth that you need perfect credit to qualify. Contact The Z Mortgage Team for more information and for and questions you may have.