The short answer: if you will stay long enough to get past the cost of buying and selling — often several years — buying usually comes out ahead. Shorter than that, renting frequently wins, especially once Florida's insurance, taxes, and any CDD fees are in the math.
The full cost of owning here
Buyers often compare a mortgage payment to rent and stop there. In Central Florida you also carry homeowners insurance (which can be steep), property taxes, any HOA dues, and a possible CDD assessment, plus maintenance. Those are the numbers that move the breakeven point — and they are exactly the ones I make sure you see before you decide.
When renting is the smart move
A short or uncertain time horizon, a job that might relocate you, or wanting to learn a specific town before committing — all good reasons to rent first. When renting, you trade equity for flexibility, and sometimes flexibility is worth more.
When buying wins
A stable few-years-plus horizon, a payment you can carry comfortably with insurance and taxes included, and the homestead exemption working in your favor. Want the real number for your situation? Start with a home value check or tell me your plans. [ Local rent-vs-buy breakeven estimate — updated from current prices and rents. ]