Should you buy or rent a home? Cost gap narrows - C.A.R.

Affordable home prices and low interest rates have created an ideal time for many buyers to purchase homes, and now a new week-long look at homeownership confirms it. The national study, conducted for The Associated Press, shows that the difference between monthly rents and mortgage payments is at its lowest level in nearly 20 years.

MAKING SENSE OF THE STORY FOR CONSUMERS

The analysis of 45 metro areas found