The rent-versus-own debate rages on, but at least one affordable housing group suggests it's probably better to buy than to rent in Tampa.

The National Low Income Housing Coalition and the Center for Economic and Policy Research evaulated the nation's 100 most populous cities. It grouped Tampa among 66 metro areas where buying will make you wealthier than renting through 2012.

According to the data, a person who bought a lower-cost 3-bedroom home in Tampa this year could expect to accumulate between $38,000 and $42,000 equity in his home within four years.

The other 34 metro areas, including Miami-Fort Lauderdale and Cape Coral-Fort Myers, were ranked as places where renting was the best option through 2012.

Study author Danilo Pelletiere stressed that home ownership should be considered a conservative investment, not a get-rich-quick scheme.

And Pelletriere's formula holds only if you can get a 3-bedroom home for 75 percent of the median price, which in the Tampa area probably means finding a place for about $150,000.

This makes sense to me. While prices will likely drop through 2009, buying low now will likely pay off by 2012. If you can land a short sale deal, your gain will be even greater in 4 years.