You can remodel: If you really like cooking, for example, you can rearrange your kitchen how you want, buy appliances, etc. If you are really into woodworking you could convert the garage.

You get stability: Don't need to worry that the rent will go up or that the landlord will sell and stop renting to you.

Additionally, in many markets, certain kinds of housing are for all intents and purposes buy-only. Nobody is renting out a house with a yard in a good school district that you want to be in, for example.