Lisa Barton

More information that supports buying a home NOW:  a report by Trulia suggests thats it’s cheaper to buy a home than rent one in 72 percent of the 50 largest U.S. cities, according to their rent vs. buy index, which compares the total cost of homeownership to the cost of renting.

“Since the start of the ‘Great Recession,’ many former homeowners have flooded the rental market,” Pete Flint, CEO of Trulia, said in a news release about the index. “Following the principles of supply and demand, renting has become relatively more expensive than buying in most markets.”

The index compares the median sales price of homes with the median rent on two bedroom apartments, condos, and townhomes that were listed on Trulia as of Jan. 10, 2011.

Here are the top 10 cities where it’s best to buy than rent, according to the index:

1. Miami
2. Las Vegas
3. Arlington, Texas
4. Mesa, Ariz.
5. Phoenix, Ariz.
6. Jacksonville, Fla.
7. Sacramento, Calif.
8. San Antonio, Texas
9. Fresno, Calif.
10. El Paso, Texas