I'm currently in the bay area in a 1950s home with no AC, no insulation, and single pane windows. Do you think that's what I want? No but I can't change it because that's what is mostly available on the rental market in the peninsula. If you go into buying, you can find all kinds of well appointed homes (even brand new homes). No one updates rentals here. So, at a certain point, if you want to live like you're not in the 1950s anymore (and lord knows - we are not living in the 1950s climate, holy shit it's way hotter) then you have to buy.