Lots of people are in 12-month leases and can often negotiate month-to-month... so if they pre-buy a property, they don't need to worry about rent going up because they're in a lease.

Man I've been through a lot of rentals in my life and not once was there a "negotiation", ha. There was a lot of "if you don't I got 5 others waiting" though. And at the end of that lease there was usually a "cost of living increase, keeping up with the average" increase to rent. Which then followed with the prior "if you don't, fuck if I care I got 10 others desperate." And a hearty laugh in your face if you ask for "month by month."

Many of which came from those "mom or dads buying for retirement" who then give it over to a property management company while they live states away. Which I'd almost take a Chinese Firm over, because at least they don't pretend to care and I know the answer to "can we fix this" will be no instead of "we will talk to them." Even the local old man who I rented from once was stuck in a cycle of "city raised taxes and utility costs again, I can't afford this place myself if I don't raise the rent."

And I'm from the poorest area of the country and live in the poor part of a good area of the country now. Nobody I have ever met has ever even come close to a "dream/forever home" or even entertained the idea. They've managed a "can fit all my kids" and a "doubt I'll ever find better" which is impressive and worth being proud of in their own way, but far and away nothing like you describe. "Paying more in rent" would mean just not eating.

So I think our disconnect comes from being on the complete opposite ends of the spectrum of class.