I think the problem with getting this done in the US is the lack of public transit and the dysfunction in public schools.

If you could avoid a $700 car payment and still get to school/job/grocery store on time, a lot of Americans would.

But if you can't, and you are paying $700 anyways, why not at least use the fact that you're paying $700/month to travel anywhere and get a bigger parcel of land all to yourself? There's a big incentive to have single-family homes for rent as long as that math is true.

And if you can live in a dense area and get around OK, but paying $700/month saves you from $800/month in private school payments, then the math might still make renting SFH better even if the transit is there.