Is it realistic to own my own scuba diving equipment?

I am about to start taking my scuba classes to be a registered diver, but i have been hearing that most scuba enthusiasts rent and do not own their tanks and equipment. I was really excited to own my own equipment, so i was wondering how expensive it is and how hard it is to maintain. Also, if new equipment is out of my price range, is it a good idea to buy used?

Tags: diving, Equipment, realistic, scuba