Home buying · Calculator
Should you rent or buy?
Run both paths over the same time horizon and see how rent growth, mortgage costs, home appreciation and sale equity change the answer.
This simplified model compares cumulative rent with homeowner cash outflows minus estimated sale equity. It excludes investment returns on the down payment, tax deductions, closing costs at purchase, HOA dues, PMI, utilities and transaction-specific costs.
Estimated lower-cost path
Buy
Estimated difference after 7 years: $52,718
Net cost to buy
$167,961
Total rent paid
$220,679
Estimated sale equity
$194,738
Future home value
$553,443