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Compare unrecoverable costs, equity, investment opportunity cost, and break-even. Change any assumption and the full plan recalculates instantly.
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| Year | Buy net | Rent net | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $124,127 | $42,714 | $81,413 |
| 2 | $151,677 | $60,324 | $91,353 |
| 3 | $180,187 | $77,797 | $102,390 |
| 4 | $209,693 | $95,094 | $114,599 |
| 5 | $240,234 | $112,175 | $128,059 |
| 6 | $271,850 | $128,998 | $142,852 |
| 7 | $304,582 | $145,515 | $159,067 |
| 8 | $338,475 | $161,677 | $176,798 |
| 9 | $373,574 | $177,431 | $196,142 |
| 10 | $409,925 | $192,720 | $217,205 |
Planning estimate only. Lenders use their own qualification, compounding, rounding, insurance, fee, tax, and contract rules.
Calculator guide
A rent-versus-buy calculator should compare more than rent with a mortgage payment. This model tracks mortgage balance, home value, property tax, insurance, fees, maintenance, selling costs, rent growth, and the opportunity to invest cash not used for ownership.
The result is a scenario, not a forecast. Home growth, investment returns, repairs, rent increases, selling costs, and the time you stay can change the answer.
Buy net position is modeled home value less mortgage balance and selling costs. Rent net position is the modeled investment account funded by cash and positive monthly differences available to the renter.
A small difference is not a decisive result when it depends on uncertain growth assumptions. Flexibility, stability, repair risk, and the likelihood of moving also matter.
Questions answered
No. Rent buys housing and flexibility, while owners also pay unrecoverable interest, tax, insurance, maintenance, and transaction costs.
A renter may keep or invest cash that a buyer uses for the down payment, closing, and higher monthly ownership costs.
A longer stay, lower transaction costs, lower interest and maintenance, or stronger home growth can help, but none is guaranteed.
Rules and tax programs can change. Confirm the current requirements before acting.
Use the estimate well
It can model transparent assumptions, compare scenarios, and expose tradeoffs. It cannot approve a loan, quote a lender, predict markets, interpret your contract, or replace licensed advice.
Run the base case, a higher rate, a lower home value, and a cash-buffer case.
Confirm compounding, prepayment, fees, insurance, dates, and lender rounding.
A feasible payment is not the same as a resilient household budget.
Related field notes