Find out which option builds more wealth — and exactly when buying becomes worth it
Home Price
$
The home you're considering buying
Your Current Rent / mo
$
What you'd pay if you keep renting
Down Payment
$
Cash you'd put in upfront
How Long You Plan to Stay
years
Planning to move? This matters a lot
If you rent, will you actually invest the monthly savings?
This is the question most calculators ignore. Be honest — it changes the result significantly.
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Advanced inputs
Buying assumptions
Mortgage rate6.5%
Mortgage term30 yrs
Annual appreciation3.5%
Property tax / yr1.1%
Maintenance / yr1.0%
Closing costs3.0%
Selling costs6.0%
Renting assumptions
Annual rent increase3.0%
Investment return / yr7.0%
Your Result
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⚡ Why the numbers look this way — The Leverage Effect
Buy — net worth
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VS
Rent + invest — net worth
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How the outcome changes by time horizon
Net Worth Over Time
Buying
Renting + Investing
Break-even Year
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When buying overtakes renting
Total Mortgage Paid
—
Principal + interest over your horizon
Opportunity Cost
—
What your down payment could grow to
Total Rent Paid
—
Over your time horizon
💡 Keep in mind: This calculator assumes the renter invests savings consistently. Studies show most people don't — which is why homeownership builds more wealth in practice for most households, even when the pure maths favours renting. The discipline toggle above lets you model this realistically.