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Home & MortgageAffordability
Rent vs Buy Calculator — Is Buying a Home Worth It?
Compare the true total cost of renting vs buying over any time horizon, accounting for equity, appreciation, and opportunity cost.
Rent vs. Buy Details
$450,000
$
20%
%
6.37%
%
$2,400
$
3.5%
%
4%
%
Results
LiveMonthly Mortgage (P&I)
$2,245
Down Payment Required$90,000
Loan Amount$360,000
Est. Total Monthly Cost (PITI + maintenance)$3,030
Break-Even Point12 yr
Down Payment Required$90,000
Loan Amount$360,000
Monthly Mortgage (P&I)$2,245
How to use
Change one assumption at a time to see what moves the answer most.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know.
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Why This Matters
Buying is not always better than renting — it depends on how long you stay, local appreciation rates, and what you do with the down payment. This calculator runs the full math so you can make a data-driven decision.
How to Use It
- 1Enter the home purchase price and your rent amount
- 2Set down payment, interest rate, and expected appreciation
- 3Enter how long you plan to stay
- 4See the break-even point and 5/10/20-year comparison
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