How does a rent vs. buy calculator decide buying or renting?

It totals the real cost of each path over your time frame — for buying: down payment, closing costs, mortgage, taxes, insurance and upkeep, minus your home equity after selling; for renting: rising rent minus the investment growth on the money you didn't put down. Whichever ends lower wins.

What is the break-even year on rent vs. buy?

It is the year buying becomes cheaper than renting. Before it, renting is ahead because closing and selling costs are spread over fewer years; after it, ownership and equity pull ahead.

Free Tool

Rent vs. Buy Calculator

Should you keep renting, or is it smarter to buy? Enter the numbers and instantly see the total cost of each over time — and the exact year buying pays off.

The home you'd buy

Home price ($)

Down payment (%)

Mortgage rate (%)

Loan term (years)

Renting instead

Monthly rent ($)

Annual rent increase (%)

Time frame & assumptions

Years in the home

Home appreciation (%/yr)

Property tax (%/yr)

Home insurance ($/yr)

Maintenance + HOA ($/yr)

Return on savings (%/yr)

Buying closing costs (%)

Selling costs (%)

Free · No Obligation

Have a Title or Closing Question?

Leave your name, phone, and email and our team will reach out — fast and friendly, no obligation.