Rent vs. Buy

The biggest financial decision of your life, simplified. See the math behind building equity vs. building a portfolio.

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The 5% Rule & Opportunity Cost

Most people compare "Monthly Rent" vs "Mortgage Payment". This is wrong. You should compare Unrecoverable Costs:

  • Rent: 100% unrecoverable.
  • Owning: Mortgage Interest, Property Tax, Maintenance, and Cost of Capital (Opportunity Cost).

Our calculator runs a 30-year simulation accounting for appreciation (3%), rent inflation (3%), and stock market returns (7%) on the cash you'd save by renting. The "Crossover Point" is when your Home Equity finally beats your Investment Portfolio.