Model monthly rent against purchase costs — mortgage payment, property tax as a percent of value, HOA, appreciation, and opportunity cost on invested cash — with a simple break-even signal.
The buyer path tracks home equity (value minus loan). The renter path starts with the down payment invested and contributes the monthly surplus (buyer's all-in housing cost minus rent) — so when owning is more expensive than renting, the renter invests the difference. This is a simplified educational model — real life includes taxes, transaction costs, moving, and behavioral factors.
Keep going
Each calculator works standalone, but they pair beautifully with the others in the toolkit.
Highlight savings from recurring extras plus a lump sum.
Stress-test different mortgage offers before you plug them into rent vs buy.
See the payment path if you buy with leverage.
Frequently asked
The math is straightforward, but a few details trip people up. Here are the questions we answer most often.