Rent vs Buy Analysis · Free

Should you rent or buy in your target market?

Model a target-market, target-budget scenario — no street address required. We compare buy-path net worth against rent + invest net worth.

Step 1 of 4

Step 1 · Target market

Where are you comparing?

Use a city, state, and ZIP for a market scenario. Do not enter a specific street address.

Target market city

State

ZIP

Market prefill

Prefill comparable rent and assumptions where market data is available. You can edit any value.

Target purchase price ($)

Your target budget or expected purchase price in this market.

Comparable monthly rent ($)

Rent for a comparable home in the same target market.

Optional target home details

Property type

Bedrooms

Bathrooms

Square feet

Step 2 · Financing

Financing and timeline

These are the core assumptions that drive the buy path.

Down payment

Percent (%)

Amount ($)

Enter either percent or dollar amount. The other value stays in sync.

Mortgage interest rate (%)

Loan term

Expected hold period (years)

Optional: affordability check (income & debts)

Add household income to see payment-to-income (DTI) ratios and a stretched-payment flag in your report. Leave blank to skip — it never changes the wealth math.

Household income ($/year, gross)

Other monthly debt payments ($)

Car loans, student loans, minimum card payments.

Step 3 · Assumptions

Costs and growth assumptions

These defaults are editable. Principal and down payment are treated as equity, not pure cost.

Property tax rate (% annually)

Home insurance ($ annually)

HOA dues ($/month)

Annual maintenance (% of home value)

Rent growth (% per year)

Home appreciation (% per year)

Investment return if renting (% per year)

Buyer closing costs ($)

Seller transaction costs (% of future value)

Advanced: renter costs, cost inflation & taxes

Defaults are sensible; adjust only if you want to pressure-test them.

Renters insurance ($/year)

Ownership cost inflation (% per year)

Renter investment discipline

Estimate tax effects — mortgage-interest & property-tax deductions (simplified federal, standard-deduction-aware, $10k SALT and $750k debt caps) plus tax drag on the renter's portfolio. Estimates only, not tax advice.

Filing status

Marginal tax rate (%)

Investment tax drag (%)

Step 4 · Review

Review your inputs

Double-check everything below. Use Edit to jump back to any group.

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I understand that Home Decision Lab provides informational estimates only and does not provide financial, legal, tax, mortgage, investment, or real estate advice. I am responsible for verifying all information with qualified professionals before making decisions.

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Rent vs Buy report

Getting started

Est. monthly ownership cost

— / mo est.

Comparable rent—

Monthly difference—

Rent paid over 5 yrs—

Ownership cost over 5 yrs—

5-yr difference—

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Invite a partner or your agent and assign sections, so everyone fills in what they know best.

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Should you rent or buy in your target market?

Where are you comparing?

Financing and timeline

Costs and growth assumptions

Review your inputs

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